By Randy Goulding of the DRF

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The $50,000 Ross McLeod at Hastings on Saturday drew a strong field of 3-year-old fillies, including the sensational Claresmiezie. The race isn’t the reason officials at Hastings are expecting the largest crowd in years to turn out, however.

The credit goes to Mario Gutierrez, who will be riding I’ll Have Another in the Preakness. The media blitz following Gutierrez’s win aboard I’ll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby has been nonstop in Vancouver. Gutierrez, a top rider at Hastings since 2006, made an appearance at Hastings last Sunday and people began lining up at 8:30 in the morning for a meet-and-greet event that began at 1 p.m.

“With the exposure Hastings has received because of Mario’s tremendous achievement, we are expecting a huge crowd,” said Raj Mutti, the general manager at Hastings. “Probably larger than what is traditionally our biggest day of the year, B.C. Cup.”

At a private party Monday, Gutierrez didn’t want to make a prediction about the Preakness.

“It’s horse racing and anything can happen,” he said. “But, I have a lot of confidence in my horse.”

This will be the inaugural running of the Ross McLeod. McLeod was the founder of Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, the parent company of Hastings. He was passionate about horse racing and was instrumental in convincing the City of Vancouver to allow slots at Hastings. McLeod died last September.

Claresmiezie is clearly the horse to beat in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint that drew eight horses.

Trained by Greg Tracy, Claresmiezie hasn’t lost in western Canada and she really hasn’t been tested in any of her four wins. After dominating the $50,000 Lassie here and then toying with her opposition in the $50,000 Princess Margaret at Northlands Park, Claresmiezie was shipped to Monmouth Park, where she finished fifth in the $101,000 Sorority Stakes last Sept. 5.

She made her first start of the year in a six-furlong allowance race at Hastings on April 15 and once again she was in a class by herself, winning by 6 1/2 lengths with Pedro Alvarado aboard.

The main threat to Claresmiezie is Evelyn’s Dancer, who was good enough to finish second behind Made to Love Her in the $100,000 Moccasin at Betfair Hollywood Park on Nov. 20.

Evelyn’s Dancer is trained by Troy Taylor, who has also entered $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity winner Sunnyside Gal.

In her first start this year, Sunnyside Gal finished second to Our Eleanor in a six-furlong allowance race May 5.

Our Eleanor drew the rail.

Gabigotherway, voted the 2-year-old filly champion in B.C. last year, will be making her first start of the year.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – A large crowd is expected at Hastings Sunday when Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Mario Gutierrez will hold a noon press conference and then a meet-and-greet with fans on the tarmac in front of the winner’s circle at 1 p.m.

Gutierrez, 25, came to Hastings as an apprentice in 2006 and was the leading rider here in 2007 and 2008. He said he is coming to Vancouver to thank people for the support they have given him throughout his career.

On the track at Hastings Sunday, Spaghetti Mouse will continue his quest to become the first British Columbia-bred to earn $1 million. Trained by Lenore Dubois, Spaghetti Mouse is just over $50,000 shy of the mark with $948,386 in earnings. Being a 10—year-old, his chances of reaching the milestone are diminishing. Last year he didn’t win from six starts and banked just $10,700. His main goal for the year will be the $75,000 B.C. Cup Classic, a race he has won twice.

Spaghetti Mouse has been the most popular horse at Hastings since he won the 2005 Grade 3 British Columbia Derby and he figures to be one of the favorites in a $50,000 optional race that drew seven horses. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint goes as the seventh race.

Spaghetti Mouse has looked sharp while preparing for his first start of the year.

“He is doing very well and we’re going to try and avoid the top horses as much as we can until the Classic where he can run with B.C.-breds,” said Dubois.

Chad Hoverson rides Spaghetti Mouse.

Heavenly Chorus figures to be favored. Trained by Greg Tracy, Heavenly Chorus is coming off a third-place finish behind Almost Time and Jump Up and Kissme in the $50,000 George Royal on April 15. It was his first start since he finished fifth in a $40,000 optional claiming race at Northlands Park last Aug. 20, and Tracy has excellent stats with horses returning for a second start following a layoff of 180 days or more.

The God of Reign, trained by Rick Terry, runs well fresh and could be dangerous if he breaks alertly from his inside post. This will be his first start outside of New Mexico where he compiled a 3-2-1 record from 9 starts running in statebred races at Zia Park, Ruidoso Downs, and Sunland Park.

