Morning Coffee will battle for lead in B.C. Oaks

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Strategy will play a big role Sunday in the outcome of the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks at Hastings. Six horses entered the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, and five will want to be involved right from the start, including the likely favorite, Morning Coffee.

The nine-race card kicks off at 12:50 p.m. Pacific with the $50,000 Delta Colleen Handicap, which drew five older fillies and mares.

Trained by Rosann Anderson, Morning Coffee easily won her two starts at Hastings, and according to Anderson, she is coming up to the Oaks in excellent shape.

“She has put on weight, her coat looks better, and she isn’t as quiet as she was when she first got here,” said Anderson. “She’s really blossoming.”

Anderson also likes that Morning Coffee is coming back sooner than she did between her wins in the Supernaturel Handicap on July 1 and the Hong Kong Jockey Club on Aug. 21. In both 1 1/16-mile races, she had the lead early.

Morning Coffee drew the outside post, with Pedro Alvarado retaining the mount.

The first three finishers Aug. 15 in the $50,000 Sonoma Handicap at Northlands Park are entered. Hero’s Amor, trained by Tim Rycroft, dueled with Eustacia before drawing away to win the 1 1/16-mile race by 5 1/4 lengths. Eustacia held on well to finish a clear second in front of Some Gave All.

Some Gave All also is trained by Rycroft, and he thinks she is going to take a big step forward Sunday. Prior to the Sonoma, she won a $30,000 conditional-claiming race June 25 at Churchill Downs.

“I don’t think she cared for the track at Northlands,” he said. “She seems to like it a lot better here.”

Suva Harbor ships in from Emerald Downs, where she finished second behind Belle Hill in the $65,000 Washington Oaks.

British Columbia Oaks (race 7)

Key contenders

Morning Coffee (Last 3 Beyers: 76-69-63)

* She was impressive in both of her wins at Hastings and was on her toes when she worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 last Sunday.

Suva Harbor (Last 3 Beyers: 76-69-68)

* A stakes winner at Sunland Park and the top money earner in the field, she will be happy to get away from Belle Hill, who dominated the 3-year-old filly division at Emerald Downs this year.

* This will be her first start for trainer Troy Taylor.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years at Hastings, Taylor has a 26 percent strike rate with new shooters.

Hero’s Amor (Last 3 Beyers: 64-75-37)

* She looked good winning the Sonoma, and she might be able to stalk what figures to be a hotly contested pace.

Delta Colleen (race 1)

Key contenders

Touching Promise (Last 3 Beyers: 86-82-73)

* Trained by Barbara Heads, she beat Locket by a neck in the B.C. Cup Distaff, and once again, her tactical speed gives her a slight advantage.

Locket (Last 3 Beyers: 86-84-73)

* This Frank Barroby trainee has been the runner-up in the last three stakes for fillies and mares here and will be rolling late.