Twistgrips set to kick off 10-year-old season with a win

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – As a 10-year-old, Twistgrips is getting a bit long in the tooth. However, his trainer John Snow said he doesn’t act his age and expects the gelding to run well Sunday at Hastings in his first start this year.

A deep closer, Twistgrips should appreciate the shape of the $16,000 waiver claimer for 3-year-olds and up, which drew seven horses. The six-furlong dash goes as race 4 on an eight-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Twistgrips can fire fresh. He scored a huge upset when he paid $108.90 for a neck win in his debut in 2012. In 2013 and 2016 he won coming off lengthy layoffs.

He didn’t win last year, but he finished second in his last three starts, and with a solid set of works this spring, he appears to be primed for a strong effort.

“The old guy is doing really well,” said Snow. “He is a mean horse so nobody wants to turn him into a show horse. He likes his job as a racehorse, though, so we’ll keep running him for now.”

Twistgrips will break from post 6 with Enrique Gonzalez aboard.

The Odds R Good, trained by Snow’s father, Mel, has just one way of going and could be dangerous if he can clear early. There is other speed in the field, though. The good news is that The Odds R Good can run hooked and keep going, like he did in a $16,000 claiming race at Hastings on Oct. 7 in his last start. The runner-up was Twistgrips.

KEY CONTENDERS

Twistgrips, by Benchmark

Last 3 Beyers: 68-71-66

◗ The consistent gelding has compiled a 9-10-9 record from 41 starts and earned $232,279, all for his owner-breeder Gordon Christoff. He also has a good record at the distance.

The Odds R Good, by Cause to Believe

Last 3 Beyers: 75-70-73

◗ The classy 7-year-old is a nine-time winner and has been training forwardly for Snow, who the past five years has a 16 percent strike rate and $1.79 ROI with horses coming off a layoff of 180 days or more.

Silvertown, by Speightstown

Last 3 Beyers: 55-83-57

◗ The 6-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding has been impressive in his works this spring and he does have some back class.

◗ Trained by Keith Pedersen, he does his best work when he gets involved early, and with plenty of potential speed drawn inside, he could be up against it breaking from the outside post.