Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Top effort makes Proof It handful
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Proof It will have a chance to step up and prove he is the kind of horse that owner and trainer Glen Todd thinks he is when he runs in an allowance race Sunday at Hastings.
The 6 1/2-furlong dash that drew seven horses is restricted to 3-year-olds who have not won $27,500 in 2018. There also is a $50,000 claiming option, and Wise Market, who won the $50,000 River Rock Casino this year, is the only horse entered for the price.
Prior to Proof It finishing third in an open-allowance race Sept. 3, Todd, who also bred the dark bay or brown gelding, said he thought he was his best 3-year-old in the barn. If Proof It ran well, Todd was planning to run him in the $100,000 Getaway Day Stakes at Emerald Downs on Sept. 23. However, his plans were waylaid when Pan Handle, another horse Todd owns and trains, won the 6 1/2-furlong dash.
Instead, Proof It’s next start came in a $25,000 optionalclaiming race Sept. 23 at Hastings, and he finished fourth after pressing the early pace. It was his first try going around three turns, and he will appreciate the move back to a sprint.
In his last two races, the track was labeled wet-fast, and Proof It may not have cared for the conditions. If the weather forecast is correct, he should get a fast track when he breaks from the inside post with Aaron Gryder riding. In his only start on a dry track at Hastings, he was an impressive, front-running winner over R W Stanley on Aug. 20.
Todd also will be represented by Pan Handle and He’s the Reason.
KEY CONTENDERS
Proof It, by Texas Wildcatter Last 3 Beyers: 73-66-69
◗ His lone try on a fast track here was a good one, and if he can run as well as he did when finishing second to eventual Minnesota Derby winner Mr. Jagermeister at Turf Paradise in February, he could be a handful.
Wise Market, by Mass Market Last 3 Beyers: 58-75-44
◗ The Phil Hall-trained multiple stakes winner gets serious class relief and shouldn’t mind the move back to a sprint after forcing the early pace and fading to last in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby.
Smart Deal, by Skimming Last 3 Beyers: 75-72-71
◗ Trained by Mel Snow, he hasn’t been worse than third in his last six starts, and the consistent gelding should get a nice trip stalking what figures to be a fast and contested pace.