Best races both get split in half

CALGARY, Alberta - Divide and conquer was the strategy at entry time Tuesday morning, and racing secretary Barry McGrath came up with one of the best cards of the Stampede Park meet by splitting an optional claiming race and a $22,000 claimer after both races overfilled.

Code Name Fred, a multiple stakes winner of more than $400,000, heads the fourth race, an allowance with a $35,000 claiming option, and stands out on his class alone. An 8-year-old, Code Name Fred has been plagued by physical problems in the past, missing all of 2002 and most of last summer

But when Code Name Fred is right, and his stellar work tab this spring indicates that is the case, he is almost unbeatable at this level.

King Jeremy, another runner loaded with back class, will receive plenty of support in the second half of the split, which runs as the eighth and featured race on the nine-race program.

A 7-year-old gelding who was a force in the stakes division at Hastings earlier in his career, King Jeremy was victimized by extremely fast fractions last time out and was unable to hold off the late charge of Captain Creek in a similar sprint here April 23.

The pace scenario looks more in King Jeremy's favor this time, with Stephan Heiler retaining the call.

Wartock, going for his fourth consecutive win of the meet, heads up the seventh race for $22,000 claimers and drew into the speedier half of the split.

A 6-year-old gelding, Wartock had things his own way on the lead last time, but the presence of Boldanzar and Faiths Hope ensures a contested pace in this event.