Third turn makes Ascot Graduation a real crapshoot

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Anything could happen when 12 juveniles go around three turns for the first time in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation at Hastings Monday.

Only two horses in the field have gone the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Ascot, Turntheclocktozero and Lolo Paniolo, both trained by Kay Cooper. But they went the distance in the $100,000 Gottstein Futurity at Emerald Downs, which was run at two turns. At Hastings, 1 1/16-mile races are at three turns.

Cooper will also be represented by Forty Smooches, who is coming off a sharp win in a second-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at Emerald on Sept. 22.

Turntheclocktozero is the most accomplished of the three. He won a maiden special weight race going 5 1/2 furlongs at Emerald in his second start. Running over a track rated wet-fast, he set a fast pace before settling for third in the Gottstein in his latest start on Sept. 22.

The son of Harbor the Gold has a right to move forward in his second route attempt and could be the one they have to run down. He will break from post 9 with Assael Espinoza up.

Cooper likes the way Forty Smooches is developing.

The Washington-bred son of Munnings didn’t fire and ran sixth when he debuted in the $45,000 WTBOA Lads on Aug. 18. However, he improved significantly when he rallied to finish third in the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings. He put it all together in his last start, winning the 5 1/2-furlong optional claimer by 1 3/4 lengths.

“He just seems to be getting better and hopefully he will improve going forward,” said Cooper. “They all worked here and they seemed to handle the track and tighter turns. Lolo Paniolo, which means ‘crazy Hawaiian cowboy,’ might not be as talented, but I do know he wants to go long.”

The local contingent is headed by Baktura, Synergy, and Capilano Canyon, who finished within three-quarters of a length of each other in the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity on Sept. 22.

Baktura finished first in the 6 1/2-furlong dash, contested over a track rated sloppy. However, he was declared unplaced by the stewards for causing Bakken the U S S R to go over the rail approaching the five-furlong pole. Jockey Richard Hamel was given a three-day suspension for causing the incident. He has appealed and has a hearing scheduled for Oct. 17.

Hamel will be aboard Baktura when he breaks from the rail Monday.

Trained by Craig MacPherson, Baktura came from a stalking position when he won his debut on Aug. 26. He dueled early in the Futurity, looked beat on the stretch turn, but battled back gamely.

Capilano Canyon, trained by Dave Forster, finished third but may have won the Futurity with a clean trip. After getting shuffled back approaching the quarter pole he finished fastest of all in the stretch. He will break from post 5 with Jose Acencio retaining the mount.

A son of Abraaj, Capilano Canyon should get the distance. He is out of Remarkable Miss, who won two route stakes as a 3-year-old for trainer Barbara Heads.

The Heads-trained Synergy won his debut on a sloppy track and came from well back to get up for second in the Futurity. He should be rolling late with Antonio Reyes riding.