Todd high on Boundary Bay ahead of meet's first juvenile race

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The year’s first 2-year-old race at Hastings kicks off Sunday’s eight-race card, and it should be fun to watch.

“They are babies, and anything can happen,” said trainer Phil Hall, who will be represented by Wise Market and Take the High Road in the 3 1/2-furlong dash that drew seven horses.

From a breeding standpoint, Boundary Bay is the horse to beat.

His dam, Flying Memo, won her debut going 3 1/2 furlongs at Hastings, then named Exhibition Park, for trainer Troy Taylor in 2003. His full brother, O B Harbor, who died from colic last winter, was flat-out fast. He used his substantial speed to win three straight stakes at Emerald Downs last year and set wicked fractions in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile before finishing third to Point Piper, who set a track record.

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Owner and trainer Glen Todd is expecting a big performance from the son of Harbor the Gold.

“He will win for fun,” Todd said.

If Boundary Bay runs to his bullet three-furlong work from the gate May 7, Todd may well be right. With David Lopez aboard, he broke like a rocket and seemed to be well within himself. Lopez will be aboard when Boundary Bay breaks from post 2.

Todd took out his trainer’s license last week after the sudden departure of Elizabeth Stolzenberg. She had taken over many of the Todd-owned horses trained by Troy Taylor, who retired this year due to health concerns. Sandi Gann also trains horses for Todd.

Todd, 70, won 40 races as a trainer from 1976-83. Wayne Russell, a steward at Hastings, worked for Todd back then.

“He knew what he was doing, and he always had good help,” Russell said.

The best thing Todd did was turn over the reins to Taylor. Beginning in 2007, Taylor was the leading trainer at Hastings for six years in a row while mostly training horses owned by Todd.

“Troy was the best horseman I’ve ever known,” Todd said. “We worked as a team, and we both learned from each other. I am going to continue to use the Troy Taylor method of training. Also, I have really good help.”

Trainer Greg Tracy has an excellent record with 2-year-olds and has the only filly in the race, Fastology, who will break from the rail with Richard Hamel riding.

“I am not thrilled about her drawing the 1 hole,” Tracy said. “She’s fast, but I’ve been working on getting her to settle behind horses.”

Boundary Bay ($32,000) and Fastology ($16,000) were purchased out of the 2016 Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association yearling and mixed sale.