Weight may be the key factor

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Weight could play a big role in who wins the featured race at Hastings on Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile allowance race for 3-year-olds and up that haven't won a stakes race in 2005 drew nine horses and goes as the eighth race.

Trick of the North should appreciate class relief. A 4-year-old colt trained by Ron Jewell, Trick of the North has finished third in two straight stakes, and he won the last time he ran in a conditional race. Nevertheless, he's picking up nine pounds from his third-place finish in the Premiers on Oct. 16 and he'll be spotting a very sharp Delta Monarch nine pounds.

Jorge Espitia will ride Trick of the North.

Delta Monarch, a 3-year-old, carries the same 112 pounds that he carried Oct. 30 while winning a race with similar conditions, but restricted to his age group. Before that he finished a close fourth behind his stablemate Notis Otis in the Hastings Sophomore on Sept. 24. Both Trick of the North and Delta Monarch will need an honest pace to run at.

Delta Monarch is trained by Tracy McCarthy and will be ridden by Justin Stein.

Lethal Grande could sneak in under the radar. He's coming off of a poor effort in an optional $50,000 sprint on Oct. 29, but he's a very dangerous horse when he makes the lead going a route, and it looks like he's the one they'll be chasing. Lethal Grande drew the rail, so his rider, Robert Skelly, won't have to send very hard in order to put him on the lead.