Stanz in Command goes long in Loseth Handicap
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Is Stanz in Command just a late-running sprinter, or is he going to be one of the major players in the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby on Sept. 10? We should find out when he runs in the $50,000 Chris Loseth Handicap at Hastings on Friday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds is one of four stakes on the nine-race Canada Day card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.
Trainer Charlene Miller is confident that Stanz in Command will thrive at the distance. He didn’t when he finished fourth in last year’s $75,000 Ascot Graduation, won by Crazy Prophet. It was the only time the son of Second in Command finished worse than second. His other loss was in the Jack Diamond Futurity, where he was running over a sloppy surface.
In his two starts going 6 1/2 furlongs this year, the four-time stakes winner rallied to win the Jim Coleman Province and River Rock Casino stakes.
“I actually think he will be better going long,” said Miller. “That was a pretty bad track he ran over in the Ascot.”
Richard Hamel retains the mount.
Silvertown, trained by Dino Condilenios will try to make amends for his nose loss to Stanz in Command in the River Rock Casino. He was making his first start at Hastings for Condilenios, who on behalf of Swift Thoroughbreds Inc. claimed him for $75,000 out of a maiden-claiming race he won at Keeneland on April 22.
Ridden by Rico Walcott, Silvertown looked like he was going to blow by the field on the stretch turn of the River Rock Casino but stalled. When they straightened out, he emerged with the lead but got caught in the last jump by Stanz in Command.
“It’s hard to tell, but Rico said he got shut off on the turn, and it took away his momentum,” said Condilenios. “We didn’t have him for very long before the River Rock, and we’re getting to know him a lot better now.”
Crazy Prophet, the only horse with a win going around three turns, was part of the blanket finish in the River Rock.
“I am looking forward to stretching him out,” said trainer Jim Brown.
Snuggles in Supernaturel
Snuggles will be a short price to win the $50,000 Supernaturel Handicap for 3-year-old fillies. Trained by Condilenios, she won the first two sprint stakes at the meet, and the only time she went a middle distance, she won the $75,000 Fantasy in her final start as a 2-year-old. She looks formidable in Friday’s 1 1/16-mile race, which drew five horses.
C U At Eau Claire is the only horse to beat Snuggles, and she did it in three straight sprint stakes before finishing second to her in the Fantasy. She is coming off a third-place finish for trainer Greg Tracy in the $59,000 Red Smith Handicap at Northlands Park on June 18.
◗ Friday’s card is easily the best of the year at Hastings and will be streamed live at DRF.com.