Touching Promise seeks three-peat in Ballerina
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Touching Promise is clearly the horse to beat in the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina at Hastings on Saturday. After all, she is trying to win the race for the third straight year and enters it off back-to-back victories in the $75,000 Pacific Customs Brokers Distaff and $75,000 Delta Colleen.
Under the scale weight conditions of the race, older fillies and mares are carrying 122 pounds, conceding five pounds to Victress and Snuggles, the only 3-year-olds in the six-horse field.
Last year, Touching Promise was a narrow winner over Locket in the Distaff and Delta Colleen before running off to win the Ballerina by 4 1/2 lengths. According to trainer Barbara Heads, she again seems to be peaking at the right time.
It is easy to spot the good-looking chestnut when she is training in the morning. Just look for the horse who is trying to run off while exercise rider Brad Cuthbertson does everything he can to slow her down.
“She’s a hard horse to train, but she seems pretty settled right now,” Heads said. “She is way better than she used to be, and Brad does a great job with her.”
Touching Promise drew post 5 and likely will be in the race early with usual rider Amadeo Perez aboard.
Trainer Rob Gilker made a good investment when he and wife Victoria bought Victress for $3,500 out of the inaugural Hastings paddock sale this spring. In just three starts, the half-sister to Majestic Presence, who is breaking from the rail, has earned $91,500. A big chunk of her earnings came when she edged Snuggles in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks on Sept. 10. In all three of her races [two wins], she trailed the field early with Perez riding. Antonio Reyes picks up the mount.
Gilker said the reason he bought the daughter of Include was because of her breeding. She is out of the Victory Gallop mare Shining Victory.
“I like the Include-Victory Gallop line,” Gilker said. “Plus, she is a big, good-looking filly.”
Snuggles, trained by Dino Condilenios, hadn’t lost this year and had never been beaten going around three turns prior to finishing second to Victress in the Oaks.
KEY CONTENDERS
Touching Promise, by Touch Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 75-74-77
◗ Her tactical speed gives her a big edge over Snuggles and Victress. The race goes through her.
Snuggles, by Rosberg
Last 3 Beyers: 73-72-76
◗ In her first loss going around three turns, she may have moved too soon when she opened up a clear lead on the stretch turn in the Oaks.
Victress, by Include
Last 3 Beyers: 73-72-49
◗ The Oaks winner is still learning, and with just three starts behind her, there could be considerable upside potential.
Three other stakes at Hastings
The Ballerina is one of four stakes at Hastings on Saturday. It shares the limelight with the Grade 3, $100,000 British Columbia Premier’s Handicap. Also on the seven-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific are both divisions of the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes. The colts-and-geldings division looks like a battle among Stanz in Command, Lord Vancouver, and B C Charlie. The fillies’ division is dominated by C U At Eau Claire. Both races are at 1 1/16 miles.