Silent Native gets class relief in Monday route feature
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Silent Native was going a middle distance for the first time when he finished third in an optional $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds on Aug. 14. He will appreciate the easier company in a $16,000 claiming race for sophomores that headlines the eight-race card at Hastings on Monday. Post time for the first of eight races is 5 p.m. Pacific.
Silent Native, trained by Phil Hall, likely will be favored in the sixth race, which drew seven horses going 1 1/16 miles.
Hall is having a strong meet, with 32 percent of his 41 starters winning, with a median payoff of $12. Silent Native settled for third in his first try going around three turns, and he figures to move forward with the experience behind him. The 67 Beyer Speed Figure he received is a career best and is easily the top last-race figure in this field.
The one concern is that he drew the outside post, and with other speed drawn inside of him, he could get hung out on the first turn, which comes up pretty quickly.
Denis Arujo retains the mount and will have to decide if he wants to try to gun Silent Native to the lead or try to get him into a stalking position.
KEY CONTENDERS
Silent Native, by Storm Victory
Last 3 Beyers: 67-55-61
◗ He is the first foal out of the route winner Miss Kay Dee Raine, who finished third in the $122,137 British Columbia Oaks, so it wasn’t surprising that he ran as well as he did in his first route attempt.
Otis Brown, by Stephanotis
Last 3 Beyers: 59-49-11
◗ Also trained by Hall, he is stepping up in class, but he was very impressive in winning a bottom-level maiden-claiming race going 1 1/16 miles in just his third start.
◗ He is the only horse in the field who has a win going a middle distance, and he should get a cozy trip from the inside post.
Keep Right On, by Finality
Last 3 Beyers: 56-54-57
◗ Trained by Barbara Heads, he has the right running style for the shape of the race, and being a half-brother to B.C. Cup Marathon winner I’m Big Trouble, he could thrive in his first route attempt.
Fear of the Cat, by Abraaj
Last 3 Beyers: 59-64-58
◗ Not convinced that he wants to go this far, but trainer Sylvea Gregory is taking the blinkers off, and he wasn’t wearing them when he was one of the top 2-year-olds here last year.