Riding decisions loom key at Hastings
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Strategy will play a big part in which horse wins the feature race at Hastings Friday. The second-level allowance race, which has a $50,000 claiming option, is for fillies and mares goes as the seventh race. All six horses entered in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint are in for a price.
There is an abundance of speed in the field but a couple of the potential front-runners are capable of stalking. Chad Hoverson, who rides Restless Lady for trainer Cindy Krasner, will have to make a decision on whether to send early or try and take a hold and hope the expected duel develops between Tamarinda and Smokin Danielle. Restless Lady drew the outside post. and if she does get involved right out of the gate there is a strong possibility she will get hung out at least three wide going around the first turn.
Restless Lady has won three races at the meet and twice she came from off the pace. She won a similar race from a stalking position on June 12 and she came from last to win a $25,000 optional race going 6 1/2 furlongs on May 24. In her latest start she dueled with Smokin Danielle and then tired to finish fourth in a $50,000 optional race on Aug. 9.
Smokin Danielle, trained by Toni Cloutier, has been either first or second in her last five starts. She is coming off a second-place finish behind Montero in a $25,000 optional race on Aug. 29 and she won the race Restless Lady exits on Aug. 9. In all six of her wins in her 20-race career she has either been first or second throughout the race, and it is expected that jockey Mario Gutierrez will put her into the race right from the start.
With all of the speed signed on, especially Tamarinda who will break from the rail, it could set up nicely for Random Highs. Trained by Sylvea Gregory, Random Highs is coming off of a fourth-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Strawberry Morn Handicap on Sept. 7. It was the first time she tried a middle distance and she should appreciate the move back to a sprint and also the easier company. In her two previous starts she lost by a neck to Smokin Danielle on Aug. 9, and beat Smokin Danielle by 1 1/2 lengths on July 25.
Daymaker, fifth in the Strawberry Morn, will also appreciate a hotly contested pace.