'Arthur' looks sharp for stakes

EDMONTON, Alberta - Saturday's Alberta Fall Classic, the provincial breeding industry's showcase day at Northlands Park, features 56 Alberta-breds in seven stakes competing for $400,000 in purses.

Past editions of the Alberta Fall Classic have often seen a few talented individuals rolling over marginal fields of adversaries, which led to favorites dominating the day. But on Saturday bettors will be treated to some well-matched fields and an array of intriguing opportunities.

One of the most interesting races on the card is the $75,000 Alberta Breeders' Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile race for older horses.

In the absence of the multiple-stakes-winning Teagues Fight, the Alberta Breeders' is wide open and the Assiniboia Downs-based Arthurlooksgood may even be favored.

Arthurlooksgood recently was second in the $30,000 R.J. Speers at Assiniboia. Before that, the 5-year-old Regal Intention gelding won the $45,000 Wheat City. Of the seven entered in the Alberta Breeders', Arthurlooksgood is the only horse to have won a stakes race in 2007.

In 2006, trainer Clint Willson shipped Arthurlooksgood west to finish second to Candid Remark in Alberta Breeders'. As was the case last year, Shannon Beauregard will ride Saturday.

Candid Remark, trained by Don Gilkyson, returns to defend his title. Now 9, Candid Remark has won two optional claiming races in eight starts this year.