Square Dancer looks tough in optional claimer

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Square Dancer, the 2015 local Horse of the Year, is clearly the one to beat in a $25,000 optional-claiming race at Hastings on Friday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew 10 horses and goes as race 6 on a seven-race card that begins at 7 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Steve Henson, Square Dancer hasn’t won since he edged Dontmesswithkitten by a nose in the $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate in 2015. Between then and his most recent start in a $25,000 optional-claiming race July 22, he ran only in stakes races, with his best results being runner-up finishes in the Grade 3 Premiers Handicap in 2015 and the $75,000 Pacific Customs Brokers Classic last year.

With David Lopez riding for the first time, Square Dancer was closer to the pace than usual in his second-place finish behind Neveradoubt on July 22. Neveradoubt came back to just miss in the $50,000 Pacific Customs Brokers Classic on Monday, losing to Modern by a nose in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up.

Square Dancer drew post 6, with Lopez retaining the mount. The 7-year-old Florida-bred should have an honest pace to work with, and with a clean trip, he should get up in time.

The speed of the speed is Bluegrass Angus, who will break from the rail with Antonio Reyes riding.

KEY CONTENDERS

Square Dancer, by Circular Quay
Last 3 Beyers: 71-77-81

◗ He appreciated the class relief in his last race and could feast on what figures to be a fast and contested pace.

Bluegrass Angus, by Bluegrass Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 70-76-82

◗ Trained by Craig MacPherson, he won back-to-back route stakes and lost by a neck in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby when he was the champion 3-year-old here in 2015.

◗ He set an honest pace before settling for third in the same race Square Dancer exits and is certainly capable of taking them all the way if he gets away on his own. It is interesting to see leading rider Richard Hamel bail to ride Coulterberry though.

Coulterberry, by Finality
Last 3 Beyers: 74-76-74

◗ The Mark Cloutier-trained 4-year-old might be better sprinting, but he did win going this distance in his last start as a 3-year-old.

◗ He is coming off a third-place finish going 6 1/2 furlongs on July 22, and Hamel, who was riding him for the first time, was apparently impressed with the performance.

Ps Diamond Cutter, by Grindstone
Last 3 Beyers: 71-63-66

◗ Trained by Cindy Krasner, he is taking a substantial step up in class, but the shape of the race should work for him, and he was impressive in winning a $16,000 claiming race for non-winners of three July 1.

◗ He also may have been trying to tell us something when he worked a bullet five furlongs in 59.80 seconds with Hamel aboard July 30. Ruben Lara inherits the mount.