Driller carries momentum into Lieutenant Governors’

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Mel Snow is hoping Driller can repeat his breakout performance in the John Longden 6000 Handicap when he runs in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ Handicap on Sunday at Hastings. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew nine horses and headlines a seven-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Prior to the Longden, Driller was the runner-up five times in stakes races. The closest the 4-year-old son of Texas Wildcatter came to winning was his head loss to A. P. Zona in the $50,000 River Rock Casino last year.

“We liked him right from the start and he’s never run what you would call a bad race,” said Snow. “The start before the Longden he was running a big race, but he lost a shoe and it threw him off. He’s been getting better each race and hopefully he’ll keep it going.”

Driller had the perfect trip in the 1 1/16-mile Longden. With his usual rider Silvino Morales aboard, he hugged the rail while stalking Modern through a slow half-mile and then took over the lead at the six-furlong mark. With the slow fractions, he had plenty in reserve to hold off Calgary Caper, who rallied late.

Driller won’t get the same kind of trip Sunday. He drew the outside post, and Morales will have to figure out a way to avoid going wide around the first turn. The pace should be a lot quicker, too.

It is hard to know what to do with The All Button, who will be making his first start at Hastings and for leading trainer Phil Hall.

In his only race this year, he won a $35,000 conditional claiming race at Santa Anita for trainer Bill Spawr on May 10. The 91 Beyer Speed Figure he received for his victory in the one-mile event is the best lastrace figure in the field. He also has tactical speed, so he should get a good trip.

The only time The All Button went around three turns he broke last in the $53,000 Ky Alta at Northlands Park in his final start as a 3-year-old last year on June 17 and was pretty much done. The Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief is owned by Peter Redekop.

“I don’t know what to expect,” Hall said Thursday morning. “He hasn’t arrived yet, but the horses Peter sends me are usually ready to roll. I know he’s been working well.”

Dino Condilenios sends out Modern on Sunday, and he thinks The All Button is a legitimate contender. Condilenios won the Lieutenant Governors’ with Modern last year. Modern will break from post 6 with Richard Hamel aboard.

“The stakes horses here aren’t what they used to be, so I think The All Button fits,” said Condilenios.

Modern will be the one they have to catch. The classy 8-yearold surprisingly didn’t put up much of a fight after setting slow fractions in the Longden.

“He banged his head in the starting gate a few times, so I am just going to throw the race out,” said Condilenios.

Calgary Caper, also trained by Hall, will be rolling late and could get up in time with the right kind of trip.

Coulterberry is at his best as a sprinter, but he has never been better and galloped out with good energy when working six furlongs in 1:12.40 on July 7.

Trained by Mark Cloutier, he is stepping up in class after winning a second-level allowance race with a $35,000 claiming option June 2. The 84 Beyer he received compares favorably to the 81 that Driller received for his win in the Longden.