Commander meets Silver Baubles again in Journal
All eyes will be on Commander when he returns to Northlands Park in the $50,000 Journal Handicap on Monday. The champion older horse in Alberta in 2012-13, Commander has been all but unbeatable at Northlands, winning seven of his eight starts at the Edmonton, Alberta, oval.
Nonetheless, he could be vulnerable in the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up that drew six horses. Post time for the first of nine races is 1 p.m. Mountain.
Commander doesn’t really want to sprint, and he proved that when he finished third as the favorite in the Journal last year. He is coming off a win at Hastings for trainer Troy Taylor, going six furlongs in a $50,000 optional claimer May 4, though, and he has won two of his three starts at the distance.
His best races are clearly going longer, and his two graded wins came going 1 3/8 miles in the Grade 3 Premier’s Handicap at Hastings the past two years.
Commander’s trainer at Northlands, Dennis Terry, said Commander was due to arrive in Edmonton on Saturday evening.
“He’s just a special horse, and he’s a real fan favorite here,” Terry said. “Troy said he came out of his race at Hastings in good shape, and I’m looking forward to seeing him run Monday.”
Quincy Welch rides Commander.
Silver Baubles, who upset Commander in the Journal last year, will be making his first start in 2014. Trained by Ron Grieves, Silver Baubles does his best running late and should have an honest pace to chase with Boomtown Brat and Call Me Lou in the field.
Grieves also trains Call Me Lou, who earned his career-best Beyer Speed Figure, 86, when he edged Boomtown Brat in a $35,000 optional-claiming race May 3. He was ridden by Shannon Beauregard, who abandons him to ride his stablemate. Rafael Zenteno Jr. picks up the mount.
Boomtown Brat, trained by Greg Tracy, led every step but the last one when he lost by a head to Call Me Lou. He drew the rail, where Scott Williams figures to make good use of his early speed.
Multiple stakes winner Tiny Giant is making his first start since he finished second to Silver Baubles in last year’s Journal.
Clear the Runway completes the field.