Alberta Sun tops field for La Verendrye Stakes
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Alberta Sun looks like a standout in the 39th running of the $50,000 La Verendrye Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares on Tuesday at Assiniboia Downs.
A 5-year-old trained by Robertino Diodoro, Alberta Sun wintered at Turf Paradise, where she ran second in back-to-back restricted stakes in February. She filled out the exacta again there in a March 18 optional claimer, before taking the $60,000 Ann Owens Distaff Stakes for Arizona-breds on April 22.
Alberta Sun had worked sharply prior to her last race in the $50,000 Prairie Rose Stakes at Prairie Meadows, in which she wound up fourth after a three-wide stalking trip.
The Beyer Speed Figures in the low 70s earned by Alberta Sun are significantly higher than what any of her eight rivals have posted on the dirt this year. Jorge Carreno will ride her for owner Chris Nolan.
Melisandre, who had a productive 2021 here before going winless last year, is back on top of her game. She was a prominent second in her season debut before taking the $26,000 Cool Excellence Stakes most recently going five-eighths in the slop.
Runaway leading rider Antonio Whitehall retains the mount on Melisandre for trainer Lise Pruitt.
Jerry Gourneau, currently second in the trainer standings with nine wins, sends out Mission Belle and Veilazig.
Turf specialist Mission Belle has been competing on a regular schedule since the fall of 2021. She was claimed for $30,000 three starts ago at Lone Star and subsequently ran fifth there in an allowance/optional claimer. She was a troubled fifth in her local debut in the Cool Excellence, going a distance shorter than what she prefers.
Veilazig was claimed from a third-place finish for $5,000 at Lone Star on June 10. She was a front-running winner there three back in a $6,250 conditioned claimer going a mile.
Damn the Torpedoes is seeking her third straight victory for trainer Wendy Anderson. She wired the field in a six-furlong allowance/optional claimer in her first local outing June 13, just over two months after she was claimed from another daylight score for $6,250 at Golden Gate. She should lead the way, with Alberta Sun in close proximity.
Big Stretch closed for second behind Damn the Torpedoes in her second start off the sidelines. She found her best form last summer after ending up fifth in this event last June.
Orange Theory rallied outside for third behind Damn the Torpedoes and Big Stretch on June 13. She finished seventh in this event last year and eventually went on a roll in October with consecutive victories at Century Mile.
Rounding out the field are Burrow Down and Texas Rain.
The La Verendrye goes as the nightcap on a seven-race card with a post time of 7:30 p.m. Central.
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