Richter Red gets tested for class Friday

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – If a trend that started a few years ago continues, there will be a young, lively, and late-arriving crowd at Hastings for the first of four straight Friday evening cards.

The featured race is a $25,000 claiming race that drew eight horses, and it will be interesting to see how a 4-year-old on the rise, Richter Red, holds up when he faces the likes of Grade 3 winner Senor Rojo and Wilo Kat, who is looking for his first win since he captured the B.C. Cup Classic last year. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up goes as race 6 on a seven-race card that begins at 7 p.m. Pacific.

Richter Red is stepping up in class and stretching out in distance following an impressive win July 5 in a $16,000 claiming race for non-winners of three. It was his first start for trainer Anita Bolton, who had claimed him for the same price June 6. He also was stakes-placed going 1 1/16 miles as a 3-year-old, and since 2013, Bolton has a 25 percent strike rate with horses going from a sprint to a route.

Pedro Alvarado retains the mount on Richter Red.

Senor Rojo looked like he found the fountain of youth when he won a $25,000 optional-claiming race July 19. The 9-year-old horse with $479,655 in earnings was reserved early while a hot and contested pace developed in front of him. He finished full of run to win the 1 1/16-mile race by four lengths.

Senor Rojo has been trained throughout his 57-race career by David Forster.

Wilo Kat is looking for easier company after dull efforts in his first three starts in stakes races this year.

KEY CONTENDERS

Richter Red (Last 3 Beyers: 86-61-61)

He improved substantially in his first start for Bolton, came back with two sharp works, and could take another step forward as a second-time Lasix user.

Senor Rojo (Last 3 Beyers: 79-74-74)

The class of the party, he should have an honest pace to work with and should be rolling late.

Wilo Kat (Last 3 Beyers: 57-72-73)

Trained by John Snow, he will try to get turned around with the drop into a claiming race for the first time since he won for $25,000 as a 3-year-old in 2012.

Devil in Disguise (Last 3 Beyers: 73-81-77)

The Troy Taylor trainee is coming off a decent effort in his first route attempt this year, and the winner, Square Dancer, repeated in the $100,000 Redekop Classic last Monday.