More rain than was expected hit the Vancouver area this morning and there is currently a lot of moisture in the track at Hastings. The track has been sealed so it is too early to say what the official track condition will be by the first race which has a 1:50 Pacific post time. My guess is sloppy.

It is an excellent card headlined by the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby which goes at 5:25. The 5-2 morning-line favorite Riser has never raced on a wet track. However, he broke his maiden on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields and he showed his usual good speed the only time he ran on turf. It seems like he can run on anything and he could be gone if he breaks on top with Aaron Gryder riding for trainer Blaine Wright.

There are five stakes supporting the Derby and the $100,000 Oaks is a gem to itself. It features a matchup between the top local horse, Daz Lin Dawn, who has won all six stakes for 3-year-old fillies at the meet, and Little Dancer, the top sophomore filly at Emerald Downs.

The late Pick 4 has a $25,000 guaranteed pool. It begins in the sixth race with a full field of 11 2-year-olds in the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity. It is a wide-open event, especially if the track stays sloppy. The $50,000 S. W. Randall Plate for 3-year-olds and up, race 7, also has 11 horses. The 5-2 morning-line favorite Modern is a bit vulnerable at the 1 1/8 miles distance, especially with the speedy Moon King in the race. The Derby goes next and the sequence ends with $50,000 Delta Colleen where Victress could have been singled if the track was fast. The 4-year-old filly has never raced on a wet surface, though. Northlands Park based Port Protection is perfect in two starts on wet surfaces and might be worth a stab if she goes off at her 10-1 morning-line odds.

There is also a $16,276 carryover on the Sea to Sky Pick 6 which begins in Race 4. First-time starter Excessive Belief could be a handful if she breaks alertly leaving from the rail with leading rider Richard Hamel aboard.

It is cool and and currently it is raining lightly. Unfortunately it doesn't look like the clouds are going anywhere.