Anderson has two in Sifton

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Resurgent, one of two sent out by trainer Carl Anderson, looks for his second stakes win in Saturday's J.W. Sifton Stakes here at Assiniboia Downs. The $40,000 J.W. Sifton, for 3-year-olds bred in Manitoba, goes at 1 1/8 miles.

Resurgent won the Manitoba Stakes on June 25 in his first attempt going a route of ground. After poor outings in the Derby Trial Stakes and Manitoba Derby, Resurgent was cut back in distance and dropped into a first-level allowance race, which he won. Most recently, Resurgent finished third in the Harry Jeffrey Stakes.

Brinello, also trained by Anderson, finished fourth, 9 1/4 lengths back of Resurgent in the Manitoba Stakes. More recently, Brinello was a well-beaten fourth in both the Harry Jeffrey and Manitoba Derby.

Whiskey Drive finished second to Resurgent in the Manitoba Stakes. Last time out, Whiskey Drive, a son of Whiskey Wisdom, faded to seventh after setting the pace in the Harry Jeffrey.

Whiskey Drive will be ridden by Alan Cuthbertson for the first time here and will run on Lasix for the first time as well.

Your Excellence finished third in Manitoba Stakes. He won the restricted North Dakota Stallion Stakes in late July and was fifth in the Harry Jeffrey last time out.

Cindy Embers, the only filly in the field, will face males for the first time. A daughter of Incinderator, Cindy Embers won the restricted R.C. Anderson in her first attempt at a route of ground on July 16. Cindy Embers followed that race with a win over first-level allowance company before finishing second behind stakes winner Aly's Flyer in an allowance race. Most recently, Cindy Ember won the restricted Manitoba Distaff on Sept. 5.

* Nominations closed Wednesday for the Sept. 24 Matron Breeders' Cup for fillies and mares, a 1 1/8-mile race with a $40,000 guaranteed purse and $25,000 available to Breeders' Cup-eligible horses, closed Wednesday.

Nominees include six-time stakes winner Ericka's Lass, two-time stakes winner Ice Girl, Assiniboia Oaks winner J D's Deelites, Northlands Park Oaks winner Nessarose, and 12-time stakes winner Raylene.