Artie in the Park seeks better luck in Two Year Old Sales Stakes

Artie in the Park lost by more than six lengths in the $51,000 Edmonton Juvenile on July 26, but he might have won the six-furlong race for 2-year-olds had he not been forced to check sharply when he was making a strong move along the rail in midstretch. Trainer Tim Rycroft is hoping for a better trip when Artie in the Park runs in the colts and geldings division of the $50,000 Two Year Old Sales Stakes at Northlands Saturday. Rycroft also has an excellent chance of winning the fillies division with Shanali. Both races will be run at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Artie in the Park was moving in tandem with Blue Dancer when Purple Heaven drifted in and forced Feetdontfailmenow, also trained by Rycroft, into Blue Dancer. Artie in the Park, with Ismael Mosqueira aboard, was lucky not to have gone over the rail when Blue Dancer, reacting to the Feetdontfailmenow, cut him off.

“That was about as bad as it gets,” Rycroft said. “He seemed to come out of it okay, though, and he’s been training well since. Hopefully we’ll have a bit more luck this time.”

2YO SALES STAKES – MALE DIV. (RACE 7)

KEY CONTENDERS

Artie in the Park (Last 2 Beyers: 24-38)

◗ He made up eight lengths while finishing second when he debuted in a maiden special weight race, and he came back with a strong effort in open company in the Edmonton Juvenile.

Feetdontfailmenow (Last 2 Beyers: 34-71)

◗ The 71 Beyer Speed Figure he earned when he won a maiden special weight race going 3 1/2 furlongs stands out, and he was in the thick of the battle when he got bumped by Purple Heaven in the Edmonton Juvenile. He could be very hard to catch if he breaks on top.

Capitalism (Last Beyer: 39)

◗ He just missed in his debut and has worked smartly leading up to his second start for trainer Greg Tracy.

FORMULATOR FACT: The past five years, Tracy has a 28 percent strike rate with juveniles running in non-graded stakes races at Northlands.

2YO SALES STAKES – FILLY DIV. (RACE 8)

KEY CONTENDERS

Shanali (Last 2 Beyers: 30-45)

◗ She romped in her debut going 5 1/2 furlongs and finished a clear third in the Princess Margaret. Rycroft said he wasn’t surprised she came up a bit short in the Margaret, and he is expecting her to move forward Saturday.

Ginger Smash (Last 2 Beyers: 34-25)

◗ Trained by Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Red Smith, she romped by 11 1/2 lengths in her second start in a $20,000 maiden-claiming race.

◗ Leading rider Rico Walcott sticks with her instead of riding the very live-looking Queenoftheforest, a first-time starter for Tracy.