R. Associate wins Lieutenant Governors' Handicap

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - R. Associate ($12.70) received a perfect ride by leading rider Pedro Alvarado to win the 1 1/8 miles Grade 3 Lieutenant Governors' Handicap at Hastings Friday.

A Kentucky-bred gelding, R. Associate broke sharply and then settled in behind pace setter Five Point Star and Roscoe Pito. Five Point Star set moderate early fractions of 22:83, 47.30 and 1:12.12 before Roscoe Pito took over the lead at the quarter-pole. Roscoe Pito, who was ridden by Jake Barton, looked like he might win the race when he opened up a length and a half lead at the top of the stretch. But under a vigorous hand ride by Alvarado, R. Associate rallied strongly in the stretch to win by a length.

"I couldn't ask for a better trip," said Alvarado. "And that was a pretty strong move he made in the stretch. I think he's going to be an even better horse in the future."

R. Associate is trained by Arnie Turner and is owned by Garth Weeks who paid $67,000 for the son of Crafty Prospector in the Horses of Racing Age Sale held at Hastings in April. The total purse for the Lieutenant Governors' was $128,265 and R. Associate earned $75,000 for the win.

Quiet Cash rallied late to finish third as the 2-1 favorite. Final time over the fast track was 1:48.94.