Party Pooper tries two turns in New Westminster

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Party Pooper will try to spoil what could be a coming-out party for Oh Derek when they meet Friday in the $50,000 New Westminster Handicap for 2-year-olds at Hastings. The New Westminster drew five horses and goes as the first half of the daily double with the $50,000 Hard Rock Casino for 2-year-old fillies. Post time for the 6 1/2-furlong New Westminster is 7 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Troy Taylor, Party Pooper broke a bit flat-footed and had to steady early when he debuted in a 3 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race July 26. He figures to improve going around two turns, and Taylor was pleased with his bullet four-furlong work last Saturday with former jockey Marlo Dunn aboard.

“He’s still pretty green, but I think he’s starting to figure things out,” Taylor said.

Alex Bisono retains the mount.

[Hastings: Get PPs, watch Friday's card live]

Oh Derek, trained by Sylvea Gregory, improved dramatically in his second start, and he is the only horse in the field with a win in a two-turn sprint. He drew the rail, from which Ryan Pacheco figures to put him into the race early.

“He was certainly a lot better behaved in his second start, and he is doing fabulous right now,” Gregory said.

New Westminster (Race 1)

Key contenders

Party Pooper (Last Beyer: 47)

* He finished full of run to get up for second going 3 1/2 furlongs, and being a half-brother to Ravin Maniac, who won 12 races, including five routes, he should thrive in his first try in a two-turn sprint.

DRF Formulator Fact: Over the past five years, Taylor has a 25 percent strike rate with juveniles running in stakes races at Hastings.

Oh Derek (Last 2 Beyers: 61-0)

* Oh Derek was eased in his debut but came back with an impressive win in a maiden special weight race 18 days later. His trainer won the B.C. Cup Debutante for 2-year-old fillies with Quatre Cat on Aug. 4.

* He has the pedigree to be a decent horse. Included among his eight winning siblings is Now a Victor, who won the Grade 3 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct.

Hard Rock Casino (Race 2)

Key contenders

Bullet (Last 2 Beyers: 44-47)

* Trained by Dino Condilenios, she’s been right there in both of her starts, including a solid second-place finish behind Quartre Cat in her debut.

* Frank Fuentes picks up the mount, and according to Formulator, over the past five years, Fuentes has won with 19 percent of his mounts when riding for Condilenios in non-graded stakes at Hastings.

Ambleside Park (Last Beyer: 40)

* The well-bred daughter of the Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus had a troubled debut and could take a big step forward in her second start. Her dam, Capilano, was a stakes winner as a 2-year-old, and she has produced three stakes winners, including Grade 3 Ballerina Stakes winner Madeira Park. It is interesting to see leading rider Amadeo Perez abandon Bullet to ride her for local Hall of Fame trainer Dave Forster.