Projected pace favors Tiptoe in return

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Tiptoe makes her belated 4-year-old debut in a nonwinners-of-three allowance race that headlines the nine-race card Saturday at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong race for 3- and 4-year-old fillies drew six horses, and with plenty of speed signed on, Tiptoe could feast on what figures to be a fast and contested pace.

Trained by Dino Condilenios, Tiptoe was arguably the second-best 3-year-old filly at Hastings last year, but has not raced since she was the runner-up to the sensational Here’s Hannah in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks on Sept. 8.

She is perfect in two starts sprinting, with her only losses coming in three route stakes behind Here’s Hannah. She finished second going 1 1/16 miles in the $50,000 Supernaturel and third in the $50,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club before her solid effort in the 1 1/8-mile Oaks.

If she comes back as good as she left, she will be tough to beat in a race that should set up perfectly for her late-running style.

“She had a minor injury, so we took our time bringing her back,” Condilenios said. “She is training well, and every time she works Antonio comes back with a big smile.”

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He was referring to jockey Antonio Reyes, who will be aboard Tiptoe when she breaks from the outside post.

One of the horses with speed in the field is the Condolenios-trained Krissy, who was impressive winning her first two sprints at the meet but faded badly after being in the mix early in the $50,000 Supernaturel. She was going around three turns for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile Supernaturel and was facing Summerland, who has yet to lose in Canada.

“You can toss the Supernaturel because she grabbed a quarter and she just wasn’t comfortable,” Condilenios said. “She recovered quickly, though. She has speed but she can stalk, so we’ll just see how the race develops.”

Krissy will break from post 2 with leading rider Amadeo Perez riding.

KEY CONTENDERS

Tiptoe, by Tiz Wonderful

Last 3 Beyers: 72-67-72

◗ She won her debut, appears to be primed for a big effort, and the past five years Condilenios has a 25 percent strike rate and $1.91 ROI with horses coming back from a break of 180 days or more.

Northern Graystar, by Graydar

Last 3 Beyers: 79-57-54

◗ Trained by Glen Todd, she took a huge step forward in her last start, and the 79 Beyer she received for her front-running victory in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race is the best in the field.

◗ The jump in class is significant, though, and it will be interesting to see how she holds up under what should be substantial pressure right from the start.

Krissy, by Pop Artist

Last 3 Beyers: 48-75-70

◗ Toss her last race and you are looking at a horse who had an easy time of it winning back-to-back sprints. Another one with speed, she seemed comfortable sitting just off the pace when she finished third to the Condilenios-trained Friday in a maiden special weight race last year.