Sunset Drive finds soft spot

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Sunset Drive stands out in a $16,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up who have not won three races, the feature on the final Saturday of the Hastings meet. The meet ends Sunday with the B.C. Cup Classic headlining an eight-race card that includes the B.C. Cup Debutante, B.C. Cup Nursery, and B.C. Cup Distaff. Each is worth $50,000.

Saturday’s eight-race card begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific. Making a guest appearance this weekend is Woodbine-based jockey Sheena Ryan. Ryan won the Sovereign Award as the top apprentice rider in Canada in 2014.

Sunset Drive is a possible single in the last leg of the late pick four and the Sea to Sky Pick 6, which has a $2,460 carryover and a mandatory payout. An additional $5,058 will be added to the Sea to Sky Pick 6 pool.

Trained by Barbara Heads, Sunset Drive is coming off a neck loss to Power Corrupt in the $24,000 HBPA Claiming Championship, a race for horses that had started at least twice for $16,000 in 2017. Power Corrupt, who will be among the favorites in the B.C. Cup Classic, earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure when he came back to easily win a $25,000 optional-claiming race Oct. 1.

Sunset Drive is dropping into an easier spot and figures to be a short price in the 1 1/16-mile race, which drew seven horses.

Sunset Drive has tactical speed and should get a nice trip stalking All Under Control and possibly Martello.

A homebred 4-year-old owned by Russell and Lois Bennett, Sunset Drive will break from post 6 with Antonio Reyes riding for a second straight time.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sunset Drive, by Sungold

Last 3 Beyers: 70-69-63

◗ His Beyer Speed Figures are heading in the right direction, plus he is going to appreciate the class relief after just missing to stakes winner Power Corrupt, who has improved vastly in his last two starts.

Run Harvey Run, by Second in Command

Last 3 Beyers: 67-69-50

◗ Trained by Ryan Deyotte, the 3-year-old British Columbia-bred was going around three turns for the first time when he finished third in a similar race won by next-out winner Kermode on Sept. 30. It is easy to imagine him taking a big step forward with the experience behind him.

Always Sunny, by Sungold

Last 3 Beyers: 59-64-71

◗ Also trained by Heads, he owns the best Beyer, 77, in the field for the distance, and shouldn’t mind the move back to a route after finishing third to Kermode going 6 1/2 furlongs at this level a week ago.

All Under Control, by Storm Victory

Last 3 Beyers: 69-55-66

◗ The Mike Anderson-trained 3-year-old is suspect at the distance, but he will be the controlling speed with leading rider Richard Hamel retaining the mount.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: The past five years at Hastings with Hamel riding, Anderson has a 35 percent strike rate and $2.33 ROI with horses going from a sprint to a route.