Inhisglory is looking for his first win since he nosed-out Grade 3 Canadian Derby winner Freedoms Traveller in the Count Latham Stakes at Northlands Park last July 30.

Four-Footed Fotos

Taylor Said earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the John Longden 6000 Stakes.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Taylor Said showed his trainer Troy Taylor a new dimension when he came from a stalking position with Fernando Perez aboard to win the $50,000 John Longden 6000 last Sunday. It wasn’t by design, though. Taylor expected the speedy 4-year-old to be the one everyone was chasing in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up.

“I was surprised because he has so much speed,” Taylor said. “This might change our plans with him. We always thought he was just a sprinter, but now we’re not so sure. Fernando was impressed and thinks he’ll go long.”

The next stakes race for older horses at Hastings is the 1 1/16-mile Sir Winston Churchill on June 3.

“We’re going to take a look at it,” Taylor said, referring to the Churchill. “We didn’t think his half-brother Taylors Deal would go long, and he fooled us when he won the Turf Paradise Derby this year.”

Taylor Said received a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for his 4 1/2-length win over his stablemate St Liams Halo, who was voted the top older horse in the province last year. Triple-digit Beyers are a rare commodity at Hastings. In the new millennium, just two horses prior to Taylor Said – Quiet Cash in 2005 and Teide in 2009 – equalled the century mark.

A 4-year-old gelding, Taylor Said is lightly raced and could have a bright future. He showed a lot of potential when he easily won his debut as a 2-year-old in a 3 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race in 2010, but didn’t make his next start until Sept. 11, 2011, when he faced older horses and almost won the $50,000 Express. He led for all but the last few jumps before Bonboni caught him.

Taylor Said came into the Longden off an easy front-running win in a $40,000 starter race at Golden Gate on Feb. 24. In total, he has raced six times, winning half of his starts.

“It has been just one setback after another,” owner Glen Todd said. “He’s had a staff infection, EPM, or possum disease [equine protozoal myeloencephalitis], and when he was at Santa Anita, he got loose and hurt himself when the big wind storm hit in December. He also lost his marbles a bit when we ran him there the first time.”

Todd added that Taylor Said is a happy and sound horse now, and Todd plans on keeping him at Hastings for the foreseeable future.

“He loves it here,” Todd said. “He’s happy to just stand at the gap for 20 minutes before he trains. He isn’t going anywhere.”

Clear the Runway eyes River Rock Casino

Trainer Greg Tracy said he was pleased with the way Clear the Runway came out of his win in the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province for 3-year-olds on May 5 and that the horse would be pointed to the 1 1/16-mile River Rock Casino on June 2. Clear the Runway came from a stalking position to wear down Unquiet, who had set the pace.

“That was a nice win for him,” Tracy said. “I liked the way he settled behind the speed.”

Next Saturday, Tracy is planning on running Claresmieze in the $50,000 Ross McLeod for 3-year-old fillies, where she will be a heavy favorite. She has dominated all four of her races in Western Canada and just toyed with her rivals in her first start as a 3-year-old in an allowance race here April 15. She had a slow five-furlong work in 1:04.40 on May 6, but Tracy loved the way she did it.

“She doesn’t need to do much, and I cut back her blinkers a bit so she can see if a horse is coming to her,” Tracy said. “The main goal is to try and get her to relax enough to go long.”

Tracy said if everything went well in the River Rock Casino, Claresmieze would stay at Hastings and run in the 1/16-mile Emerald Downs on June 10.

Wilson sidelined with broken ribs

Dave Wilson will be out indefinitely after being injured in a spill last Sunday. Wilson was riding Desperate, who was on the lead in the 11-horse field, when she broke down and fell on the stretch turn.

According to his agent, Trapper Barroby, Wilson broke six ribs and has a bruised lung.

“He was in good spirits when he was released from the hospital on Thursday,” Barroby said. “He isn’t supposed to do anything for six weeks, so it will be a while before he’s back riding.”

A total of five riders came off their mounts in the spill, but only Wilson was seriously injured. Two horses, Desperate and Icecap, had to euthanized.

Hastings: Time Machine in new setting

Time Machine easily has the best Beyer Speed Figure in the field, an 83 he received for his 17-length win in a maiden special weight race at Fort Erie last June 11. He never came close to the same figure in three subsequent starts, but he almost won a couple of conditional allowance races before going unplaced in the Bob Summers Memorial Cup on Aug. 1.

