Tappin Vegas will face just four in Western Canada Handicap

Tappin Vegas looks like a standout and will be a very short price in the $50,000 Western Canada Handicap on Saturday at Northlands Park. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds drew five horses, including Blue Dancer, who will appreciate the substantially easier company in his first start since he set the early pace in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

Using Beyer Speed Figures, Tappin Vegas is pretty much home and cooled out. Trained by Robertino Diodoro, the Mercedes Stables homebred earned an 86 Beyer for his third-place finish in a 1 1/16-mile, $50,000 optional-claiming race April 8 at Oaklawn. The top figure any of his rivals have earned is the 65 that Blue Dancer received for finishing 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

In his previous start, Tappin Vegas finished third in a $62,500 optional-claiming sprint won by Holy Boss. Holy Boss came back to win the $100,000 Bachelor at Oaklawn on April 10 and the $100,000 Chick Lang on the Preakness undercard. In the Chick Lang, he was given a 100 Beyer for his two-length win.

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Diodoro said he was pleased with the way Tappin Vegas has trained since arriving at Northlands earlier this month and expects a strong performance with Rico Walcott riding.

Blue Dancer was hopelessly overmatched in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but at least he was in the race for six furlongs before fading.

Trained by Greg Tracy, Blue Dancer went into the race undefeated, with stakes wins at Northlands, Assiniboia Downs, and Hastings, where he was very game in his first try going around three turns in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation. He will be running as a first-time gelding.

“His neck was starting to get very heavy, so we cut him,” said Tracy. “He’s really training well, and at least we know he likes running on the turns here. Robertino’s horse looks pretty tough, but you never know how they are going to handle a bullring.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Tappin Vegas (Last 3 Beyers: 86-81-65)

◗ He’s been holding his own while facing tougher company, and he signaled his readiness when he worked a bullet four furlongs out of the gate in 45.20 seconds May 12.

Blue Dancer (Last 3 Beyers: 65-63-63)

◗ A triple stakes winner, he has enough speed to take advantage of his inside post.

Purple Heaven (Last 3 Beyers: 62-55-45)

◗ Trained by Twylla Bensmiller, he was disqualified after finishing in front of Blue Dancer in the Edmonton Juvenile last year.

◗ An improved 3-year-old, he has romped in both of his starts as a sophomore at Turf Paradise and Northlands.