Not Yet wants contested pace

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Any of the five horses running in the feature race Sunday at Hastings seem capable of winning the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. The $25,000 waiver-claiming race goes as race 6 on an eight-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific.

Sunday is the second to last day of the 2020 meet at Hastings. The 25-day meet ends Thursday, with the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity and $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity sharing the spotlight.

Not Yet has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in Sunday’s feature. Trained by Rob Gilker, Not Yet did not fire when he finished last with Scott Williams aboard in a $35,000 optional claimer Sept. 10. He got stuck behind a very slow pace set by Ranger Up under pressure from Stay Fantastic, who won the 1 1/16-mile race.

In his previous start, Not Yet came from a stalking position to finish second by a nose to Stay Fantastic in a nonwinners-of-three allowance race that carried a $35,000 claiming option on Aug. 23.

It is hard to say how Sunday’s race will unfold. Frankie Machine will be the one they have to run down. Just how fast the pace will be remains to be seen. If Frankie Machine is allowed to set moderate fractions, he could be gone. If Slew’s Da Boss or Ranger Up force the issue early, Not Yet could pick up the pieces.

Not Yet will break from post 4 with Amadeo Perez riding. Perez rode Not Yet when he won a $25,000 claimer by a nose over Calgary Caper on July 13 and when he was the runner-up to Stay Fantastic on Aug. 23.

Frankie Machine has found a home at Hastings, winning three of his four starts in Vancouver, all for trainer Steve Henson. Williams has been his only rider at Hastings.

Frankie Machine displayed an affinity for the local course when he won a $16,000 claimer going six furlongs July 7. He came right back to win at the same level going 6 1/2 furlongs on July 27.

Going around three turns for the first time, the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Wilburn forced an honest pace before holding off Rak City to win another $16,000 claimer on Aug. 6. He won the 1 1/16-mile race by a neck. He suffered his first loss at Hastings when he was the runner-up to Slew’s Da Boss in a $16,000 claiming sprint on Aug. 30.

Frankie Machine will break from the outside post with Williams retaining the mount.

Ranger Up is on the improve for trainer Craig MacPherson and won’t mind the move back to a route following his runnerup finish behind Home Run Guy going 6 1/2 furlongs in a nonwinners-of-three allowance race on Sept 20.

Slew’s Da Boss, trained by Mel Snow, should be okay stretching out to a middle distance for the first time this year. He looked good beating Frankie Machine in his latest race, and he won the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes going 1 1/16 miles last year.

Rak City completes the field.