Modern lands amid easier company in Sunday feature
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Modern has been holding his own against the best horses at Hastings and will appreciate the easier company when he runs in a $35,000 optional-claiming race Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew nine horses and goes as race 5.
Another race of interest is a conditional allowance race for 3-year-old fillies that features the return of the highly regarded Bluegrass Miss. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew eight horses and goes as race 7 on the eight-race card.
RACE 5: OPTIONAL CLAIMING
KEY CONTENDERS
MODERN (Last 3 Beyers: 86-83-80)
◗ Trained by Dino Condilenios, Modern is a standout in terms of recent Beyer Speed Figures, and he earned them while facing tougher company. He held on well to finish second to Grade 3 British Columbia Derby winner Title Contender in the Sir Winston Churchill on June 8, and he didn’t get beat by that much when he came back to finish third behind Mr. Bowling and Title Contender in the Lieutenant Governors’ on July 1.
◗ He was allowed to set moderate paces in both races, though, and The Gov figures to make him work a lot harder during the early stages of the race.
“I don’t think he needs to be on the lead,” said Condilenios. “Obviously, he’s going to be up there, but if The Gov really wants the lead, we can sit off of him.”
◗ Frank Fuentes rides Modern, who will break from post 7.
SENOR ROJO (Last 3 Beyers: 76-80-84)
Grade 3 winner Senor Rojo, trained by Dave Forster, looks like the main threat.
◗ Senor Rojo is coming off a fast-closing second sprinting, and according to DRF’s Formulator, over the past five years, Forster has an excellent 26 percent strike rate with horses going from a sprint to a route.
◗ He also may have tipped his hand when he worked a bullet five furlongs in 59.80 seconds July 12.
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CREW LEADER (Last 3 Beyers: 63-56-71)
◗ Crew Leader is worth a look at what should be a decent price. Trained by Ted Hurt, Crew Leader has an excellent record at 1 1/16 miles, and this will be the first time he has tried a middle distance on dirt since he won the Portland Meadows Mile with a 93 Beyer last September.
RACE 7: ALLOWANCE
BLUEGRASS MISS (Last 3 Beyers: 61-53-54)
◗ An impressive debut winner for trainer Toni Cloutier last year, Bluegrass Miss has been off since she finished a disappointing fifth as the favorite in a conditional allowance race May 17. She will be making her first start since she was transferred to trainer Mike Anderson’s barn, and according to Formulator, Anderson has a 29 percent strike rate with horses coming off a layoff of 61 to 180 days. She also may have given notice when she worked a sharp four furlongs in 47 seconds Tuesday.