Wright running three in Hastings Stakes

Competition runs deep in the $50,000 Hastings Stakes that headlines Monday’s eight-race card at Emerald Downs. The six-furlong dash for fillies and mares goes as race 7 and it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to make some kind of case for any of the nine horses entered.

Trainer Blaine Wright could not separate the three horses he has entered, beginning with the likely favorite Best of Me, who was all out to beat stablemate Bella Mia in her first start at Emerald on May 19. The Kentucky-bred 4-year-old figures to move forward in her second start since she finished third in the Grade 3 Beverly Lewis at Los Alamitos on Sept. 8.

Bella Mia, a four-time sprint stakes winner, also figures to move forward as she was making her first start since she finished third after setting the pace in the 1 1/8-mile Washington Oaks last July 22.

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The third horse from Wright, Always Enuff, ships in from Oaklawn Park, where she ran well in all three of her starts for trainer Grant Forster. In her last start, the 4-year-old Washington-bred finished third in a second-level allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option on April 26. In her only start at Emerald, she won a maiden special weight race by 10 lengths in her 2-year-old debut for trainer Tim McCanna.

“They are all doing well and it is a tough call,” said Wright. “It is a tough race altogether. That is one nice field.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Best of Me, by Super Saver

Last 3 Beyers: 86-74-80

◗ She held her own while facing some big guns in Southern California, and her ability to stalk should serve her well in a race that figures to have a fast and contested pace.

◗ She will break from post 4 with Franklin Ceballos retaining the mount.

Paddy’s Secret, by Paddy O’Prado

Last 3 Beyers: 76-72-72

◗ She has been freshened following a third-place finish going a mile on turf in the $30,000 Sun City Handicap at Turf Paradise on Feb. 9.

◗ Considering she received an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for her win going six furlongs on dirt in the $30,000 Princess of Palms at Turf Paradise Oct. 28, she won’t mind the cutback in distance or change in venue.

◗ The shape of the race should work for her. Another plus is her trainer, Frank Lucarelli, is on a tear at the meet. The all-time leader at Emerald with 960 wins, Lucarelli remained white-hot with a natural hat trick Friday night. The three wins gave him a commanding 15-7 lead over Wright in the trainer standings.

Ima Happy Cat, by Smiling Tiger

Last 3 Beyers: 74-82-74

◗ She beat Bella Mia going this distance in the Seattle Stakes last year and won’t mind the move back to the main track following a strong runner-up finish behind S Y Sky in her first try on grass in the $76,200 Camilla Urso at Golden Gate on April 27. S Y Sky is a multiple stakes winner with $542,320 in earnings.

◗ Ima Happy Cat can stalk and could get the right kind of trip from the outside post with leading rider Gary Wales aboard.

◗ Racing for trainer Dan Markle her whole career, Ima Happy Cat has not been worse than second in four starts at the distance. In total, she has compiled a solid 4-4-1 record from 13 starts for earnings of $143,396.