For Cash looks strong in Alberta Breeders’ Handicap on Fall Classic Day
For Cash is clearly the one to beat in the $50,000 Alberta Breeders’ Handicap, a race for 3-year-olds and up that headlines Fall Classic Day at Northlands Park on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile race is one of seven $50,000 stakes races restricted to Alberta-breds that make up the bulk of the 10-race card. Post time for the first race is 1 p.m. Mountain.
For Cash likely will be the shortest price on the day. Trained by Dale Greenwood, he is coming off a second-place finish behind Killin Me Smalls in the $51,260 Westerner Handicap on Aug. 16. Greenwood passed on the $75,000 Speed to Spare on Sept. 1 in order to have For Cash on top of his game for the Breeders’ Handicap.
“He’s sitting in a pretty good spot,” Greenwood said by phone from Keeneland. “He was in great shape when I left, and we have been pointing to this race since his last start.”
Adding to his appeal is the presence of leading rider Rico Walcott.
ALBERTA BREEDERS’ H. (RACE 9)
KEY CONTENDERS
For Cash (Last 3 Beyers: 80-86-74)
◗ He was good enough to win the $200,360 Zia Park Derby in 2013, and he hasn’t been worse than second in five starts at the meet while facing the top older handicap horses at Northlands.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Greenwood has won with 29 percent of his starters at Northlands who were coming off a layoff of 31 to 60 days.
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Silver Baubles (Last 3 Beyers: 65-66-65)
◗ Trained by Ron Grieves, he finished second as the heavy favorite in this race last year. He’s coming off a couple of dull races, but blinkers go on, and he could be ready for an improved effort in the third start of his current form cycle.
BEAUFORT S. (RACE 2)
KEY CONTENDERS
Wild Legend (Last 3 Beyers: 72-46-45)
◗ The only stakes winner in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds romped in a one-mile allowance race with Scott Williams aboard for the first time Aug. 27. He appears to be peaking at the right time for trainer Dale Saunders and stands out in the six-horse field.
RED DIAMOND EXPRESS H. (RACE 4)
KEY CONTENDERS
Tiny Giant (Last 3 Beyers: 78-82-0)
◗ The multiple stakes winner trained by Joan Petrowski is coming off a win in the $56,420 Sun Sprint Championship on Aug. 4 and signaled his readiness when he worked five furlongs in a bullet 59.60 seconds Sept. 12.
◗ With Walcott riding, he has a clear edge over last year’s winner, Hollywood Dreams, in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, which drew six horses.
ALBERTA PREMIER’S FUTURITY (RACE 7)
◗ Wild Tactics and R Valentino look like the main players in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds that drew an overflow field of 11 horses. Wild Tactics gets the nod because, according to DRF Formulator, over the past five years, his trainer, Greg Tracy, has a 55 percent strike rate with 2-year-olds running in non-graded stakes races at Northlands who were ridden by Walcott.