Bent Tune's win highlights big day at Northlands

Bent Tune held off heavily favored Cool Ventura to win the $50,000 Alberta Breeders’ Handicap at Northlands Park. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up headlined the seven stakes races for Alberta-breds worth $50,000 each which made up the bulk of the 11-race card on Alberta Fall Classic Day.

Breaking sharply under apprentice jockey Kyle Carter, Bent Tune was eased into a stalking position behind Road Talk and Wired Two Twenty, who battled through honest fractions of 23.60 and 47.80. Bent Tune moved up to engage the leaders after six furlongs in 1:13.20, and he got the jump on Cool Ventura, who was forced to go three wide around the stretch turn. Bent Tune and Cool Ventura battled it out through the stretch with Bent Tune holding off Cool Ventura to win by a half-length.

Trained by Daniel Jones, Bent Tune paid $9.40 and posted a final time of 1:45.80.

Professor Pollard, ($3) came from off the pace to score an easy win over pacesetter Tiny Giant in the 1 1/16-mile Beaufort Stakes for 3-year-olds. Trained by Jim Meyaard and ridden by Rico Walcott, Professor Pollard showed that has completely recovered after being involved in a three-horse spill in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby, won by his stablemate No Hesitation.

The other winning favorites on Saturday were Bond James Bond, ($3.60) in the one-mile Alberta Premiers Futurity for 2-year-olds and Mr. Shadar at $3 in the 61/2-furlong Red Diamond Express for 3-year-olds and up.

Spirited Winner paid $8.20 as the second choice behind Dashforpeace in the one-mile Sturgeon River for 2-year-old fillies. Dashforpeace finished second. My Lavern's victory at $21.50 in the one-mile Alberta Oaks was the biggest price of the day. Bears Artiste paid $10 when she upset the 1 1/16-mile Fall Distaff Classic for fillies and mares. Heavily favored Lemon Pepper finished last in the five-horse field.