Silent Bet: First all the way around

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Two of the premier events on the Hastings schedule will be run Sunday. Both the Jack Diamond Futurity for males and Sadie Diamond Futurity for fillies drew full fields, but they look completely different from a handicapping perspective.

Silent Bet looks like a solid favorite in the Sadie Diamond Futurity, and the Jack Diamond Futurity is wide open. Both races are worth an estimated $100,000 and will be run over 6 1/2 furlongs.

Silent Bet, who races for Canmor Farms and is trained by Steve Henson, has finished first in both of her starts but had her number taken down when she drifted in and impeded Overact in the Lassie Stakes Aug. 17. It looks like she'll be able to clear early and, according to her Beyer Figures, likely will stay in front the whole way. Chris Loseth rides.

A case could be made for just about any of the horses in the Jack Diamond Futurity, which should have a contested pace. Proud Son and Lord Samari have split the four 2-year-old stake races on the Hastings schedule and are the likely favorites.

Steve Bryant, the trainer of Proud Son is confident going into Sunday's race and was happy with the draw. "I was pleased getting the 5-hole," he said. "He should be able to get a clear trip from there."

Proud Son's usual rider, Sam Krasner, is out with a shoulder injury and Bryant and owner Kim Hart have opted to bring David Wilson in from Alberta to ride.

Lord Samari won the New Westminster Stakes Aug. 17 and looked extremely sharp when he worked six furlongs in 1:12.20 last Monday.