Can speeds avoid duel?

Fury's Allstar and Tug o'War figure to set a hot pace in the featured fourth race at Northlands on Friday. Whichever horse survives the duel could be the winner of the $10,000 claiming race.

Fury's Allstar drew inside of Tug o'War and could have the edge if he breaks alertly in the six-furlong sprint, which drew eight horses.

Fury's Allstar will be making his first start for trainer Kirsty-Anne Luft. He was transferred to her barn following a fifth-place finish in a six-furlong, $17,500 claiming race at Hastings on Aprilo25. He could take a big step forward in his second start following a lengthy layoff.

Tug o'War is coming off of a last-place finish in a $20,000 optional race on the turf at Turf Paradise on Feb. 9. If history repeats itself, he will run a much better race on Friday. Almost a year ago, he won an allowance at Assiniboia Downs after getting beat by 18 lengths on the grass at Turf Paradise in his previous start.

Tug o'War, trained by Robertino Diodoro, had won two straight races prior to his poor outing on the grass. In both races, one-mile claiming races for $10,000 at Turf Paradise, he posted Beyer Speed Figures in the high 80s.