Vegas Folly should get first '03 win

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - If Vegas Folly comes close to repeating her last race she will be very tough to beat in Sunday's Hastings feature, a $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles. Six others have been entered, including Win for Avie, who is looking for her fourth straight win.

Vegas Folly, who races for Northland Enterprises Inc. and is trained by Peter Stephen, looks like a standout. In her first try going around three turns she just missed to Class Choice at this price Aug. 17, and the final time was a brisk 1:45.32. Her 74 Beyer Figure is easily the highest in the field and her stalking style should suit the shape of the race perfectly.

Vegas Folly was a busy horse at 2, starting nine times and winning twice, but she's still relatively fresh this year at 3, as this will be just her fifth start. She's still looking for her first win this year, and all indications are that she will get it Sunday. Nicola Wright rides.

Win for Avie is stepping up from $15,000 and has to be respected off of her three straight wins. Her most impressive performance was her latest, in which she stretched out for the first time and won by 4 1/4 widening lengths over Aquina's Rose July 19. That's almost six weeks ago, though, and while she's been working steadily in the interim, it's hard to see her beating Vegas Folly off that long of a layoff.

Win for Avie is trained by Richard Cloutier, who is doing extremely well with his small string of horses. Apprentice Mark Lawson picks up the mount on Win for Avie.

Rainbows Forever should appreciate what should be a fast pace.