Capitalism comes into Canadian Juvenile off impressive performances

Looking for full fields? Check out Northlands Park on Saturday, where there are 124 horses entered in 12 races. Headlining the strong closing-day card is the oversubscribed $50,000 Canadian Juvenile. The one-mile race for 2-year-olds drew 11 horses, and Regal Orchid will need a scratch in order to draw into the race. Post time for the first race is 1 p.m. Mountain.

There is an excellent chance that leading trainer Greg Tracy will close out the meet in style. He has three uncoupled horses entered in the Juvenile, including Capitalism, who figures to be a short price after romping by six lengths over open company in the $48,620 Birdcatcher on Sept. 6. He also was an easy winner by the same margin in the restricted $49,240 Two Year Old Sales Stakes on Aug. 9. Capitalism has good speed and likely will go to the front with Rico Walcott retaining the mount.

Centrefire finished a distant fourth behind Capitalism in the Sales Stakes but came from well back to win the $49,100 Alberta Premier’s Futurity by six widening lengths Sept. 20.

Berger Bullet won a maiden special weight race by a neck Aug. 23 and will be the longest price of the three Tracy horses.

“They are all training well,” said Tracy. “It’s hard not to like Capitalism, the way he ran last time, but Centrefire sure acts like he’ll run all day.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Capitalism (Last 3 Beyers: 61-48-41)

◗ An easy winner of his last two stakes sprinting, he will be the one to catch in his first try going around three turns.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Tracy has a 20 percent strike rate with 2-year-olds going a mile or longer for the first time.

Centrefire (Last 3 Beyers: 52-28-18)

◗ He ran a much-improved race in the Alberta Premier’s Futurity, and, being a half-brother to multiple route stakes winner Tell Me Lies, he has a better pedigree for the distance than Capitalism.

Aztec Key (Last 2 Beyers: 46-50)

◗ Trained by Craig Smith, he finished full of run to win his second start in a maiden special weight race Oct. 1 and came back with a solid half-mile move Oct. 15.

Never Lose Hope (Last 2 Beyers: 53-36)

◗ Undefeated in two starts for Smith, he was an impressive 8 1/2-length winner of a $20,000 conditional claiming race Oct. 17. His full brother Timeless Dancer won five routes, so he could thrive in his first try going a middle distance.