Racing Club II goes for three with Shooting Jacket

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Hastings Racing Club was so successful in its inaugural year in 2015 that a second club has been formed this year. The original club had 200 members; one of its horses was Square Dancer, who was the local Horse of the Year.

The club grew to 300 this year, and with even more people clamoring to join, the second club was formed with its membership fully subscribed at 200.

Hastings Racing Club II has won two races at the meet and has a good chance of winning another with Shooting Jacket, who figures to be the favorite in an optional $50,000 claiming race Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and should set up nicely for Shooting Jacket, who is coming off a solid fourth-place finish in the $75,000 Lieutenant Governors’ Handicap on July 1.

Shooting Jacket is trained by Nancy Betts. She had also entered Merlot for the club, and he would have been a heavy favorite to win the fifth race.

“I can’t run Merlot,” Betts said. “There were about 100 e-mails from members concerned that he would get claimed.”

Merlot was cutting his price in half following a third-place finish in a $16,000 conditioned claiming race June 25.

Despite the interference, Betts is enjoying training for the group.

“There are so many wonderful people in the club,” she said. “They obviously love their horses, so I understand that they don’t want to risk losing Merlot. It seemed like the right place to run him though.”

Prior to his troubled fourth in the Lieutenant Governors’ Handicap, Shooting Jacket won a $35,000 optional-claiming race June 5. Betts likes the way he is coming into Sunday’s race.

“He’s coming back pretty quickly, but he usually only runs the last half-mile,” she said. “I don’t know if he was going to win, but he had to wait for room on the stretch turn in the Lieutenant Governors’. It was 10-horse field, and he should get a better trip with only six horses in Sunday’s race.”

Ruben Lara retains the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Shooting Jacket, by Hard Spun
Last 3 Beyers: 83-81-81

◗ He’s been right there in all of his races this year, and with plenty of potential speed in the field, the flow of the race should work in his favor.

Twist Grips, by Benchmark
Last 3 Beyers: 83-74-81

◗ Trained by John Snow, he completed the hat trick when he won at this level going 6 1/2 furlongs June 19.

◗ He has never won at a middle distance, but he’s on top of his game and was good enough to finish third in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in 2014.