A. P. Zona faces elders in allowance

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – There were supposed to be two stakes at Hastings on Sunday, but the $50,000 Chris Loseth for 3-year-olds was canceled due to insufficient entries. Instead, the first stakes of the meet for 2-year-olds, the $50,000 Spaghetti Mouse, will headline the eight-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.

An open allowance race for 3-year-olds and up could be considered the co-feature. A. P. Zona, who would have been heavily favored in the Loseth, will tackle older horses for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile race that drew six horses, including the 2016 Emerald Derby winner, Opportunistic. However, A. P. Zona, who won both of his starts at Hastings in the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province on May 22 and $50,000 River Rock Casino on June 24, looks like the one to beat.

“I was shocked the Loseth didn’t go,” said trainer Phil Hall. “I just want to run him, so we’ll take a shot with the older horses.”

Hall also has an excellent chance of winning the sixfurlong Spaghetti Mouse with Take the High Road, an impressive maiden special weight winner July 2.

After losing to Boundary Bay by a head going 3 1/2 furlongs in his debut May 28, Take the High Road forced a quick pace before drawing off to beat European by 5 1/2 lengths. He was ridden by Amadeo Perez, who never cocked his whip. Perez is riding at Emerald Downs on Sunday. Enrique Gonzalez picks up the mount on Take the High Road, who will break from post 3.

“That was a good race for him,” said Hall. “I hope having a six-furlong race behind him will give him a bit of an edge over Boundary Bay this time.”

Boundary Bay’s owner and trainer, Glen Todd, agreed that Take the High Road might have a slight edge in Sunday’s race. Todd also will be represented by He’s the Reason, an easy winner in his debut June 11.

“I like both of my horses, and I think I can win the race,” said Todd. “But Take the High Road ran a big race going six furlongs, and that means a lot.”

Boundary Bay drew the rail, with Aaron Gryder picking up the mount from David Lopez, who sticks with He’s the Reason.

Gryder is no stranger to Hastings, with 47 of his 3,742 wins coming in Vancouver.

“I think He’s the Reason is the better horse,” said Todd. “But Boundary Bay has had more time between races, and I’ve been able to put an extra fivefurlong work into him.”

My Greyson and European complete the field.