Race shape might give Not Yet the edge over Driller in Sunday allowance

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Not Yet and Driller look like the main players in a third-level allowance race that carries a top optional claiming price of $40,000 on Sunday at Hastings. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds an up drew six horses and goes as race 2 on an eight-race card that begins at 4:30 p.m. Pacific.

Not Yet has the right running style for the potential shape of the race. Trained by Rob Gilker, Not Yet is a stalker and should have an honest and contested pace to work with.

He is moving up in class after winning a $25,000 claimer in his first start of the year July 14. The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Colonel John sat just off a moderate pace set by Boundary Bay while going three wide in the 6 1/2-furlong dash. He took over the lead on the stretch turn but was soon overtaken by multiple stakes winner Calgary Caper. Not Yet appeared to be beaten in midstretch, but under strong urging from leading rider Fernando Perez he came back to edge Calgary Caper and Boundary Bay, who dead-heated for second, by a nose.

Not Yet is arguably a better horse going around three turns, and with two sharp interim works he could be sitting on a big race in his second start back.

He will break from post 5 with Perez riding.

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Driller is coming off a runner-up finish behind Coulterberry in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ in his second start at the meet on Aug. 6.

A Mel Snow-trained 6-year-old, Driller held a narrow lead at the eighth pole in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, but could not hold off the strong late move by the winner.

Driller won the 2018 John Longden going around three turns, but five of his six wins have been in sprints, and his most important win came going seven furlongs in the $100,000 Harvest Plate at Century Downs in 2018.

Expect Silvino Morales to put him into the race soon after he breaks from post 3.

Day Raider could be dangerous stretching out to his best distance after running evenly going 6 1/2 furlongs in a conditioned allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option in his first start of the year.

Trained by Craig MacPherson, Day Raider is a two-time winner at the distance, with one of his victories coming in the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial in 2018. The Kentucky-bred son of New Year’s Day followed up his strong performance in the Churchill with a runner-up finish going 11 furlongs in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park.

Day Raider started only twice in 2019 and was turned out after he won a 1 1/16-mile allowance race for nonwinners of three on July 6 last year.

With ample speed to run at, he could be heard from late. Scott Williams rides.