Spaghetti Mouse, Monashee, and Lieutenant Governors' spice two carryovers
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Three $50,000 stakes races make up a large portion of the Canada Day card at Hastings on Friday. The first of seven races on the holiday card goes at 2 p.m. Pacific.
Adding more interest to the stakes-filled card are carryovers in the pick 5 of $34,144, and pick 6 of $24,743.
The most interesting of the three stakes may be the $50,000 Spaghetti Mouse for 2-year-olds, which is the last leg of the early pick four and first leg of the late pick four. The Spaghetti Mouse is directly followed by the Monashee for fillies and mares and Lieutenant Governors’ for 3-year-olds and up. Both races will be contested at 6 1/2 furlongs.
The six-furlong Spaghetti Mouse is the first two-turn race at the meet for 2-year-olds and it is a crapshoot with mostly first-time starters and no obvious favorite.
Trainer Edgar Mendoza is looking for strong efforts from Legacy Square and Bak to Liberty, both of whom are well bred.
Legacy Square is a half-brother to U Did It, who dominated the 2-year-old filly division at Hastings last year and was undefeated until she finished second June 11 in the $50,000 River Rock Casino, where she was game in defeat after dueling through brutal interior fractions.
Bak to Liberty is a half-brother to Infinite Patience, who was the champion 2-year-old filly in Canada in 2019 and will be heavily favored in the Monashee.
“We like both of them,” said Mendoza. “They are smart and working nicely. I can’t choose between them.”
Readytotapnsing has been firing bullets at Century Mile for trainer Milton Palma. He is the second foal out of an unraced mare, and his half-brother, the 4-year-old Psychedelic Shack, won his debut going five furlongs on turf in a maiden special weight race at Tampa Bay Downs on March 19.
A Kentucky-bred gelding by Tapiture, Readytotapnsing was on his toes when he galloped over the local strip Tuesday morning.
The Barbara Heads-trained Askmenoquestions is out of the Grade 2 winner Golden Dawn, and his half-brother Gladiator King is a two-time Group 3 sprint winner at Meydan with $681,956 in earnings.
“He’s done everything right and is a classy little horse,” said Heads.
The son of Palace Malice galloped out strongly after working five furlongs from the gate in 1:01.20 June 25.
Heads likes the way Infinite Patience is coming into the Monashee after being scratched out of the $50,000 Emerald Downs at Hastings June 4.
A 5-year-old daughter of Sungold, Infinite Patience will be trying to keep her five-race winning streak alive in the Monashee.
“We are a little bit behind missing the Emerald Downs, and I would have liked to have another work in her, but she worked really well, so she’s good to go.”
Heads was referring to her six-furlong move in 1:13.00 on June 24.
Infinite Patience may have missed the Emerald, but it was a good race for Heads, who saddled the winner, Solarity, and runner-up Cha Ching in the 6 1/2-furlong dash. Both are entered in the Monashee.
The Brian O’Connell-trained Bayakoa’s Image, who was the top 3-year-old filly at Hastings and Emerald Downs last year, will try to get back on track after getting off to a poor start on her way to a last-place finish in the Emerald Downs.
Queen of Attitude is taking a big step up in class, but she was impressive winning a nonwinners-of-two allowance race with a $20,000 claiming option June 4.
She got off to a horrible start and then made a Silky Sullivan-like move to get up in time in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint.
“I was headed to the winner’s circle when she went past the finish line the first time,” said her always-confident trainer, Steve Henson. “Don’t leave her out.”
Sir Bregovic, trained by James Strachan, looks like the one to catch in the Lieutenant Governors’.
The 6-year-old British Columbia-bred gelding by Sir Gallovic held on well to finish third after dueling through unrealistic fractions in the $50,000 George Royal on June 4. Sir Bregovic can be a tough horse to get past when he gets his nose in front early and he should be able to set a more moderate pace Friday.
He will break from post 2 with Efrain Hernandez picking up the mount from the injured Cerapio Figueroa.
The 5-2 morning-line favorite Porter Gent is the main threat.
Trained by Mendoza, the 5-year-old son of Second in Command is as honest as they come, with a 7-6-1 record from 15 starts. He has speed but is versatile. After stalking a wicked pace in the George Royal, he looked like the winner when he took over the lead mid-stretch. However, in a thrilling finish he was caught at the wire by Uncharacteristic.
Considering Porter Gent has finished first or second in his last seven starts, it is easy to imagine him being right there at the finish line once again.