Stormy Canuck well placed in claiming sprint
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Stormy Canuck ran like a horse who might have needed a race when he finished third in an $8,000 claiming race May 16. While making his first start since Aug. 29, Stormy Canuck broke a step slow, and after making what looked like a winning move at the quarter pole, he came up empty.
With a race behind him, he could be a handful while making his second start back in an $8,000 claiming race at 6 1/2 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up that drew six horses and goes as the second of seven races Saturday at Hastings.
Trained by Mark Cloutier, Stormy Canuck is looking for his first win since he beat Ganbei in a $25,000 claiming race last May. At the time, he was trained by Cloutier’s wife, Toni Cloutier. Two starts later, he was claimed for $25,000 by trainer Steve Henson, who didn’t have any success with him. Toni Cloutier, acting on behalf of her parents, Roy and Dixie Jacobson, who bred Stormy Canuck, claimed him back for $5,000 last July. He only ran once more in 2014, finishing second by a half-length for $8,000 on Aug. 29.
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Stormy Canuck drew the outside post, where Keshawn Balgobin should be able to put him into a stalking position behind what should be a spirited battle up front.
Stormy Canuck will have to make up the more than six lengths that Leo’s in the House beat him by in his last start.
Trained by Nancy Betts, Leo’s in the House dueled early and then drew off to win decisively in his second start at the meet. He was coming off a fifth-place finish in a $16,000 claiming race won by Lornefivehundred, who repeated for the same price May 24.
KEY CONTENDERS
Stormy Canuck (Last 3 Beyers: 60-71-66)
◗ It has been a while since he won, but this should set up nicely for him.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Adding to his appeal is that over the past five years, Mark Cloutier has a 23 percent strike rate with horses making their second start following a layoff.
Leo’s in the House (Last 3 Beyers: 75-57-50)
◗ He easily handled Stormy Canuck when he romped in his second start at the meet, and the 75 Beyer Speed Figure is a career best.
◗ He will have to deal with other speed, but he has always shown a lot of potential and might be starting to realize it now.
Idontrollonshabbos (Last 3 Beyers: 66-36-68)
◗ Trained by Dave Dahl, he looked good in winning a $4,000 claiming race May 16. He was good enough to win the $50,000 Champions Starters Series Final last year, so he should be able to handle the jump in price.
Memorial service for Principe
A memorial service will be held for Ron Principe in the backstretch kitchen on Saturday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Pacific. Principe, who was 84 when he died Feb. 25, was a longtime fixture as a trainer in Barn M. He is survived by seven daughters who will be at the memorial to exchange stories and celebrate his life. Principe’s Herbie, a horse he owned and trained, won his first start this year for trainer Julie Wicks and figures to be prominent in the second race Saturday. Wicks was Principe’s assistant trainer for the past few years.
“Ron got me started in horse racing and was a real inspiration to a lot of people,” said Wicks. “He is dearly missed.”
Also, this Sunday, the family of Agustin Sandoval will decorate a race in his honor. A jockey, Sandoval was killed in a training accident at Hastings in 1974.