Command Start has new rider for Sifton

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Command Start will be looking for his first stakes win Saturday in the $35,000 J.W. Sifton. A field of five Manitoba-bred 3-year-olds will contest the 1 1/8-mile race.

Trained by Patti Ross, Command Start finished third in the Harry Jeffreys Stakes in his last start here, on Aug. 26. Before that, he had finished fourth in the Manitoba Derby.

Tim Gardiner takes over from Alan Cuthbertson aboard Command Start, who drew the inside post.

G and L Special, who finished behind Command Start when he ran fifth in the Manitoba Derby and fourth in the Harry Jeffreys, probably will be the second choice in the Sifton.

Trained by Don Korchinski, G and L Special got his last victory in the Manitoba Stakes here June 30, when he defeated Command Start by a neck.

Sean Deveaux will be aboard G and L Special, who will begin from post 2.

Trainer Brent Hrymak will send out the entry of Swissarmyknife and Budge. A winner over maidens two starts ago, Swissarmyknife finished seventh against conditioned claimers in his most recent outing. He will break from post 3 under Peter Frycz. Budge, a maiden, will start from the outside under Rohan Singh.

My Man Maverick, the likely speed of the race, will be stretching out from six to nine furlongs. He made his first start for trainer Ron Gray last time out, impressively beating a field of maiden claimers by eight lengths.

Navin Mangalee will ride My Man Maverick, who breaks from post 4.