Modern aims for fourth straight win in Lieutenant Governors'
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Modern will try to win his fourth straight stakes at the meet when he runs in the $75,000 Lieutenant Governors’ at Hastings on Friday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew 11 horses and is the gem of the four stakes on the holiday card.
Trained by Dino Condilenios, Modern has just one way of going, and he really hasn’t been tested in his three wins sprinting this year. In his easy win in the John Longden 6000 on June 4, it looked like he would have to deal with other speed. However, when Skyler White Shield elected to ease Crackdown into a stalking position, the race was over before it started.
Condilenios is expecting Modern to be seriously tested right from the start Friday.
[bc_playlist_id:300447:]“There are 11 horses in the field, and I am sure one or two of them will be going after him early,” said Condilenios. “He can run hooked though, and he really couldn’t be doing any better.”
Modern set fast fractions in his two wins going this distance, and he almost took them all the way going 1 1/8 miles in the $100,000 Peter Redekop Classic last year. He will be the one they have to get past after he breaks from post No. 8 with Richard Hamel aboard.
Square Dancer, who caught Modern in the Redekop and then won the S.W. Randall Plate, will try to get back on track for trainer Steve Henson. The 2015 local Horse of the Year is coming off two dull efforts in the Longden and George Royal.
“He just doesn’t want to sprint,” said Henson. “He’s doing great right now, and I expect him to run a good race Friday. Whether it will be good enough to win remains to be seen.”
The sleeper could be Brass and Gold, who won the B.C. Cup Classic for trainer Barbara Heads last year. He should move forward in his second start this year and was very impressive when he worked six furlongs over a sloppy track last Friday.
Avadiva in Monashee Handicap
Avadiva showed a new dimension when she sat just off the speed in her win over Macho Babe in the $75,000 Strawberry Morn. Trainer Robbie Anderson hopes for a similar trip when she tries to win going a middle distance for the first time in the $75,000 Monashee Handicap. Arabella’s Muse likely will be favored in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares that drew seven horses.
“I was very happy to see her relax in the Strawberry Morn, and she is by Skimming, so I think she’ll get the distance,” Anderson said of Avadiva.
Skimming won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic twice.
White Shield retains the mount.
Arabella’s Muse, trained by Mike Anderson, will appreciate stretching out to her best distance. In her only loss in five starts going 1 1/16 miles, she was the runner-up in the B.C. Dogwood as a 3-year-old in 2014.
The likely fast pace could play into the hands of Majestic Presence, who will be rolling late.