Big weekend of horse racing at Hastings Racecourse

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Hastings Racecourse is the place to be this weekend with two strong cards on Friday and Saturday. For the first time this year the weather is co-operating, which should make for a great Friday evening at Hastings.

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There is a spectacular view of the Burrard Inlet and North Shore Mountains and younger people than me have called the tarmac “the best patio” in Vancouver.

There is also an excellent seven-race card beginning at 7 p.m.

The first two stake races at the meet are on Saturday and adding to the festivities is the US$2 million Belmont Stakes, which will be shown on the large screen in the infield. Due to renovations taking place at Belmont Park, the Belmont will be held at Saratoga and is being shortened from a mile-and-a-half to 1 ¼ miles.

It features a rematch between Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and Seize the Grey, who beat Dan in the Preakness. I like Sierra Leone who just missed in the Derby and should have an honest pace to run at.

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It will also be interesting to see how Mindframe runs. The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Constitution has just raced twice, but he romped both times. His lack of experience could be an issue, but the talent is clearly there.

On the home front both the $50,000 Emerald Downs for fillies and mares and the $50,000 George Royal are highly competitive races.

First up is the Emerald Downs at 4:18 p.m. where Air Force will try to prove her win over Infinite Patience and others in her first start as a four-year-old was no fluke. Trained by Keith Pedersen, last year’s champion three-year-old filly set fast fractions in her impressive victory May 18.

“Did she run fantastic? Yes,” said Pedersen. “She grew a lot over the winter and really matured. She is training well for this, but we all know Infinite Patience will improve off her first start too. It should be a great race.”

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Infinite Patience has won 14 of her 18 starts at Hastings for trainer Barbara Heads, but before winning four straight races last year, she got beat in her seasonal debut.

“Her first race really woke her up,” said Heads of the seven-year-old mare. “She’s a bit older now and a bit trickier to train.”

Heads also likes the way Viva La Vino is coming into the race. The three-time winner is looking for her first stakes win and is coming off of a solid runner-up finish to Air Force.

“I’m really impressed with her,” said Heads. “This has been her best year of spring training.”

Sunbird looks like the one to beat in the George Royal.

The Terry Jordan-trained four-year-old son of Orb didn’t appear to handle the sloppy track when he was the runner-up to Soaringforthesun in an allowance race May 18.

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“He doesn’t like it wet,” said Jordan. “He is usually very eager to come out of his stall but when he heard it raining the other day he just wanted to stay home. I expect him to run a big race.”

FRIDAY SELECTIONS

RACE 6: Looking for PURSUE to move forward for trainer Craig MacPherson. The B.C.-bred four-year-old also has the right style of running in a race chock full of speed. The best speed is BOLD ARCH, but he drew outside and might need a race before he is ready for his best.

RACE 4: AIR FORCE couldn’t have been more impressive in her first start this year and could be tough to run down if she gets the jump on Infinite Patience who is OK sprinting but a lot better going a middle distance.

RACE 5: SUNBIRD will need a trip breaking from the outside post in the nine-horse field, but he didn’t appear to like the track when he lost to Soaringforthesun by a head, and he retains the services of leading rider Amadeo Perez.

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Randy Goulding has been handicapping horses and writing for The Racing Form at Hastings Park for more than 30 years. His column will run every Friday throughout the racing season.

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