Time Machine, who raced for trainer Terry Jordan in Ontario, will be making his first start at Hastings.

“I don’t know that much about him,” said Morrison. “He has trained well her but he is a bit of a nervous horse. We’ll just have to see how he handles his new environment.”

Time Machine will run with blinkers for the first time, and it is highly likely jockey Enrique Gonzalez will send him to the lead.

Devil In Disguise will be making his first start of the year, and according to his trainer, Troy Taylor, the race is being used as a prep for something longer, possibly the $50,000 River Rock Casino June 2.

A 3-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Smarty Jones, Devil in Disguise is coming of a fifth-place finish on the turf in the Grade 3 Generous at Hollywood Park Nov. 27.

“I don’t think he wants to sprint, and we need to get a race into him before we stretch him out, said Taylor.”

Devil in Disguise won a mile-and-70-yard maiden special weight race at Hawthorne in his second start last Oct. 29. In his first try on grass he finished fourth in the one-mile $63,000 Royal Glint at Hawthorne on Oct. 29.

Stormy Canuck, trained by Mark Cloutier, figures to move forward following a strong performance in his first start this year in a $35,000 optional sprint won by Dollarwaitnonadime. He was full of run but had to steady sharply at the three-eighths pole and then rallied to finish second.

Stormy Canuck closed out 2011 with a win in 1 1/16-mile $50,000 optional race for 3-year-olds Sept. 18.

Majesticality is looking for his first win since he upset the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby in 2010.

Jack Diamond Futurity winner Sartorialist and Stolenotis round out the field.

Justin N. Lane

By: Randy Goulding, Daily Racing Form

Mario Gutierrez’s Kentucky Derby win aboard I’ll Have Another meant a lot to the horsemen at Hastings, his former track.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Kentucky Derby winning jockey Mario Gutierrez has taken a day off from riding at Betfair Hollywood Park to make an appearance at Hastings on Sunday. A press conference has been scheduled for noon and Gutierrez will meet with fans on the tarmac in front of the winner’s circle at 1 p.m.

Gutierrez rode at Hastings from 2006 through 2011 before switching to the Southern California circuit. He was the leading rider at Hastings in 2007 and 2008 and led all riders at Hastings in money-won last year with mount earnings of $1.4 million – the same as I’ll Have Another earned in the Derby.

Gutierrez said part of the reason for his visit is that he has been overwhelmed by the media’s response to his Derby win and that he wants to be fresh when he rides I’ll Have Another in the Preakness. He also wants to show his thanks to everyone who has supported him in Vancouver.

“I am still a bit surprised by the reaction to my win,” an emotional Gutierrez said. “I want to come to Vancouver to clear my head so I can focus on the Preakness. More than anything I’m a bit homesick.”

Gutierrez, 25, plans to stay in Vancouver until Wednesday and then will fly straight to Baltimore to prepare for the Preakness.

When I’ll Have Another won the Derby at Churchill Downs, it was one of those you-had-to-be-there-moments at Hastings. The roar of the crowd was deafening when I’ll Have Another overtook Bodemeister. It had little to do with I’ll Have Another. It was all about Gutierrez.

For casual fans the Derby was comparable to watching someone go from playing for the single A Vancouver Canadians baseball team in July to hitting the winning home run in the seventh game of the World Series in October. But for the people who grind out a living racing at Hastings, Gutierrez’s Derby win was something more profound.

When Gutierrez gave a textbook-perfect ride aboard I’ll Have Another, it went a long way toward validating their own hard work and horsemanship. Gutierrez’s improbable win actually brought seasoned horsemen to tears.

Trainer John Snow and his wife Tammy were among the many overcome by the emotion of the moment. Snow grew up at Hastings. His father, Mel Snow, is a trainer and a past president of the local Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. Tammy Snow is a former jockey.

Gutierrez’s first win in North America came aboard Cherokee Freedom, a horse trained by John Snow.

“It is unheard of what he did,” said Snow. “It is the hardest race in the world to win and he rode the horse magnificently. It was one for the little guys.”

“It just shows how good the riders are here,” said Tammy Snow. “Mario is great, but so are some of the other jockeys that ride at Hastings. What he did gave everyone hope that big things are possible.”

