Pretty Reckless poised for improvement

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Mike Anderson is looking for an improved effort from Pretty Reckless when she runs in a first-level allowance race for fillies and mares at Hastings on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses and appears to be a wide-open event.

A 4-year-old filly by Finality, Pretty Reckless has raced only twice. She was an impressive debut winner of a $30,000 optional maiden race last Aug. 4 but was put on the shelf when Anderson felt some heat in one of her knees.

“We took an X-ray, but it didn’t show anything conclusive,” Anderson said. “She ran such a good race that we decided to be very cautious with her, so we just gave her the time off to recover completely.”

She returned in a first-level allowance race May 17, and after stalking a quick pace set by the winner, Willamette, she came up empty in the stretch, finishing sixth. Anderson is expecting her to take a big step forward in her second start back.

“She’s an excitable filly, and she got a bit upset when a couple of horses started acting up in the starting gate,” he said. “She came out of the race in good shape and is training very well right now. Hopefully, she’ll run back to last year’s race.”

Pretty Reckless could be the one they have to catch if she breaks alertly with Sal Gonzalez Jr. riding her for the first time.

Locket, trained by Frank Barroby, rallied to finish second in the same May 17 race but might not get a similar setup Saturday. Both of her wins came in sprints, but she might want more distance. Her best races came going 1 1/8 miles: a second in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks and a fourth in the Grade 3 Ballerina, beaten 1 3/4 lengths.

Graffiti Grace has some speed, but she didn’t get to show it after she hopped at the start in her first start this year in the May 17 race. The Robbie Anderson trainee could help Locket’s cause if she breaks alertly from the inside post with leading rider Richard Hamel retaining the mount.

Bamboo Dream, third in the $50,000 Brighouse Belles in her first start this year, came back with another solid effort when she rallied to finish a neck behind Locket. Trained by Patty Leaney, Bamboo Dream is looking for her first win since she captured the $50,000 B.C. Cup Debutante as a 2-year-old in 2012.