Awesome Slate, Macho North meet again in Edmonton Juvenile
Trainer Tim Rycroft and owner Riversedge Racing Stables have a good shot at winning both stakes for 2-year-olds at Northlands Park this weekend. On Friday, they will be represented by Bootleggers Wife in the $50,000 Princess Margaret, where she will be heavily favored to win the six-furlong dash for fillies. Awesome Slate also figures to be a short price in the $50,000 Edmonton Juvenile for colts and geldings Saturday.
The six-furlong sprint drew seven horses, and it looks like a battle between Awesome Slate and Macho North.
It wasn’t surprising that Rycroft had Awesome Slate ready to roll when he debuted in a maiden special weight race going 3 1/2 furlongs with Tony Maragh aboard June 13. After all, according to DRF’s Formulator, over the past five years, the veteran trainer has a 30 percent strike rate and a $5.52 return on investment with juveniles making their initial start in straight maiden races.
Awesome Slate has the pedigree to become a substantial horse and should easily handle going six furlongs. He is by champion and multiple Grade 1 winner Summer Bird, who earned $2.3 million. His most important win came in the Belmont Stakes. He also won the Travers and beat older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Club. Awesome Slate is out of Awesome Chic, who won the Grade 3 Florida Oaks.
Following his sharp win over Macho North, Awesome Slate came back with three sharp works, and Rycroft appears to have him geared up for another strong performance.
Awesome Slate drew post 2, with Maragh retaining the mount.
Rycroft and Riversedge also entered Hold the Giant, who not surprisingly won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race when he made his debut July 1.
Macho North also comes out of a live 2-year-old barn, and trainer Greg Tracy had him ready to run a big race in his debut. However, he was outdueled by Awesome Slate and had to settle for second. They were a race by themselves, as Macho North finished more than six lengths clear of third-place finisher Victory Day.
KEY CONTENDERS
Awesome Slate (Beyer: 44)
◗ He didn’t appear to be all out when he beat Macho North by a length, and the way he finished and galloped out suggests he will just get better as the distances get longer.
Macho North (Beyer: 40)
◗ Leading rider Rico Walcott picks up the mount, and nobody will be shocked if the son of Macho Uno improves enough to turn the tables on Awesome Slate.