Doubles All Round
Trainers Barbara Heads and Rob Maybin provided the raw material as jockeys Antonio Reyes and Chris Mamdeen both rode doubles on a blustery and cool Friday evening at Hastings
Highlights
Trainers Rob Maybin and Barbara Heads had doubles on the night
Jockeys Chris Mamdeen and Antonio Reyes two victories each
The handle was $497,540
The rain just about stayed away on a breezy evening that cooled noticeably as the cloud cover increased. The track remained fast all night, but certainly seemed to favour frontrunners, with six of the seven heats going to horses on, or close to, the pace throughout.
Race 1.
The first on Friday evening saw a competitive group of $25,000 claimers go six-and-a-half furlongs. Taking home the top prize was George Gilbert's SMART LAD ($6.90), who broke alertly under Antonio Reyes, getting easy fractions of 23.03 and 46.28 and had plenty left in reserve to hold his rivals at bay to win in 1:16.26 for trainer Barbara Heads. Hastings Horsepower and Motley Crew's SETTECENTO was very impressive in his Hastings debut as he made a long sustained run from last to finish a clear second under Learie Seecharan for conditioner David Milburn. Canyon Farm’s PURSUE also made a nice move from off the pace under Jose Sanchez, getting up to be a good third for trainer Craig MacPherson.
Race 2.
The second of the night went to Warren Wilson, June Sutherland, Neil Stajkowski, Ross Switzer and Barry Hickman's BRIAN'S DE LEIGHT ($5.50), who was able to set a very comfortable tempo of 22.70 and 47.28 under Ridge Balgobin, then, when a big challenge came in the stretch, he was up to the task and won by a neck in 1:17.94 for trainer Charlene Miller. J G Williamson's TIME TICKER was in a perfect spot behind the speed, scooted up the inside as he turned for home and just missed under Amadeo Perez for trainer Steve Henson. Ironside Stables DESIRED OUTCOME was void of early speed with Brian Boodramsingh at the controls, but the two came flying late to rescue third money for conditioner Rob VanOverschot.
Race 3.
The third was won by Century Plaza Stables STORMY BLUE ($13.10) who was afforded a very easy lead with Antonio Reyes aboard, as they cruised through splits of 23.11 and 46.51. The pair then proceeded to draw clear late to win in 1:16.67 for trainer Barbara Heads. Don Tetaranko's JUST JIMMY was tracking the slow tempo and held well to be second under Kerron Khelawan for trainer Craig MacPherson. Roger Snow, Don Danard and Conrad Rozenek's SPACE was hurt by the lack of speed up front, was forced a bit wide early, then found the rail heading to the backside under Brian Boodramsingh and stayed there for the remainder of the trip, getting up to be third for trainer Mel Snow.
Race 4.
The fourth of the night saw Rob and Sheena Maybin's JERSEY LILLIE ($6.30) rocket out of the gate under Chris Mamdeen, before settling in the two path on another slow pace (23.00, 46.31) and staying-on strongly throughout the final quarter-mile to gain the victory in 1:17.64 for trainer Rob Maybin. Gary Johnson, Pumpkin and Sharlea Stable's ZETAMARIE was impressive in her first start of 2024, with Antonio Reyes rallying up from just behind the leaders to be a fast-closing second for trainer Frank Barroby. Jordan Froelich's RICHARDS COMMAND chose to set the pace under Amadeo Perez and was game to the stretch and, despite getting outrun late, easily claimed third spot.
Race 5.
The fifth on the program went to Blue Willow Dairy’s DAPHNE ($5.40) who set a lively pace under Silvino Morales (22.83, 45.51) and was resolute to the wire, never giving an inch, and winning in 1:16.88 for Hall of Fame trainer Dave Forster. Saphire Stables and Ted Feenstra's SHAMRA was in a good spot early under Brian Boodramsingh and closed up sharply to be the runner-up for Edgar Mendoza. Russ and Lois Bennett's SOLARITY was off slowly, costing her four lengths with Amadeo Perez in the irons, and they did well to regroup and rally to finish a good third.
Race 6.
The sixth race was won by Rob and Sheena Maybin's MISS THE HYPE ($16.90), who was patiently ridden behind the speed by Chris Mamdeen before seizing an opportunity with a rail opening at the top of he stretch and sprinting through to win in the shadow of the wire for trainer Rob Maybin. Hastings Horsepower and Minnaloushe Stables LASTING LIGHT set a comfortable tempo (23.30, 46.72) under Learie Seecharan, taking the lead to the lane and just missing in an awesome performance for conditioner Dave Milburn. Bob Leffler, Bryan Killins and Gord McCormick’s ANOTHERSUNNYDAY was unusually slow away from the gate, leaving her farther back than rider Amadeo Perez would have liked, but they showed grit, flying late to be an unlucky third.
Race 7.
The seventh race on the card was won by Fred and Sheldon Kwan's PARKER POINT ($19.90) in wire-to-wire fashion with Amadeo Perez at the helm. The pair broke well and set sail for the lead without pressure through fractions of 23.88 and 47.29 and easily held his advantage for the victory in 1:17.90 for trainer Harold Barroby. Michelle Roberts-Henson and Mark McGinnis’ RACING RIVER was off a step slow, then squeezed leaving the chute, which left him a lot to do. He recovered nicely, however, moving five deep on the final bend to get the second spot for trainer Rob Henson. Jordan Froelich's READY HERO had a tough trip, racing wide from his outside draw and did very well to be third under Scott Williams for Dino Condilenios.
Claims:
DEPUTY’S DANCER was claimed by owner/trainer Paul LeMasurier
HOLY EMPEROR was claimed by owners VanOverschot Stables for trainer Rob VanOverschot
Randy Goulding in the Province:
Things could be heating up for jockey Chris Mamdeen
Opinion: Jockey Chris Mamdeen is easy to root for. He'll be riding in three races this Friday at Hastings Racecourse.
Randy Goulding • Special to Postmedia
Jockey Chris Mamdeen got off to a slow start when he arrived at Hastings Racecourse last year, and it did not help that he was injured and not able to ride for two months. He was on a roll at the end of the 2023 meet, though, and he could start heating up again Friday.
Mamdeen has three mounts from owner and trainer Rob Maybin, and he has compiled a remarkable record since September, riding for the veteran conditioner. Since then he has finished in the top three on 18 of his 19 mounts from Maybin. Seven of the horses won, which equates to an excellent 37 per cent strike rate and an ROI of $2.79.
Mamdeen had a simple explanation for his success riding for Maybin.
“He is a great horseman with a good team,” said Mamdeen. “I gallop most of his horses, so I know them well. When I work them in the mornings, I try not to push them too hard, so they have a lot of energy for the races.”
Maybin and his wife Sheena were the leading owners at Hastings in 2022 and tied with Willow Creek Farms last year.
Maybin says his success has a lot to do with “running them where they belong.”
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