Sabrina gets class relief in Saturday sprint
VANCOUVER, B.C. – Sabrina and Dear Lilly are the main players in an optional $25,000 claiming race that will serve as the featured race at Hastings on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares drew seven horses and goes as the third race on a seven-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.
Sabrina, trained by Dino Condilenios, will appreciate the class relief after running in the first two stakes at the meet for fillies and mares. She was involved early in both the Brighouse Belles and Vancouver Sun but couldn’t keep up when it mattered. She likely will be the one to run down Saturday. The last time she ran at this level, she romped by 5 1/2 lengths on Oct. 3 to close out her 2015 campaign.
Sabrina is reunited with leading rider Richard Hamel, who was aboard for two of her last three wins. Expect him to put her into the race soon after she breaks from post No. 3.
Dear Lilly will make her first start since finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Ballerina on Oct. 12. Trained by Troy Taylor, she runs well fresh, as seen in her blowout win in an optional $35,000 claiming race in her first start last year.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sabrina, by Belgravia
Last 3 Beyers: 70-67-74
◗ Toss out her last two starts in stakes, and she hasn’t finished worse than second in her five previous races.
◗ She drew inside the other speed, so it is likely that Hamel will put her on the lead. However, she is versatile and can stalk.
Dear Lilly, by Graeme Hall
Last 3 Beyers: 72-77-68
◗ She can fire fresh and may have tipped her hand when she worked a bullet five furlongs in 59.20 seconds May 23.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years at Hastings, Taylor has a 21 percent strike rate with horses coming off a layoff of 180 days or longer.
Bold N Lovely, by Bold Executive
Last 3 Beyers: 63-66-52
◗ Trained by Carl Lausten, she won’t mind the move back to a sprint and a drop in class after rallying to finish third going 1 1/16 miles in an optional $35,000 claiming race June 11. She was coming off a runner-up finish in a key race at this level April 30.
Fire Beauty, by Skimming
Last 3 Beyers: 68-77-42
◗ The consistent 5-year-old romped in a $16,000 claimer in her first start of the year and fits better here after finishing fourth in a $50,000 optional claimer May 21.