Weekend stakes lure full fields

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - While the live card at Hastings Park Wednesday evening isn't likely to get local fans' hearts pumping the upcoming weekend looks promising. That's because the $175,000 B.C. Breeders' Cup Oaks plus the $100,000 Jack and Sadie Diamond Futurities all expected to attract full fields.

The $35,000 Cover Girl Stakes also looks like an interesting race, as 3-year-old filly Castle Mountain takes on her elders in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. Castle Mountain has never been beaten at the distance, and is making her first start since the middle of June when she was sidelined with a bruised foot.

The 1 1/8-mile Oaks attracted a strong list of 14 nominations, headed by Collect Call, who ran third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. In her last two starts she finished second in the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks July 14 and third in an allowance race at Del Mar Aug. 2. She began her career at Hastings Park with a 2 1/2-length win in the Lassie Stakes and then was bought by Rod and Lorraine Rodriguez for $250,000 out of the Marshall Naify dispersal sale in Washington last year. She's trained by Christopher Paasch, who said she is a definite starter.

Also nominated to the Oaks is Dark Selene, who won the Grade 1 Selene Stakes at Woodbine, and is the top earner in the race with $287,141. "If we could find a reasonable way of getting there we'll come but right now it looks iffy," said her, trainer Mark Casse.

John Gunther claimed Carson City Red for $50,000 Aug. 9 at Del Mar. She has won her last three starts.

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