We B Three, Be Quick respective favorites in Monday, Tuesday features

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – We B Three and Be Quick were equally impressive beating older horses in their first start as 3-year-olds this year. They figure to be short prices in open allowance races for sophomores at Hastings, We B Three on Monday and Be Quick on Tuesday. Both races carry a $30,000 purse and will be contested over 6 1/2 furlongs.

First up is We B Three, who will face a stern challenge in a filly allowance on Monday. Included in the seven-horse field are stakes winners Rea Mea and Mi Ryna as well as Bayakoas Image, who looked good winning a $50,000 optional maiden-claiming race for fillies and mares in her first start this year.

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Trainer Steve Henson is looking for a big effort from We B Three. Despite going at least three wide while forcing a fast pace in a six-furlong allowance race for nonwinners-of-three on May 10, she drew off to win by five lengths. Ridden by Scott Williams, she paid $13.60.

Henson was not surprised by We B Three’s strong performance. It was just her third start and first since she finished second as the favorite in the Sadie Diamond on Oct. 1.

“She’s kind of freakish,” said Henson. “Her work going into the race was awesome and she seems to be better now than she was going into her last one.”

We B Three will break from post 5 with Williams retaining the mount.

Rea Mea is perfect in two starts, both for owner-trainer-breeder Christine Ammann, and has been training forwardly leading up to her first race since she won the Sadie Diamond by two lengths. Antonio Reyes will be aboard when she breaks from the outside post.

Rea Mea is fast but may need to stalk with other speed drawn inside of her.

The Keith Pederson-trained Be Quick will be a very short price on Tuesday. He is coming off a win over a solid field of older horses in a nonwinners-of-two or nonwinners-of-three for British Columbia-breds in his second career start on May 3. The Kentucky-bred colt won going 3 1/2 furlongs as a 2-year-old last Sept. 19.

The 82 Beyer Speed Figure he received for his win on May 3 stands out in Tuesday’s field, and unless he bounces, he will be tough to beat with Antonio Reyes retaining the mount.

There is other speed in the field, most notably Foot Soldier, who is making his first start of the year and is trained by Milton Palma. Foot Soldier is coming off a front-running win in the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity on Oct. 1.

Trainer Dino Condilenios is hoping Be Quick and Foot Soldier get involved in an all-out duel, which could help set up Blueprint.

Blueprint, the runner-up to Foot Soldier in the Jack Diamond, was bottled up most of the way when he won a $20,000 optional maiden-claiming race on May 3. Reyes had a stranglehold on him until a small hole opened up turning for home. After muscling his way through, Blueprint exploded to win by four lengths.

“I like my horse,” said Condilenios. “He was fighting shins all last year but he’s great now. Antonio obviously likes Keith’s better, but I give mine a big shot.”

With Reyes staying on Be Quick, Williams picks up the mount on Blueprint.

Condilenios is looking forward to starting Armed and Humble and Saver the Kiss in the first 2-year-old race at the meet on Tuesday. The 3 1/2-furlong dash drew six horses and will likely be won by either Condilenios, or owner-trainer Glen Todd, who has three horses entered. It goes as the third race. The Milton Palma-trained Get Bakk completes the field.

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A B.C.-bred colt by Midnight Lute, Armed and Humble has been working fast and he was very impressive going a half-mile out of the gate in 47.60 seconds in his final drill on May 16.

“They both can run, but you have to give the edge to Armed and Humble,” said Condilenios. “He’s faster out of the gate and that is half the battle going three and a half.”

Wine Taster has shown the most of the uncoupled Todd threesome, which includes Don W and the filly Ice Breaker. A Kentucky-bred son of Tapiture, Wine Taster was much the best when he worked in company with Don W on May 17. The 35.40 seconds they posted for three furlongs was the best of the day, and leading rider Efren Hernadez appeared to have a lot of horse under him aboard Wine Taster.

Hernandez will be aboard when Wine Taster breaks from the inside post on Tuesday.

“Actually the filly is the quickest out of the gate, but Wine Taster is by far the best of the three,” said Todd. “I hate that he drew the rail, and if he doesn’t break sharply he will be up against it. He just might be good enough to overcome it, though.”

◗ After four days of racing, the total mutuel handle at Hastings is up more than 33 percent compared to last year. Expect more of the same Monday, especially considering there is a $15,462 carryover in the pick six jackpot. The seven-race card begins at 5 p.m. Pacific.