Awesome Slate, Kristofferson hard to separate in Birdcatcher
Trainer Tim Rycroft has an excellent chance of sweeping the two stakes races for juveniles at Northlands Park this weekend. On Friday, he will saddle the 1-5 morning-line favorite, Bootleggers Wife, in the $50,000 Bird of Pay for 2-year-old fillies. On Saturday, he has the two big shots with Awesome Slate and Kristofferson in the $50,000 Birdcatcher.
The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-old colts and geldings drew eight horses and headlines an eight-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Mountain.
Awesome Slate looks like the one to beat. He was in complete control and was going to win the $49,000 Edmonton Juvenile on July 25 by daylight when he bolted on the stretch turn.
“I don’t know what happened,” said Rycroft. “He had never done anything like that before.”
There was no damage done, and that was clearly evidenced when Awesome Slate came back to work a sizzling five furlongs in 58.80 seconds Aug. 5.
“I put blinkers on him, and he couldn’t have worked any better,” said Rycroft.
Awesome Slate will be wearing blinkers when he breaks from post 3 with Tony Maragh retaining the mount.
Kristofferson easily handled next-out winner Credits Good in his second start, and, according to Rycroft, jockey Rico Walcott was impressed with the performance.
“Rico said he never really asked him to run,” said Rycroft. “I can’t choose between him and Awesome Slate. They are both pretty nice 2-year-olds.”
Awesome Slate and Kristofferson, both owned by Riversedge Racing Stables, will race uncoupled.
KEY CONTENDERS
Awesome Slate (Beyers: NA-45)
◗ He was going to win the Edmonton Juvenile for fun before bolting at the top of the stretch and could be tough to handle with the blinkers going on.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Rycroft has a 27 percent strike rate with 2-year-olds wearing blinkers for the first time.
Kristofferson (Beyers: 58-39)
◗ The son of Rock Hard Ten took a huge step forward in his second start and came back with a sharp five-furlong move Aug. 22.
Credits Good (Last 3 Beyers: 37-44-35)
◗ Trained by Craig Smith, he hasn’t been worse than second in three starts. Following his runner-up finish behind Kristofferson, he scored a front-running win over N. Y. Smoke while wearing blinkers for the first time in a maiden special weight race Aug. 21.
◗ The blinkers come off, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see jockey Dane Nelson try to ease him into a stalking position early.