Watch Illusive Force, Searchin South

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Full fields in the Jack Diamond and Sadie Diamond futurities highlight a 13-race program at Hastings Park Saturday. Both 6 1/2-furlong races are worth $100,000 and are restricted to 2-year-olds foaled in Canada.

Illusive Force will be one of the favorites in the Jack Diamond Futurity, which drew 10 colts and geldings. He started his career in the New Westminster Stakes Aug. 24, and was beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Bullseye Bill, who is also entered Saturday and will likely receive heavy support.

Illusive Force then scored a workman-like victory over maiden special weights foes Sept. 15, and has worked sharply leading into the Futurity.

He's trained by Robert VanOverschot, who has also entered Nanas Legacy.

"I think they both have a chance," said VanOverschot. "Illusive Force probably has more talent, but Nanas Legacy has an intense desire to win."

Nanas Legacy also started out against stakes horses, running fourth in the BC Nursery, then came back to win a hard-fought key race that produced next out winners Prerequisite and Weepinbell. Illusive Force will be ridden by David Wilson; Nanas Legacy will have Jose Alferez aboard.

There's not a lot of pure speed in the field, which is unusual for a 2-year-old stakes race here, and that could help Bullseye Bill.

He has tactical speed and should be on or near the lead. He won the New Westminster Stakes, then finished fifth on a sloppy track in the CTHS Sales Stakes. He also bled in the Sales Stakes and will race on Lasix Saturday. "He really struggled over the track and that was probably the reason he bled," said his trainer, Jim Brown. "He had a nice work the other day so, hopefully, he'll rebound with a better effort."

Thirteen fillies entered the Sadie Diamond Futurity, but only 11 will run. Leading trainer Harold Barroby will saddle one of the likely favorites, Searchin South.

A $17,833 yearling purchase, Searchin South went gate to wire to capture the CTHS Sales Stakes Sept. 8, and according to Barroby is coming up to the race in excellent shape. "She was fighting shins going into her last race but she seems to have gotten over them now," he said.

Searchin South drew the rail and her jockey, Anthony Stephen, figures to be sending her from there. She will face strong opposition, though, and a case could be made for any of the horses entered.

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