Aqua Frio needs better trip in Fred Jones Handicap

Trip handicappers will point to the Monica Russell-trained Aqua Frio as the one to beat in the $50,000 Fred Jones Handicap at Northlands Park on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile race drew six horses and headlines a seven-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Mountain.

With Rico Walcott aboard, Aqua Frio was under a full head of steam when he took up sharply and almost came to a complete stop approaching the quarter pole in the $50,000 Spangled Jimmy on June 9. He was trying to avoid Killin Me Smalls, who was fading after pressing fast interior fractions in the one-mile race, won by Born in a Breeze. It appeared that Aqua Frio was going make a big impact when he lost his momentum, and given the severity of the incident, he had no chance of getting back into the race.

With another fast and contested pace expected, the Fred Jones could set up nicely for the 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo.

As a 3-year-old last July, Aqua Frio won the $50,000 Seattle Slew Stakes at Emerald Downs for trainer Blaine Wright. The Kentucky-bred colt also was the runner-up to his stablemate Riser in the $75,000 Emerald Downs Derby. In his only start at Northlands prior to the Spangled Jimmy, he finished fifth for Russell in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby.

Russell likes the way Aqua Frio is coming into this race.

“He’s doing great,” she said. “He galloped out strong when he worked last week, and hopefully he’ll get a better trip this time.”

Aqua Frio will break from post 2 under Walcott.

Double Bear is clearly the main threat and could end up favored. Trained by Rod Cone, he dueled with Killin Me Smalls early and then held on well to dead heat for second with Trooper John in the Spangled Jimmy.

A 4-year-old Ontario-bred gelding, Double Bear hasn’t won a stakes race, but he was the runner-up in the Canadian Derby last year in another dead heat with Trooper John. Double Bear drew the rail for the Fred Jones, and jockey Dane Nelson likely will put him into the race right from the start.

Killin Me Smalls will try to get back on track after finishing last in the Spangled Jimmy. Trained by Ernie Keller, he was the runner-up in the Fred Jones in 2015 and 2016 before winning the race last year. Following that victory, he won the Don Getty Handicap and the Western Handicap by a combined 18 1/4 lengths. He capped a four-race winning streak by edging Royal Warrior in the Speed to Spare last September.

Notably absent from the Fred Jones are Born in a Breeze, trained by Tom Rycroft, and Trooper John, trained by his son, Tim Rycroft.

“Born in a Breeze had surgery for a chip in his knee and is out for the year,” said Tim Rycroft. “Trooper John has a minor injury and will hopefully be back soon.”

Trooper John was the horse of the year in Alberta in 2017.

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