11 years old and still going strong

CALGARY, Alberta - Shady Remark, the elder statesman of the backstretch here at Stampede Park, makes his 93rd career start on Friday evening in search of his 20th win. Shady Remark will face nine rivals in the fifth-race superfecta feature, a six-furlong sprint for $22,000 claimers, which is easily the best betting race on the card.

An 11-year-old gelding, Shady Remark has remained competitive in the upper claiming ranks at an age where most campaigners have either retired or hit the bottom claiming ranks. Not so for Shady Remark, who has ground out $429,689 with multiple stakes victories and was Alberta's champion 2-year-old colt back in 1997.

Stampede Park has never been Shady Remark's favorite course, with just two of his victories having come at the spring meet here, and he will be sent off as a longshot in his seasonal bow.

Fussy's Kid, coming off a win over similar here May 22, will be one of the horses to beat with Quincy Welch returning in the irons.

Dr Chiang Mai comes off a good effort in his seasonal bow. Trained by Robert Diordino, Dr Chiang Mai was claimed at Hastings last fall and made his first start here for Friday's price. Rickey Walcott takes over aboard Dr Chiang Mai.

Spiced Wine, dropping from a trio of races at the $30,000 level, could be hard to handle under returning rider Ron Blinston.

Light Blue and Ka Blui both step up from the $17,500 level after running one-two in a sprint here May 21.