Bluegrass Angus gets class bump

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Bluegrass Angus is taking a big step up in price, but he still looks like the one to beat in the feature race Monday at Hastings. The $16,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up drew 10 horses and goes as race seven on an eight-race card that begins at 2:30 p.m. Pacific. British Columbia-breds can run for a $20,000 claiming price.

Trained by Craig MacPherson, Bluegrass Angus is shooting for his fifth straight victory. His latest win was impressive. With Efrain Hernandez aboard, the 8-year-old son of Bluegrass Cat looked comfortable pressing a fast pace while going three wide around the first turn. He took control of the six-furlong dash at the quarter pole and was under wraps in the final sixteenth while winning the $6,250 waiver-claiming race by three lengths.

The jump is steep, but Bluegrass Angus has been here before. Actually, he’s performed at the highest level at Hastings, winning three straight stakes before losing the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby in 2015 by a half-length to Academic. It was a memorable Derby due to the presence of Academic, who was on her way to being named the Canadian 3-year-old filly champion in Canada. Bluegrass Angus looked like he was home and cooled out by midstretch in the 1 1/8-mile race, but Academic put on a furious rush to edge him at the wire. Academic won the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks and went into the B.C. Derby off an eight-length romp in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at

Northlands Park.

With back class to draw on, and considering how sharp he is right now, Bluegrass Angus could be a handful Sunday.

Alex Marti picks up the mount from Hernandez, who rides first call for owner-trainer Glen Todd and will be aboard Highway Boss. Bluegrass Angus will break from post 3.

Highway Boss, also a former stakes winner, is coming off a fourth-place finish going six furlongs at this level July 7. He does his best running late and should appreciate the slightly longer distance, plus he figures to have a quicker pace to work with this time.

Frankie Machine was ridden by Scott Williams when he came from a stalking position to win the same race Highway Boss exits by 2 3/4 lengths.

It was his first start at Hastings, and he could take a big step forward in his second try in a two-turn sprint for trainer Steve Henson. The veteran trainer claimed him for $8,000 on Dec. 16 at Turf Paradise. He is the right kind of horse for Hastings, He has tactical speed sprinting and is capable of taking them all the way going a middle distance, as he did in a one-mile race at Turf Paradise in an $8,500 claimer for nonwinners of three on Nov. 4.

Williams will be aboard when Frankie Machine breaks from post 4.

Captain Jones dueled early and held on well to finish second behind Frankie Machine in his first start this year.

The Frank Barroby-trained Ontario-bred should move forward with a race behind him. Additionally, all four of his wins have come going 6 1/2 furlongs.