California invader just looks too good

EDMONTON, Alberta - Sporting a string of Beyer Speed Figures unmatched by his local rivals, California invader Anchor Steam makes his Canadian debut in the feature here at Northlands Park on Sunday. The one-mile first-level allowance race offers a purse of $21,500 and attracted a field of six 3-year-olds and upward.

Anchor Steam is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred who earned his lifetime best Beyer Speed Figure at Hollywood Park in December. The 91 he recorded that day while finishing fifth against allowance rivals at 6 1/2 furlongs is 23 points greater than the highest number posted by any of his five opponents here.

Anchor Steam, who is now trained by Carson Frey, last raced in early June at Golden Gate in Northern California. While he ran fifth as the odds-on choice in that turf race, Anchor Steam showed good mettle in the spring with second- and third-place finishes for a $50,000 tag at Santa Anita. Quincy Welch will ride.

Should Anchor Steam win, it would be no surprise to see him move up to test the waters against the sharks in this track's handicap division.

Facing Anchor Stream will be Low Maintenance, with Shannon Beauregard up; Olympic Ride, Real Simard; Amazon Rhythm, Desmond Bryan; Elm Creek, Perry Winters; and Expeditious Evvie, Daniel Boudreau.

All five competed at this condition at 6 1/2 furlongs here June 22, with Expeditious Evvie finishing second, just a neck before Low Maintenance.