Vancouver, B.C. May 30/07 – The true measure of success is being accepted by your peers from rival markets and lately, the quality of talent at Hastings Racecourse has been an ideal example.

Ookashada, the champion juvenile in British Columbia in 2006, won the $55,389 Jim Coleman Province Stakes impressively on May 21 and trainer Toni Cloutier has indicated his next stop will be the $125,000 Alberta Derby at Stampede Park on June 16.

Napa, upset winner of the $55,730 Emerald Downs Stakes on May 20, is another Hastings-based product that could be making her next start in Alberta. Trainer Dino Condilenios has shown an interest in taking Napa to the one-mile $75,000 Penny Ridge Stakes on June 17.

Suva was the Emerald Downs Stakes favourite but finished third. Despite the result, owner Jeffrey Sengara had Suva and trainer Steve Henson booked for a Toronto trip and the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks on June 10.

Meantime, trainer Terry Jordan continues to spend time at Woodbine with True Metropolitan and Calendar Girl.

The latest stakes winners at Hastings have also been creating serious attention throughout the industry. Forceful Intention, trained by Mike Turner, won the $54,233 John Longden 6000 for older horses May 27 with Frank Fuentes enjoying the victorious journey by 3 & 1/4 lengths over favoured Spaghetti Mouse.

Monashee won her eighth career stakes race in the $52,083 Senate Appointee for fillies and mares with jockey Dave Wilson negotiating the victory. Trained by Tracy McCarthy with capable assistance from husband Chris Loseth, Monashee is 12-for-16 with $481,000 in earnings for Canmor Farms and Ole Nielsen.

Despite Monashee’s overwhelming success, Nielsen doesn’t plan to move her anywhere. “It is so much fun to have her at home,” Nielsen says. “We might have to run her against the boys and Spaghetti Mouse. Maybe we’ll have to put some pressure on Davey (Wilson) and see which one he’ll decide to ride.”

The $50,000 Strawberry Morn on June 23 is the next stakes race scheduled for Hastings, followed by the Grade III Lt. Governors on Canada Day, July 1.

 

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