All eyes on Killin Me Smalls in Westerner Handicap

The first of 13 stakes wins for Killin Me Smalls came in the Westerner Handicap at Northlands Park in 2014. He might not be as good as when he won the Westerner by nine lengths for the third time last year, but he is clearly the one to beat in the 1 1/16-mile race, which drew five older horses and headlines an eight-race card at Northlands on Saturday.

Killin Me Smalls was making his second start for trainer Ernie Kells when he won the Westerner the first time. Acting on behalf of Deltin Stable and Ed Welsch, Kells claimed him out of a $25,000 optional-claiming race on July 12, 2014. In his first race for his new connections he was eliminated at the start of the $51,681 Sun Sprint Championship and never got involved.

He pulled off an upset in the Westerner in his next start. Among his subsequent stakes wins were back-to-back victories in the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers at Hastings in 2015 and 2016.

The classy Ontario-bred gelding is coming off a runner-up finish in the $50,000 Don Getty, in which he stalked a slow pace and couldn’t catch Trooper John, who took over the 1 1/16-mile race approaching the final turn.

Killin Me Smalls carries high weight of 121 pounds and breaks from the outside post with Larry Munoz riding.

KEY CONTENDERS

Killin Me Smalls, by Marcavelly
Last 3 Beyers: 84-81-54

◗ He is by far the class of the party and has turned things around since he finished last in the Spangled Jimmy on June 9.

◗ He is also versatile and can either stalk Sir Bronx, or take them all the way if he breaks on top.

Aqua Frio, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 76-57-78

◗ Trained by Monica Russell, he was moving like a winner when he got stopped cold in the Spangled Jimmy. In his last start he rallied to finish third in the Fred Jones won by Killin Me Smalls on June 30.

◗ He was scratched, reportedly due to a bug bite, in the Don Getty, but worked a sharp five furlongs on Aug. 3 and might be able to pick up the pieces if Sir Bronx and Killin Me Smalls get carried away early.

Royal Warrior, by Majestic Warrior
Last 3 Beyers: 73-70-66

◗ He is trending in the right direction with a third-place finish in the Don Getty, and the David Nicholson-trained 8-year-old Kentucky-bred came within a neck of upsetting Killin Me Smalls in last year’s Speed to Spare.

◗ A deep closer, he will need an honest pace to work with and could get it with Sir Bronx in the field.