Hastings: Horses to single in a pair of mandatory-payout carryovers

The 2022 racing season at Hastings Racecourse comes to a conclusion on Saturday, which means a couple of jackpot carryovers are slated for mandatory payouts.

The 20-cent Pick 6 boasts a C$20,663 (US$14,434) prize pool, while the carryover in the 20-cent Pick 5 is even larger at C$26,783 (US$19,269).

The Pick 6 kicks off in Race 4 (post time 6:24 p.m. ET), the C$50,000 Ascot Graduation S. for two-year-olds racing 1 1/16 miles. Only six horses have been entered, and one—#3 Legacy Square (4-5)—looks ready to romp as a short-priced single.

Legacy Square is a neck away from being undefeated in four starts, all against stakes company. He was especially impressive in the 6 1/2-furlong Jack Diamond Futurity last time out, strolling to victory by 7 1/4 lengths with a sharp 91 Brisnet Speed rating.

Stretching out in distance for the first time shouldn’t be an issue for Legacy Square; both his dam (Architecture) and his half-sister (U Did It) won stakes racing 1 1/16 miles. A typical performance from Legacy Square should be more than sufficient to claim top honors.

Unfortunately, the Ascot Graduation S. isn’t part of the Pick 5 (which kicks off in Race 5 at 6:52 p.m. ET), so finding a single in the second carryover won’t be quite as easy. But on the bright side, #8 Baklane (3-1) looks rather formidable in Race 8, an $8,000 claimer for horses who have never won three races.

The distance is 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, so the conditions figure to perfectly suit Baklane. On Oct. 1, the four-year-old gelding led from start to finish in a race over this precise track, distance, and class level, dominating by 3 1/4 lengths with a career-best 84 Brisnet Speed rating.

Baklane had previously finished second in three consecutive 6 1/2-furlong sprints at Hastings, including a couple of $8,000 claimers, so he should be formidable while sticking to the same conditions. Baklane also has hot connections in his corner; jockey Amadeo Perez is a 29% winner at Hastings, and he’s gone 3-for-4 (75%) teaming up with trainer Craig MacPherson over the last two months.

Throw in the fact none of Baklane’s rivals has ever posted a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 78, and Baklane is an appealing single.

Good luck!