Similkameen Joey, Stole It hook up again in Saturday feature

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Similkameen Joey and Stole It embarked on a suicide mission when they faced each other in a first-level allowance race at Hastings on June 8. Will they knock each other out again when they run in a $16,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two that will serve as Saturday’s feature? If so, it could set up nicely for Steveston Lad, who could be sitting in a perfect spot to pick up the pieces.

The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and goes as race 6 on a seven-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Phil Hall, Steveston Lad rallied from sixth to be part of a triple dead heat for second in a similar race in his first start of the year on May 17. He came back to finish fourth for the same condition on June 7, but leaving from the rail he might have been too close to a wicked pace. He drew post 5, where Keishan Balgobin can ease him into the race and hope the expected duel develops.

It will be interesting to see how Frank Fuentes and apprentice Corrine Andros handle their respective riding assignments aboard Similkameen Joey and Stole It. Both horses want the lead, and they paid for it after battling it out early in their latest race.

Neither horse has shown any inclination to rate, although Stole It rallied from last to finish second after breaking slowly in the second start of his career last year. Trainer Tracy McCarthy may have tipped her hand on how she wants Stole It to be ridden when she sent him out to work a very slow four furlongs last Sunday.

Andros picks up the mount on Stole It from Fuentes, and she is in a bit of a “Catch-22” situation. If she does try to ease Stole It into a stalking position, Similkameen Joey could be tough to catch. She knows what will likely happen if she turns him loose early, though.

Trained by Bill Konyk Jr., Similkameen Joey drew post 2, so it is likely Fuentes will be letting that speedy son of Joey Franco roll early. In his first start this year, Similkameen Joey broke sharply but didn’t fire after Ryan Pacheco eased him into a perfect stalking position behind a three-horse duel that included Stole It.

Fuentes was Similkameen Joey’s regular rider last year and was aboard for his front-running win in a $25,000 maiden-claiming race in the third start of his career.