Brinello has an opportunity to step up

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - The absence of Manitoba Derby winner Prime Time T.V., sidelined for the season because of an ankle injury, has opened the door for another horse to step to the forefront of the Assiniboia Downs 3-year-old division in Sunday's featured $40,000 Harry Jeffrey Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.

Trainer Carl Anderson sends out Brinello and Resurgent, who race as separate betting interests in the field of eight. Brinello comes off a fourth-place finish in the Manitoba Derby, the best finish of four horses in this race that ran in the 1 1/8-mile Manitoba Derby on Aug. 1. A son of Out of Place, Brinello finished fourth in the restricted Manitoba Stakes behind Resurgent, Whiskey Drive, and Your Excellence in his only other stakes this year.

Resurgent finished 10th in the Manitoba Derby, and has since returned to win a first-level allowance race.

Raggidy Rowe, sixth in the Manitoba Derby, won a seven-furlong allowance prep for the Harry Jeffrey on Aug. 16.

Whiskey Drive finished second behind Raggidy Rowe in the allowance prep while making his first start for trainer Jared Brown.

Arthurlooksgood, fifth in the Manitoba Derby, finished third behind Raggidy Rowe and Whiskey Drive in the prep.

Your Excellence won the restricted North Dakota Stallion Stakes two starts back, and was fourth in the allowance prep in his most recent appearance.

Snowy Old Man finished fifth, 7 1/4 lengths behind Resurgent, in a first-level allowance in his last start on Aug. 12.

Kiss a Plenty, a maiden, rounds out the field.

* Deputy Country, who won the R.J. Speers Stakes here last year, heads a list of 16 horses nominated to this year's Speers. The $40,000 race for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/16 miles will be run Sept. 3.

Nominations also closed this week for the $40,000 Assiniboia Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, and for the $25,000 restricted North Dakota Futurity for 2-year-olds at six furlongs. Both races will be run Sept. 4.

Also closing this week was the $40,000 Distaff Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, bred in Manitoba. It will be run Sept. 5.