Province figures wide open

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Finally, a stakes race at Hastings you can sink your teeth into. The first two stakes at Hastings this year were basically walkovers for True Metropolitan in the George Royal and Holy Nova in the Brighouse Belles. Dancing Allstar was an odds-on favorite in a four-horse field in Saturday's Emerald Downs here.

Thankfully, the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province for 3-year-olds on Sunday drew a competitive field. It appears that most of the nine horses entered in the six-furlong feature are capable of winning.

Trained by Rob Gilker, Savo Island will be making his first start since he finished a very good second to D. Double You at Golden Gate on Jan. 26. D. Double You went on to win his next start and then finished third in the Grade 3 Baldwin at Santa Anita on March 2.

Acting on behalf of Leo and Norma Shaw, Gilker claimed Savo Island out of a $32,000 maiden race he won at Golden Gate on Dec. 15. The Shaws were immediately rewarded when Savo Island came back to win a $40,000 starter Jan. 3.

"We claimed him with the hope that he would be a stakes horse up here," said Gilker. "We turned him out after his last race in order to have a fresh horse, and he seems to be doing extremely well right now."

Trainer Terry Jordan likes the chances of both Diamond Tree and Tigerheat. Tigerheat could be favored off of his very good second to Krazy Koffee in his first start at Hastings.