Twistgrips, at 8, still contender

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Twistgrips may have lost a step this year as an 8-year-old, but he still looks capable of winning a $35,000 optional-claiming race that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Hastings.

The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew five horses and goes as race 2 on a nine-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

When entries were taken Wednesday for Saturday and Sunday not enough horses were entered to fill both days, so Sunday’s card has been canceled.

This is the second-to-last weekend of racing at Hastings for 2017 and, according to trainer John Snow, this will be the last start of the year for Twistgrips, who is coming off his first win at the meet in a $25,000 claiming race Sept. 17.

In 2016, Twistgrips started seven times, winning five sprints and finishing third in two route attempts including the $50,000 B.C Cup Classic. He’s been right there in all of his four starts this year, and after losing by a nose to Captain Jones in a $25,000 claimer July 28, he got over the top when he rallied to edge The Odds R Good at the same level in his last start.

He is versatile, and with a moderate pace expected, he shouldn’t be too far off the leaders after breaking from the rail with Antonio Reyes riding again.

There is rain in the forecast, and with a 3-0-2 record running over wet tracks, the classy Kentucky-bred gelding should be fine regardless of how the track shapes up.

KEY CONTENDERS

Twistgrips, by Benchmark Last 3 Beyers: 76-76-76

◗ He is as honest as they come and has enough tactical speed to stay in touch with whatever happens up front.

Driller, by Texas Wildcatter Last 3 Beyers: 65-66-66

◗ The field’s lone 3-year-old – trained by Snow’s father, Mel Snow – he has speed in a race that probably won’t be going all that fast early.

◗ He has found ways to lose races he should have won, though, and his solid 2-8-1 record from 13 starts should be better. A case in point is his last race, in which he finished second as the odds-on favorite by three quarters of a length in a $20,000 overnight handicap Sept. 24. He hopped in the air at the start, had to steady behind horses on the stretch turn, and then lugged in late.

◗ If he breaks alertly from post 3 with Silvino Morales riding, he’ll either be the one they have to run down or in close proximity to Silvertown, who also has speed.

Silvertown, by Speightstown Last 3 Beyers: 70-65-73

◗ He is coming off a thirdplace finish in a similar race Aug. 25, has the right style for the race, and can fire fresh.

◗ The 4-year-old Kentuckybred worked a bullet four furlongs in 48.60 seconds Oct. 5, and his trainer, Dino Condilenios, has a 24 percent strike rate with horses coming back between 31-60 days over the past five years.