Papa Papa Papa working like he's sitting on a big race

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – If Papa Papa Papa runs to his last couple of works he is going to be a handful in a $25,000 waiver-claiming race at Hastings Saturday. The six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and goes as race 4 on a seven-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Steve Bryant, Papa Papa Papa breezed five furlongs in 59.40 seconds under jockey Richard Hamel here April 28. Clockers at Hastings use the term breezing sparingly. They use it to describe a workout where the jockey or exercise rider takes a firm hold of the horse throughout the work. Most other tracks use the breezing designation more often.

“If the rider gives the horse any urging we’ll call it handily,” said Lisa Russell, the head clocker at Hastings. “It doesn’t matter how fast they work, it’s the way they do it. Papa Papa Papa has been very impressive and Richard didn’t ask him for run at any time during his work on April 28.”

Romario Saunders took less of a hold when Papa Papa Papa worked another bullet five furlongs in 58.60 seconds from the half-mile pole May 4.

Clearly he is doing well, and he closed out last year with a 2 3/4-length victory over Hansen’s Victory in a $25,000 claiming race Oct. 14. It was his second win in three starts at the meet.

His first came for trainer Phil Hall in a $16,000 claiming race for nonwinners of three. He was claimed out of the race by Bryant, who was acting on behalf of Big Fly Stables.

Papa Papa Papa will break from post 2 with Hamel riding.

KEY CONTENDERS

Papa Papa Papa, by Forestry
Last 3 Beyers: 77-73-83

◗ He couldn’t be training any better, has the best Beyer at the distance by a large margin, and ran well in all three of his starts here last year.

Totality, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers; 82-71-64

◗ He is the only horse that has raced this year and all three efforts were solid, especially his last start, when he won a key $16,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two at Oaklawn Park. He won that 1 1/16-mile race March 3 for trainer Robertino Diodoro. After being claimed by trainer Grant Forster for Team Forster, he was sold to J & G Stables and transferred to trainer Steve Henson.

◗ Totality won his debut in a maiden special weight sprint at Churchill Downs, so he should be okay with the cutback in distance, plus he could get a nice trip stalking behind Papa Papa Papa and Hansen’s Victory.

Hansen’s Victory, by Hansen
Last 3 Beyers: 72-64-63

◗ The Glen Todd-trained Kentucky-bred 5-year-old has been on his toes this spring and could be tough to reel in if he can clear early. Papa Papa Papa might have something to say about that, though.