Porter Gent, Stay Fantastic give Ammann two good shots at allowance

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Christine Ammann has an excellent chance of winning an open allowance race with Stay Fantastic or Porter Gent at Hastings on Thursday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew five horses and completes the six-race card, which begins at 3:45 p.m. Pacific.

The race is the last leg of the pick five, which is not likely going to be taken down Wednesday, and should have a carryover around the $560,000 mark.

Stay Fantastic is looking for his first win since he won the $50,000 S. W. Randall Plate almost a year ago, Oct. 1 at Hastings. It was his fifth win in five starts at the 2020 meet. The 5-year-old Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds homebred has not run a bad race in three starts this year, and Ammann was pointing him to the $75,000 Century Mile Handicap at Century Mile in Edmonton last Sunday when she breezed him a mile in 1:41.20 Aug. 31.

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“He is doing great and I think he would have run a big race in Edmonton,” said Ammann. “The owners are big supporters of B.C. racing and wanted to keep him here, though. He is my big old favorite, so I will be rooting for him. Porter Gent is a better sprinter. I think they will both run well.”

Porter Gent, also bred and owned by Tod Mountain, is coming off a front-running win in a non-winners-of-three allowance race Aug. 17. In his previous race, he came from a stalking position to finish second to Sir Bregovic at the same level July 26. Sir Bregovic led every step but the last one when he finished second by a neck to Greek Geek in the Century Mile.

Porter Gent will break from post 3 with Antonio Reyes aboard. Alex Marti, who won the Grade 3 Canadian Derby aboard Uncharacteristic at Century Mile Sunday, rides Stay Fantastic, who will break from post 4.

He’s the Reason is looking for his first win since he took them all the way in the Randall Plate in 2019. Trained by Glen Todd, He’s the Reason started just three times last year and will be making his first start since he finished seventh in a $50,000 claimer at Del Mar Nov. 21.

The 6-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by The Factor has been working fast. He could fire fresh for Todd, who the past five years has a 24 percent strike rate and $2.11 ROI with horses coming back from a layoff of 180 days or more.

Driller, a multiple stakes winner, and Cascade Billy, an improving 4-year-old, also look live and could make a big impact for trainer Mel Snow.