Touching Promise returns to route in Vancouver Sun Handicap
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Barbara Heads is looking for an improved performance from Touching Promise when she stretches out to 1 1/16 miles in the $50,000 Vancouver Sun Handicap on Sunday at Hastings. The Sun goes as the sixth race, and there are no standouts in the eight-horse field for the first middle-distance stakes at the meet for fillies and mares.
Touching Promise hasn’t won at the distance in six tries, but the best performance in her 21-race career came going around three turns when she won the Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile Ballerina in her final start of 2014. She wasn’t much of a factor in the Brighouse Belles going 6 1/2 furlongs in her first start this year.
“I know she has won sprinting, but she really wants to go long,” said Heads. “We decided to pass on the Strawberry Morn and point her to the Sun. She worked an excellent six furlongs the other day, so she is certainly doing well coming into the race.”
Sahin Civaci retains the mount.
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Trainer Troy Taylor took the blinkers off Hollywood Miss for the first time in the 6 1/2-furlong Strawberry Morn and got the desired result, as she set the pace and held off Arabella’s Muse by a half-length.
This will be the first time she has gone around three turns, but she should get the distance. Her half-brother Ookashada was a route stakes winner and finished third going 1 3/8 miles in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby.
Taylor said Hollywood Miss probably will stalk her stablemate Dear Lilly, who is coming off a front-running win in a $35,000 optional-claiming sprint May 2.
KEY CONTENDERS
Touching Promise (Last 3 Beyers: 54-77-71)
◗ The only graded stakes winner in the field should appreciate the chance to stretch out for the first time since she won the $100,000 Ballerina in her final start of 2014.
Hollywood Miss (Last 3 Beyers: 75-78-70)
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: She has the breeding to handle the distance, and over the past five years, Taylor has won with 23 percent of his starters who were going from a sprint to a route.
Arabella’s Muse (Last 3 Beyers: 74-78-71)
◗ Trained by Mike Anderson, the route stakes winner is coming off a sharp second behind Hollywood Miss in the Strawberry Morn and should get a nice trip stalking Dear Lilly and/or Hollywood Miss.