Brinello looks good for Agassiz repeat

Brinello, a five-length winner last year, looms the horse to beat in a field of 10 in Sundays $50,000 Agassiz Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.

Brinellos only victory last year was that dominant performance in the one-mile Agassiz, but he rarely turns in a poor effort. In his 11 starts in 2007 and 2008, Brinello has 2 wins and 6 seconds, all against allowance or stakes foes. Brinello won the Manitoba Maturity two years ago.

Brinello comes into the Agassiz off an impressive allowance victory in a time that was .60 off the track record for the 7 1/2-furlong distance. He should be on or near the pace, which may be set by Resurgent.

Resurgent arrives from Marquis Downs where he has been very competitive against the best but winless in 2008. Resurgent has finished second five times and third once in six starts this year. In fact, Resurgent is winless in the past two years but rarely runs a bad race.

Resurgent led in last years Agassiz until the half-mile pole before giving way to Brinello down the lane. He also ran second to Brinello in the Manitoba Maturity two years ago. Now 6, Resurgent won two stakes races at age 3.

He will try to set an easy pace and outlast Brinello down the lane.

Tenacious Bear makes his seasonal debut after running 10 times at Woodbine in 2007. A 4-year-old gelding, Tenacious Bear won his maiden at Woodbine last summer against $50,000 claimers going 1 1/16 miles but was not competitive after that until dropping to face $10,000 claimers.