Remembertobreathe stretches out in Sunday feature

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Remembertobreathe was a maiden when he beat Tempest by 1 3/4 lengths in a first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds going 6 1/2 furlongs on June 1. He figures to be favored when they come back for the same condition at Hastings on Sunday. This time they will be going 1 1/16 miles in a race that drew six horses and headlines an eight-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Remembertobreathe ran like a horse that will thrive going a middle distance. With Ryan Pacheco aboard, he looked very comfortable sitting just off Tempest, who was carving out modest fractions. He collared Tempest at the quarter pole and didn’t appear to be all out when he started to pull away midstretch.

Trained by Sylvea Gregory, Remembertobreathe has the pedigree to be a good horse, and shouldn’t have any trouble handling a middle distance. His dam won six route races. A half-sister, Tiger Belle, won the $200,000 Calder Oaks on the main track and four races going long on turf. Gregory is looking for a big effort on Sunday from the Florida-bred son of D’wildcat.

“It’s funny,” said Gregory. “I always thought he would be better going long, and after his second start this year I told myself I wasn’t going to run him until I could stretch him out. At the last minute I changed my mind, and Ryan rode a hell of a race. I think he’s a pretty nice horse, and it will be nice to get a long race into him before he runs against stakes horses. He’s doing great, so he should run a good race.”

Pacheco retains the mount.

If all goes well Sunday, Remembertobreathe will likely make his next start here in the $50,000 Chris Loseth on July 1.

Trainer Dino Condilenios is hoping that taking the blinkers off Tempest will help him relax a bit more, which could allow him to carry his speed farther. Tempest won his debut in his only start as a 2-year-old and has finished second in both of his starts this year. He was coming off a second behind Aspen Getaway in the Jim Coleman Province and he looked like death and taxes when Remembertobreathe beat him.

“I’ve always thought he would be a decent horse going long,” said Condilenios. “He certainly has the pedigree for it, but he has to beat Remembertobreathe, who was pretty impressive last time. He’s a nice horse, though, and he’s just learning the game, so there is room for improvement.”

Off the Top, trained by Robbie Anderson, finished six lengths behind Tempest in the previously mentioned June 1 allowance but could improve with blinkers going on for the first time since he wore them in his debut last year. The homebred son of Rosberg is a half-brother to five route winners including the sensational Regal Red, and he ran well when he finished third in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation in his only try at a middle distance.