Slewpast has much harder task

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Slewpast will probably be the favorite in the $40,000 Liberation at Hastings on Saturday, but she could be vulnerable in the 1 1/16-mile feature, which drew seven 3-year-old fillies.

Slewpast, trained by Robbie Anderson, is a three-time stakes winner, and in her first try going around three turns, she finished second to Regal Pusher in the Dikeakos Architects Mademoiselle Handicap on June 17. The Liberation should shape up completely differently from the Mademoiselle, though.

In the Mademoiselle, Slewpast stalked a ridiculously slow pace, so it wasn't surprising that she held on for second. With La Pistola entered on Saturday, the early fractions figure to be much quicker, and it's hard to say how that will affect Slewpast. She will be ridden by Frank Fuentes.

La Pistola just missed to undefeated Avenging Kat in the CTHS Sales Stakes on June 18 and will be stretching out for the first time on Saturday. She has changed trainers since the Sales Stakes, going from Brian Phillips to Terry Jordan.

"I've only had her for a couple of weeks, so I'm not that familiar with her," said Jordan. "But I do know that she's pretty fast, and since she's quick enough to make the lead going short, I think she'll be in front here."

Chad Hoverson will ride.

Secrets Galore will be making her first start at Hastings. As a 2-year-old she finished fourth behind Sis City in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct.