Sabrina will need to overcome inside post in sprint feature
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – It is hard to go past Sabrina in a $25,000 optional-claiming race for fillies and mares that will serve as the featured race Saturday at Hastings. After all, the 4-year-old filly has the best Beyer Speed Figures in the field and hasn’t finished worse than second in four starts at Hastings and Emerald Downs this year.
The only concern is that she drew the rail and could get stuck behind horses early in the 6 1/2-furlong dash that drew six horses.
Sabrina has good speed, however, and it is more than likely that leading rider Richard Hamel will be able to work out a decent trip.
Sabrina won her first two starts this year, but following her second win in a $25,000 claiming race at Hastings on May 31, trainer Dino Condilenios was frustrated that he couldn’t get her into a race at Emerald or Hastings for close to two months. Finally getting to run, she came from a stalking position to finish second in a $40,000 optional-claiming race July 25 at Emerald and was the runner-up by a head Aug. 16 in a $25,000 starter optional race at Emerald.
She signaled her readiness with a sharp half-mile breeze in 48.80 seconds on Sept. 18.
Fire Beauty is the obvious threat. She is coming off a runner-up finish for trainer Mel Snow in a $25,000 optional-claiming race Aug. 14.
Summit Central could be the sleeper. She faded in the same race that Fire Beauty exits, but it was just her first start of the year, and she had the clockers at Hastings buzzing when she worked a half-mile in 48 seconds on Tuesday.
Adding interest to the seven-race card is the $78,367 carryover in the Sea to Sky Pick 6 that begins on the second race.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sabrina (Last 3 Beyers: 68-71-78)
◗ The versatile filly can fire fresh, and she’s had a couple of solid works since she just missed in her last start at Emerald Downs.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years at Hastings, Condilenios has a 24 percent strike rate with horses coming back in 31 to 60 days.
Fire Beauty (Last 3 Beyers: 66-57-65)
◗ She is an improving 4-year-old, and after easily winning a $16,000 conditional claimer Aug. 3, she ran a huge race to finish second at this level in her next start.
Summit Central (Last 3 Beyers: 23-64-61)
◗ The barn is high on her, and if she runs to her works, she could pull off the upset for trainer Troy Taylor.