Party Pooper prepping for Chris Loseth Stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The winner of the fourth race at Hastings on Sunday likely will make his next start in the $50,000 Chris Loseth for 3-year-olds July 1. However, it’s hard to predict which of the eight sophomores entered in the first-level allowance race will win the 6 1/2-furlong dash.

Several potential winners could have taken advantage of the $25,000 optional-claiming cause in the conditions of the race, but all of the horses entered have won just once, and none are entered for the price.

Party Pooper won the $50,000 New Westminster Stakes in his second start as a 2-year-old last year and was turned out after he finished fifth as the favorite in the $48,000 Birdcatcher at Northlands Park in his next start Sept. 6.

Trainer Troy Taylor likes the way Party Pooper has been training leading up to his comeback race. He displayed his readiness when he worked a bullet five furlongs in 58.80 seconds with jockey David Lopez aboard May 31. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.20.

“He’s doing well,” said Taylor. “He bucked his shins in Alberta and we didn’t want to rush him back. It didn’t seem like he was going that fast when he worked in 58, but the clockers gave me all the splits, so I know they didn’t miss him.”

Party Pooper has good speed and figures to be involved early after breaking from post 4 with Lopez aboard.

Key contenders

Party Pooper (Last 3 Beyers: 30-65-47)

* The only stakes winner in the field appears to be primed for a big effort coming off the bench.

Formulator fact: Over the past five years at Hastings, Taylor has a 25 percent strike rate with horses coming off a layoff of 180 days or more.

Smart Focus (Last 3 Beyers: 77-52-43)

* The 77 Beyer Speed Figure he earned for his 4 1/4-length win in a $25,000 maiden-claiming race May 24 is the top figure in the field.

* He was claimed out of his winning race by trainer Jim Brown, who was acting on behalf of Shamrock Racing Stable.

Forumulator fact: Over the past five years at Hastings, Brown has won with 29 percent of his claimed horses running back the first time.

Crius (Beyer: 64)

* Trained by Mike Anderson, he looked good winning his debut in a maiden special weight race May 23.

* Considering the multiple stakes winner Arabella’s Muse is his full sister, he could have plenty of upside potential, but he trains and runs like a horse that will be better going longer.