Weekend Wizard gets blinkers for George Royal Stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Prior to Weekend Wizard making his first start as a 4-year-old in the $50,000 Swift Thoroughbred Inaugural on May 4 at Hastings, trainer Craig MacPherson expressed some concern about how the multiple stakes winner would leave the starting gate.

“He needs to be involved early and he’s cost himself more than one win by breaking poorly,” MacPherson said at the time.

Weekend Wizard was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the 6 1/2-furlong dash, but his chances were pretty much over when he broke a half-step slow and was squeezed back to last.

MacPherson is hoping the addition of blinkers will help Weekend Wizard be more aggressive leaving the starting gate Sunday in the $50,000 George Royal. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and headlines a seven-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.

“He’s an easy horse to train, does everything right, and he really doesn’t need blinkers to race,” MacPherson said. “It’s just an effort to help him get away better. He’s never raced with blinkers, but he seems comfortable wearing them in the mornings, and he did seem a bit more focused when we took him to the gate.”

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Weekend Wizard was the best 3-year-old at Hastings last year and ran huge races to finish second in the $100,000 Getaway Day at Emerald Downs and Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings.

He could be a handful if he breaks alertly from post 6 with Richard Hamel aboard.

KEY CONTENDERS

Weekend Wizard, by Rosberg

Last 3 Beyers: 69-90-83

◗ The move to an outside post should help, and if he does break with the field, he figures to get a nice trip from a forward position.

Apalachee Bay, by Malibu Moon

Last 3 Beyers: 79-80-91

◗ Similar to Weekend Wizard, the Phil Hall-trained 4-year-old needs to be involved early, and despite getting bogged down on the rail behind horses, he finished second to Pan Handle in the Swift.

◗ He could be dangerous if he breaks alertly leaving from post 2 with leading rider Amadeo Perez retaining the mount.

“I would have preferred an outside post, but if he breaks well he should be in the mix early,” Hall said.

Pitch Count, by Eskendereya

Last 3 Beyers: 88-89-88

◗ How does a solid $50,000 claimer at Oaklawn Park fit with stakes horses at Hastings? Probably well, especially considering the horse that won Pitch Count’s race on March 9, Remembering Rita, received a 98 Beyer Speed Figure when he just missed in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in his next start.

◗ Pitch Count is coming off a runner-up finish in a $50,000 claimer on April 7 at Oaklawn and was claimed out of the race by owner-trainer Glen Todd.

◗ Pitch Count wants more distance, but Todd is expecting a solid performance in his first try in a two-turn sprint.

“He’s just a real pro and has been training very well since he arrived here,” he said.

◗ Todd also said he thinks Pan Handle, who paid $45.70 for his front-running win in the Swift, is primed for another big effort.