Vying Ty Grr must be caught at Hastings

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Handicappers will have to decide if Vying Ty Grr has enough speed to clear early when she drops into a $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies at Hastings Sunday. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew eight horses and goes as race 7 on the eight-race card, which begins at 1:40 p.m.

Trained by Barbara Heads, Vying Ty Grr used her very good speed to win two stakes as a 2-year-old last year, including the $106,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity. Winless this year, Vying Ty Grr has only one way of going, and if she can open up a clear lead with apprentice Ryan Pacheco riding at 106 pounds, she could be gone.

There is other speed in the field, however, most notably Storm Vixen, who is part of an uncoupled entry trained by Rob Gilker.

In her last start, Vying Ty Grr dueled through wicked fractions in the 1 1/16-mile Hong Kong Jockey Club and, not surprisingly, faded to finish eighth in the nine-horse field. She will appreciate the move back to a sprint and also the much easier company.

Gilker’s pair complement each other. Storm Vixen has good early speed and Audzeezee’s last win came in a $50,000 optional sprint where she came from well off the pace to edge Pat’s Bid by a nose. In her last start Audzeezee finished a distant second going behind Notoriously in the 1 1/16-mile Sonoma Stakes at Northlands Park Aug. 21.

Storm Vixen seems a bit overmatched after setting the pace and fading in a $17,500 claiming race Sept. 6. It was her first start since she finished second in a $25,000 claiming race June 27, so she could move forward in her second start back. At the least she will ensure and honest pace for Audzeezee.

Princess Rainier finished first in Storm Vixen’s Sept. 6 race, but was disqualified to last for interfering with a couple of horses during the early stages of the race. Trained by Larry Grieve, Princess Rainier was coming off of a sharp win over $20,000 maidens Aug. 24, and with her tactical speed she should get a nice trip from just off of what could be a hotly contested pace.

Dream in the Dark and Diana’s Legacy do their best running late and with all of the potential speed in the field, the race could set up nicely for them.

Delta Bouquet, placed first when Princess Rainier was disqualified, and Pat’s Bid round out the field.