HBPA secretary treasurer Richard Yates, a local breeder and trainer, grew up in North Carolina and has attended many big races in the United States, including Majestic Prince’s victory over Arts and Letters in the 1969 Kentucky Derby. Yates was stunned by the reaction to the Derby at Hastings last Saturday.

“I have never witnessed that kind of response at a track in my life,” said Yates. “Everyone left here happy. It showed that this is someplace that counts. We have excellent horsemen here and Mario’s brilliant ride demonstrated that. A rider came through here that was good enough to win the Kentucky Derby. It brightened up our corner of the world and helped make us feel better about who we are. In a lot of ways we were riding with him.”

Glen Todd, the leading owner at Hastings, and trainer Troy Taylor, have had a lot to do with Gutierrez’s success. They were the ones who brought Gutierrez to Southern California to ride last winter. When Gutierrez arrived at Hastings in 2006, Todd took him under his wing and became a second father to him. According to Todd, Gutierrez could have gone in the wrong direction.

“He was immediately successful and he was just a kid, and we all know where that can lead,” said Todd. “I told him he had the talent to do something special and if he worked hard there was no telling how far he could go.”

Todd doesn’t often get emotional but when Gutierrez called him late Saturday night he broke down.

“He had been through about 300 interviews and was pretty tired,” said Todd. “He told me not to say a thing and just listen. Then he told me he couldn’t have done it without me. That did it.”

When Gutierrez made the walk from the jockeys’ quarters to the paddock on Saturday he had a big smile on his face and looked completely composed, ready for the biggest race of his life.

“I always listen to Glen when he gives me serious advice,” said Gutierrez. “He told me to put in the work, be prepared, and then go out and enjoy the moment. Without Glen and Troy’s support, and really all the people in Vancouver, this wouldn’t have happened.”

VANCOUVER, British Columbia  –  Taylor Said came from just off the pace to win the 6 1/2-furlong John Longden 6000 in a very brisk time of 1:15.77 at Hastings on Sunday.

Trevor A. Reynolds/Four-Footed Fotos

Taylor Said wins the John Longden 6000 Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths at Hastings.

Sent off as the favorite in the $50,000 sprint for 3-year-olds and up, Taylor Said was expected to set the pace in the 11-horse field. He was outrun by Northern Causeway and St. Liams Halo early, however, and Fernando Perez was forced to steady Taylor Said when he was full of run going into the first turn.

Taylor Said engaged the leaders at the quarter pole while going three wide and opened up a two-length advantage at the top of the stretch. He never looked threatened while widening his margin to 4 1/2 lengths.  St Liams Halo held on for second and longshot Senor Rojo made a late run to get up to finish third.

Taylor Said paid $6.10 to win.

“I thought we were going to be on the lead, but the other two horses went pretty fast,” Perez said. “We had a little trouble early, but he really responded when I asked him to run.”

Taylor Said and St Liams Halo are owned by Glen Todd, (North American Thoroughbred Horse Company Inc.) and trained by Troy Taylor.

Jockey Wilson sent to hospital after spill

Jockey Dave Wilson was sent to the hospital for evaluation after going down in a spill that involved five horses in the fifth race. Wilson was aboard Deperate who broke down and fell just after taking the lead on the stretch turn. The spill caused four other horses to lose their riders, but Wilson was the only jockey injured. Desperate and Icecap, who couldn’t avoid the fallen horse, were injured severely and euthanized.

According to track officials, Wilson was being checked for possible broken ribs.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Northern Causeway, the 2011 Horse of the Year in British Columbia, returns to Hastings Sunday in the $50,000 John Longden 6000. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew a full field of 11 horses and anchors a solid eight-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m.

Northern Causeway wants more distance but he loves Hastings and he comes into the John Longden 6000 off a couple of strong races with serious horses, including Grade 2 Swaps winner Skipshot at Golden Gate. He also appears to be heading in a positive direction with increasing Beyer Speed Figures, and if he can come close to the 94 he earned in his third behind Love Sundays in an allowance race March 18 he is going to be tough to beat.

The last time Northern Causeway ran at Hastings he won the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby, and the horse that finished second, Jebrica, came back to beat older horses in the $100,000 Premiers. According to trainer Len Kasmerski, Northern Causeway is “doing great.”

