Burlington House is local win factory

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - Burlington House is shipping in for Saturday's $6,000 Marquis Inaugural Handicap and should be the prohibitive favorite to score his second straight victory in the race.

Owned by Kane Kachur, Burlington House already has won three times in 2001 and was third in his other start competing in Alberta and Manitoba. His primary weapon is exceptional speed away from the gate.

Kachur said he has planned out Burlington House's schedule and has stuck to it. Two starts at Stampede Park produced a win and a third for $8,000 and $11,000 claiming prices, respectively. Then it was off to Assiniboia Downs, where Burlington House turned back from six furlongs to five furlongs and won for $12,500.

In his most recent start, Burlington House faced just three rivals in a $20,000 claiming race in Winnipeg and again was victorious. Andy Scarlett will ride the 124-pound highweight in this six-furlong event as they face just four competitors.

Rouge Royale was named Saskatchewan's top older racehorse of 2000 based on two stakes wins and looms the most logical entrant to pull the upset. He won three races in total and finished in the money in six of nine starts, including a second-place finish in the Inaugural.

Rouge Royale and rider Serge Rocheleau should be looking for a stalking trip and will need someone else to take a little bite out of the favorite.

Beau Ring just may be that horse. A Saskatchewan champion at ages 2 and 3, Beau Ring must now tackle older horses and has a new jockey in Hugh Huston.

Beau Ring won five of seven starts at 3 and absolutely dominated the division. He may find the going tougher in 2001, but a string of impressive workouts this spring signals his readiness.

Completing the field is the entry of Button's Beau and Star of the Show. Button's Beau is a confirmed closer who hit the board in seven of nine starts in 2000, while Start of the Show won $6,000 claiming event here May 12.