Northern Graystar raring to go in Sunday allowance

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – With rain in the forecast there is a good chance Hastings will finally get to run a few races this weekend. Due to the smoke from the wildfires in Oregon and Washington, the air quality in Vancouver was so poor that last Sunday’s card was canceled and moved to Thursday. The smoke was still lingering on Thursday, though, so the card was rescheduled for Saturday. Friday morning the air was still thick with smoke, so there are no guarantees for the weekend.

Due to restrictions placed on how trainers are allowed to operate, the fitness level of horses has been somewhat compromised. Clockers have not been on site, because workouts have not been allowed. There has only been jogging and light training for the past week.

Trainer Glen Todd is confident that Northern Graystar is fit enough to run well in an allowance for 3- and 4-year-old fillies that headlines Sunday’s nine-race card, which begins at 3 p.m. Pacific. The 1 1/16-mile race drew six horses and goes as the sixth race.

“She’s fine,” said Todd. “She’s been jogging every day and is jumping out of her skin.”

Northern Graystar ran a huge race to win the $50,000 Sales Stakes on Sept. 5. With Efrain Hernandez riding, Northern Graystar broke sharply, then settled into a stalking position behind Irish Luna and Butterscotch Blend, who dueled through quick fractions. She made a three-wide move going down the backstretch, took the lead at the quarter pole, and was all out to win the mile and a sixteenth race by 1 3/4 lengths over Irish Luna.

By Graydar out of Fancy Vintage, Northern Graystar went into the race with just one sprint behind her this year.

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“She won but she did get a bit late,” said Todd. “She seems to have moved forward, so I am expecting her to run a big race.”

Northern Graystar drew post 2 and could get a similar trip with Hernandez riding.

Warrior’s Promise will find these easier than facing Here’s Hannah, whom she almost beat sprinting two back and finished fourth to going a mile and sixteenth in an open allowance race on Sept. 6. Here’s Hannah won the Sovereign Award for being the top older filly or mare in Canada last year.

Trained by Patty Leaney, Warrior’s Promise has yet to win going three turns, but she was a neck behind runner-up Northern Graystar when she finished third in the $29,000 Autumn Leaves on Oct. 20. The 78 Beyer they received is the top figure in the field for the distance.

A 4-year-old daughter of Warrior’s Reward, Warrior’s Promise does her best running late and there should be speed coming back to her.

She drew post 3 with Sylvino Morales retaining the mount.

Butterscotch Blend, who won last year’s CTHS Sales Stakes for 3- and 4-year-old fillies, could be dangerous with the blinkers coming off for the first time this year.

Trained by Robert Gilker, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Mission Impazible dueled with Irish Luna before finishing third in the Sales Stakes in her last outing. She was not wearing blinkers when she came from a stalking position in her victory last year.