Pedro Alvarado, who will ride Northern Causeway in a race for the first time, was impressed when he worked the classy 4-year-old colt three furlongs in 35.80 seconds on April 29.

“He really has a long, fluid stride,” said Alvarado. “He did that very easily.”

Northern Causeway drew post 10, from where Alvarado will need to use his tactical speed to avoid a wide trip.

The horse they will be chasing is Taylor Said, who is trained by Troy Taylor.

A 4-year-old gelding by Stephanotis, Taylor Said has been beset by physical problems and has raced only five times. He won a maiden special weight race going 3 1/2 furlongs when he debuted as a 2-year-old on Aug. 6, 2010 and he didn’t make his next start until he faced older horses in the $50,000 Express last Sept. 11, finishing second behind Bonboni. In his latest start he wired a field of $40,000 starter horses at Golden Gate Feb. 14.

Taylor Said’s uncoupled stablemate St Liams Halo has the stronger credentials and he won the Longden last year. Nonetheless, he will be making his first start of the year and his connections are looking at more important races in the future, particularly the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in August.

Quintons Destiny had a rough trip in the $50,000 George Royal April 15, and he beat Taylors Deal in a $25,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two at Santa Anita Jan. 22.

Jump Up and Kissme, a surprising second in the George Royal, and Crew Leader, who was ninth, look like the other contenders in the field.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The favored Clear the Runway ($4.50) came from just off the pace to capture the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province at Hastings on Saturday.

Trained by Greg Tracy and ridden by Pedro Alvarado, Clear the Runway broke sharply in the 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds and then eased into a stalking position behind Unquiet, who carved out fractions of 22.46 and 46.06 seconds over a track labeled wet-fast. Clear the Runway held a head advantage over Unquiet at the top of the stretch and increased his margin to 1 1/2 lengths at the wire. Unquiet held on well to finish second over Time Goes On.

The final time was 1:18.32.

In his last start, Clear the Runway set fast fractions before tiring to finish second behind Turf Paradise Derby winner Taylors Deal in a six-furlong allowance race.

“He broke really well, but Greg didn’t want him on the lead,” said Alvarado. “We have been working hard to teach him to sit behind horses, and it couldn’t have worked out better.”

** A large crowd turned out to cheer for Mario Gutierrez, a former leading rider at Hastings, who rode I’ll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby, and the roar was deafening when I’ll Have Another overtook Bodemeister in the late stretch.

Three new riders look to make an impact at Hastings

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The addition of Jeff Burningham, Ryan Pacheco, and Enrique Gonzalez has added considerable depth to the local jockey colony at Hastings.

Burningham is the most established of the three. He started his career at Hastings in 1999 and since then has won 672 races and $12,253,977, most of it earned in Louisiana. His best year came in 2005, when he won 105 races and his mounts earned more than $2.1 million. He won more races in 2004, 118, but his earnings were less at $1.5 million. In 2005, he rode Military Major to a win in the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park and a fourth-place finish in the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

When Burningham first arrived at Hastings he was very green but with a lot of help from Frank Barroby, a Canadian Hall of Fame jockey and trainer, and a lot of hard work, Burningham has forged a successful career.

“I’ll be the first to admit I was horrible,” recalled Burningham. “But Frankie taught me from the ground up. I wouldn’t have had the career I’ve had without his help.”

Burningham was also smart enough to listen when five-time Kentucky Derby winner Bill Hartack offered advice. Hartack, who died in 2007, was a steward at Louisiana Downs. Burningham has ridden there since 2004.

“He was very helpful,” said Burningham. “You could always learn something from him.”

Burningham’s career came to an abrupt halt in 2008 when he crushed his L1 vertebra. The injury wasn’t caused by a horse, though. He fell out of a tree he was trimming at his house.

“It was a hard time,” said Burningham. “I was paralyzed from the waist down for three months. I was very depressed. Going from being a very active person one minute, and not being able to do anything 20 seconds later was unbelievably hard. One of the things I had to do was just learn how to walk again.”

Through therapy and a lot of support from his wife, Lacie, Burningham has made a full recovery.

“I am pain free now,” he said. “I came back to ride in 2009 it was kind of like occupational therapy. It really helped strengthen my legs and lower body quite a bit.”

Burningham was out of business for 16 months and when he returned to the saddle and took up where he left off, winning 48 races.

