Teide still hoping for Dirt Mile

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Unfortunately for the connections of Teide, the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers at Hastings on Sunday isn't a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In. Instead, they are hoping for an easy win and then for Teide to get in the BC Dirt Mile.

One thing's for sure - Teide will be heavily favored in the Premiers, the 1 3/8-mile feature that drew five horses.

Trained by Dino Condilenios, Teide has dominated the local older stakes division at Hastings. He is coming off two straight wins and posted a 100 Beyer Speed Figure 9 1/4-length win over Krazy Koffee in the Sir Winston Churchill on Sept. 27.

Despite a rough trip in the , he lost by only three-quarters of a length. A clean trip may have meant a victory, and the Longacres Mile was a Win and You're In.

"There isn't much we can do about it," said Condilenios, who is concerned about the Dirt Mile overfilling. "We'll just have to wait and see how many nominate and whether or not he gets in. For now, we're just looking at the Premiers. An easy win would be nice, but there are a couple of nice horses in the field, and it's never easy going a mile and three-eighths."

Teide has good tactical speed and should get a stalking trip under Chad Hoverson.

Krazy Koffee appears to have the best chance to pull off an upset. Trainer Cindy Krasner said she is hoping the distance will be an equalizer.

"Let's face it, we're all probably running for second money," she said. "I don't think Teide will have any problem going a mile and three-eighths, but you never really know. At least we know my horse can go that far."

Coming off a win in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby, Krazy Koffee finished second by a neck to Rosberg in the 2008 Premiers. His lone win this year came in the restricted $110,000 British Columbia Cup Classic.

Spaghetti Mouse is the top money earner in the field with $889,456 but has gone winless this year. Trained by Lenore Daponte, Spaghetti Mouse forced a fast pace in the Churchill before tiring to finish third. To have any chance in the Premiers, jockey Garry Cruise will have to find a way to harness Spaghetti Mouse's speed.