Argosy Fleet, Weekend Wizard meet in River Rock Casino

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Owner Peter Redekop will try to sweep the two stakes at Hastings this weekend. On Saturday, he had a leading contender in the $50,000 Emerald Downs Handicap for 3-year-old fillies with Toni Ann’s Miracle. On Sunday, he’ll find out if Argosy Fleet is good enough to beat Weekend Wizard in the $50,000 River Rock Casino Handicap.

The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds drew six horses, with Weekend Wizard and Argosy Fleet the main players.

The lightly raced Argosy Fleet will be facing substantially easier company in his first start for trainer Blaine Wright. The Kentucky-bred son of Mineshaft began his career as a 2-year-old with a win in a maiden special weight race at Del Mar for trainer Eddie Truman. The runner-up, Runaway Ghost, is now a three-time stakes winner, including the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby.

Argosy Fleet made his next start in the $100,000 Santa Anita Juvenile on July 3 and finished second to Run Away. That effort was flattered when Run Away came back to win the Grade 2 Best Pal at Del Mar and then finished third as the favorite behind Bolt d’Oro in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity.

Argosy Fleet moved to trainer Bill Spawr’s barn and didn’t race again until May 4, when he tired after being part of a four-horse duel in a $40,000 optional-claiming race with first-level allowance conditions at Santa Anita. The winner, Stone Hands, is a 4-year-old who received a 92 Beyer Speed Figure when he repeated in a $62,500 optional claimer on Memorial Day.

“He faced some tough ones in California, and hopefully Mr. Redekop has a horse that will be a solid stakes horse at Hastings,” Wright said. “He had a nice work at Emerald, so he should give a good account of himself.”

Argosy Fleet arrived at leading trainer Phil Hall’s barn at Hastings on Thursday night. Wright said Hall, who trains Toni Ann’s Miracle, will saddle Argosy Fleet in the River Rock Casino, in which the horse will break from post 3 with Denis Araujo aboard.

Weekend Wizard was the easiest of winners in his first start as a 3-year-old in the Jim Coleman Province Stakes on May 5. With Richard Hamel riding for trainer Craig MacPherson, he broke sharply from his outside post, and after dueling with Winter Knight for a half-mile, he drew off to win the 6 1/2-furlong dash by 5 1/2 lengths.

Weekend Wizard drew post 5, with Aaron Gryder picking up the mount. MacPherson was happy that he drew outside of Argosy Fleet.

“I wasn’t happy to see Argosy Fleet in the race, but at least we drew outside of him, which will give Aaron more than one option,” he said.

Ezekiel won his career debut for trainer Dino Condilenios and then rallied to finish second by a nose in a first-level allowance May 13. He can stalk and should appreciate the shape of the race. Being a half-brother to two Grade 3 winners, he could be a force to reckon with when he stretches out to a middle distance.