Two very different stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – A couple of $50,000 stakes races for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs share the spotlight on Saturday at Hastings, and they shape up very differently.

First up in the fourth race is the River Rock Casino for fillies where U Did It and Belcarra Park stand out in a race that drew five horses. The Ross McLeod goes as the sixth race and just about any of the seven horses entered has a shot at winning.

Post time for the first of seven races is 2 p.m. Pacific. The pick five is starting to grow with a $16,868 carryover in the jackpot wager.

Trained by Edgar Mendoza, U Did It completely dominated her rivals in her three starts as a 2-year-old and though the margin of victory was only 1 3/4 lengths in her first start this year in the $50,000 Sadie Diamond Maturity, she never looked like she was going to lose.

With usual rider Edgar Reyes aboard, the British Columbia-bred daughter of Teide broke alertly from the inside post, set honest fractions, and when Reyes tapped her a couple of times lefthanded in the stretch she immediately responded and was drawing away from her opponents at the wire.

With a bullet four furlongs in 47.60 seconds on June 3, U Did It appears to be primed to take a step forward in her second start back. She will break from post 2 with Reyes up.

Belcarra Park is coming off back-to-back romps for trainer Mark Cloutier and beat the boys in an open allowance race May 29. The 64 Beyer Speed Figure she received for her 4 1/2-length victory over Country Cowboy in the 6 1/2-furlong race is the best in the field, and if she gets away on her own she could be tough to reel in. However, in both of her wins the Kentucky-bred daughter of Outwork got away with moderate fractions, which is not likely going to happen with U Did It in the field.

She will break from post 5 with Amadeo Perez retaining the mount.

Gunfighter adds interest to the Ross McLeod.

The Kentucky-bred son of Ghostzapper has been facing significantly tougher horses at Fair Grounds and in his last two starts at Keeneland and Churchill Downs. He will be making his first start at Hastings for trainer John Snow.

If he runs anywhere near as well as he did when he finished fourth in a first-level allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option won by Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife on Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds, he will be tough to beat. The winner of Gunfighter’s last start at Churchill on May 7, Creative Minister, finished third in the Grade 1 Preakness in his next race.

Snow likes the way Gunfighter worked a bullet five furlongs with Reyes aboard in 1:00.20 on June 4.

“He’s a cool horse and a bit lazy,” Snow said. “He surprised us a bit in his work. He was kind of galloping along but when Antonio moved his hands he really took off.”

Gunfighter is better going longer, but he did finish second going six furlongs when he debuted in a maiden special weight race on Aug. 25 at Parx Racing, and he may show more speed while wearing blinkers for the first time. He will break from the outside post with Reyes riding.

The Mendoza-trained Soaringforthesun could be favored following his four-length victory in the $50,000 Jack Diamond Maturity in his first start this year.

Hanky Pranky was impressive winning his debut for trainer Mel Snow and figures to improve with the experience behind him.