The reason Burningham is back at Hastings is to support Lacie through a difficult time. Her mother, trainer Kathy O’Donnell, became ill and died in the winter.

“I wasn’t really planning on riding at Hastings this year but Lacie came here to be with her mom and I came up to help her,” said Jeff. “There is a lot of stuff to deal with so I decided to stay and ride at Hastings for the year.”

Because he didn’t commit to riding at Hastings until the meet was underway, Burningham has only ridden five horses and all were longshots. Frank Barroby said he thinks it won’t be long before people realize how good a rider Burningham really is.

“He has been riding with some really good riders in Louisiana,” said Barroby. “I don’t bet very often but I bet on Jeff a couple of times and he gave some great rides. He can really finish on a horse. He just needs a few live mounts and people will see what kind of rider he is. You know, he’s had a great career and he deserved it. He really worked hard at becoming a polished rider and it paid off.”

2011’s top apprentice returns

Ryan Pacheco returns to Hastings after winning a Sovereign Award for the leading apprentice in Canada last year. Pacheco was the leading apprentice at Hastings in 2010 and after the meet ended he went to Woodbine, where he had immediate success. He stayed in Ontario in 2011, winning 33 races for more than $1 million in earnings and was honored with the Sovereign.

“I was pretty thrilled to win the Sovereign,” said Pacheco. “It was a real honor, especially considering I have only been riding a few years.”

One of the reasons Pacheco came back to Hastings is that he feels he is still learning and will be able ride more horses here.

“There are about 50 riders at Woodbine and it is tough to get mounts,” he said. “I’ll have more opportunities here and I also like Vancouver. There is a lot more to do in the way of outdoor stuff. When it opens I’ll probably do the Grouse Grind at least once a week.”

Pacheco was referring to a local mountain trail that is a serious test for anyone’s fitness level.

Gonzalez among best riders in Mexico

Enrique Gonzalez joins a list of riders at Hastings that cut their teeth riding in Mexico. He also rode in Northern California, where he won 26 races in 2010. Statistics are hard to come by for Mexico but Gonzalez estimates he won about 1,000 races there.

Local rider Amadeo Perez, also from Mexico, thinks the estimate is correct.

“He is one of the top riders there,” said Perez. “He rode the best horses and he won a lot of races.”

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Clear the Runway figures to be a short price when he runs in the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province at Hastings on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds drew seven horses and headlines an eight-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Greg Tracy, Clear the Runway ran a big race in his first start of the year, finishing second behind Taylors Deal in an allowance race April 14. He broke a bit flat-footed, and after racing a bit wide around the first turn, he opened up a clear lead going down the backstretch. He couldn’t hold off Taylors Deal, who was coming off a win in the $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby, but he held on well to finish a clear second. Tracy was pleased with Clear the Runway’s five-furlong move in 1:04 April 28, and he isn’t expecting jockey Pedro Alvarado to put him to be on the lead Saturday.

“We let him go slow early and finish fast,” said Tracy in reference to the work. “He’s a good horse and doesn’t need the lead. I want Pedro to let him sit just off the other speed and have something left to finish with.”

Unquiet should be the one Clear the Runway is stalking. Trained by Phil Hall, Unquiet broke on top and never looked back when he paid $33.80 for his win in a $50,000 optional race April 21. He drew post position two and apprentice Alex Marti will likely employ the same tactics.

Owner Glen Todd was so impressed with Taylors Deal’s win over Clear the Runway that he shipped him to Hollywood Park for “more lucrative” challenges. Taking his place in trainer Troy Taylor’s barn is Time Goes On who has started twice at Hawthorne for trainer Michael Reavis.

Time Goes On won a $15,000 maiden claiming race in his debut April 7 and came back eight days later to finish second in a $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up who haven’t won two races.

Mysterious Soul is taking a big step up in class, but he appears to have some talent. He was an impressive winner when he debuted in a $30,000 optional maiden race for trainer Barbara Heads on April 14 and he came back with a sharp half-mile move in 48.60 seconds April 29.

Ascot Graduation winner With Council needs more distance.

◗ Everyone at Hastings is keenly aware Mario Gutierrez, one of the leading riders here since 2006, is riding I’ll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby. To honor Gutierrez’s participation in the Derby, Hastings will use a 40-foot outdoor screen to highlight some of his accomplishments and also show the Kentucky Derby.