Sabrina adds intrigue to co-featured Monday allowance

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – A couple of first-level allowance races share top billing on the seven-race card Monday at Hastings. Post time for the first race is 4 p.m. Management at Hastings wants everyone to know there is neither an admission fee nor a parking fee. This will be the first experiment with Monday racing during the annual fair that takes place on the Pacific National Exhibition grounds. The fair is closed Mondays, and racing fans won’t have to deal with the usual headaches of competing with fair-goers to find a place to park or paying the admission fee that was required to enter the fair to get into the track in the past.

The presence of the newcomer Sabrina makes the sixth race for fillies and mares slightly more interesting than race 7, in which Tracker looks like the one to beat in the eight-horse field. Both races are at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Sabrina is coming off a sharp win in a $25,000 maiden-claiming race June 21 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Mario Morales. She privately was sold to Swift Thoroughbreds Inc. following the race and will be making her first start at Hastings for trainer Dino Condilenios.

Race 6: Allowance

Key contenders

Sabrina (Last 3 Beyers: 82-56-50)

The 82 Beyer Speed Figure she earned for her win in the slop at Gulfstream is not only the best Beyer in this race, but it also eclipses the top figure any of the colts and geldings running for the same condition in the seventh race has ever posted.

The lone 3-year-old in the field appears to have the best speed and could be gone if she breaks on top with Frank Fuentes aboard.

DRF Formulator Fact: Over the past five years, Condilenios has a 28 percent strike rate with horses making their first start after moving to his barn.

Touching Promise (Last 3 Beyers: 72-80-75)

Trained by Barbara Heads, she should appreciate the easier company and shorter distance after setting honest fractions on her way to a game third in the 1 1/8-mile B.C. Cup Distaff.

Race 7: Allowance

Key contenders

Tracker (Last 3 Beyers: 67-66-67)

Although Tracker is coming off a couple dull efforts in Northern California and hasn’t won since 2012, he could give Heads the late double if he runs to his recent works.

Since his last win, he has been facing mostly tougher company running in stakes races, and he came close to winning the Richmond Derby Trial last year. The clockers at Hastings were very impressed with his five-furlong work in 59 seconds flat Aug. 9.

Adding to his appeal is the presence of leading rider Amadeo Perez.