Newcomers look to build on recent victories
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Saturday’s seventh race at Emerald Downs, a 5 1/2-furlong first-level allowance for 3-year-olds, features a trio of local stakes winners. Ole’s Surprise and Chase are not among them, but the former Hastings-based geldings may well be the ones to beat.
Each horse won their Emerald debut – Ole’s Surprise by a neck at 5 1/2 furlongs on May 9 and Chase by 7 3/4 lengths at five furlongs on May 17. Both were ridden by perennial top jockey Kevin Krigger, with Chase earning a 66 Beyer Speed Figure after taking complete control at the top of the stretch and Ole’s Surprise notching a 73 after stalking in second and launching a powerful rally in the final 100 yards.
The Canadian imports boast the best last-out and career speed figures in Saturday’s seven-horse field and, unlike nearly half of their rivals, have a 2026 race under their belts. Their trainers, Mark Cloutier (Ole’s Surprise) and Steve Henson (Chase), are also thick as thieves.
“We’re friends and we’re tight. We help each other,” Cloutier said of his relationship with Henson. “If he needs anything, I’m there for him. He’s helped me along the way. When they closed [Hastings] down, we were all looking for a place for spring training and I sent some horses to prep at his farm in Langley, British Columbia.”
Ole’s Surprise, a full brother to 2023 BC Oaks winner Above Average, who finished second in her Emerald bow earlier this month, was impressive on debut in the Jack Diamond Futurity last fall at Hastings, finishing second to multiple stakes winner Debrusk by 2 1/4 lengths. That Krigger has chosen to retain the mount on Ole’s Surprise instead of Chase, who will be ridden by Silvio Amador, may provide a clue as to which horse has the better chance on Saturday.
“He’s in demand. I’m really lucky to have him,” Cloutier said of Krigger. “He rode that horse really well. My horse is not easy to get him to sprint like that because he’s such a big horse. We both thought he might be a special horse. It’s nice to see him come through like that.”
Blackberry Jam, Cantcatchthiscat, and Robin Racer are the three local stakes winners, with the late-running Robin Racer perhaps having the best chance to pick off the Canadian pair if things get too steamy on the lead. But such a scenario might not come to pass.
Ole’s Surprise “wouldn’t mind being taken back a little bit and taking a run at them. He’s got that big, powerful motor on him and keeps coming,” Cloutier said. “I’m looking forward to running him long. He’s a great, big horse. He’s not built like a sprinter. He’s built like a distance horse. He galloped out really well after that last race.
“He’s still green and the waters are getting deeper. He’s got to keep stepping up and I think he will.”
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