Cool Ventura has pick of two stakes

EDMONTON, Alberta Trainer Cody Anderson and owner Ab Brewster kept their options open on Wednesday by nominating Cool Ventura, third in the Canadian Derby here on Aug. 23, to the $250,000 B.C Derby at Hastings on Sept. 21. Anderson worked Cool Ventura five furlongs at Northlands Park Wednesday in a bullet 1:00.40.

Trainer Ron Grieves nominated Papa Time, fourth in the Canadian Derby, to the B.C Derby, and trainer Dale Greenwood nominated the Bear Stable duo of Bears Home Run and Bears Tiger to the 1 1/8-mile race.

Hastings racing secretary Lorne Mitchell said the field will be limited to 12 starters determined on the basis of earnings.

Both Cool Ventura and Papa Time have enough earnings to claim a spot, but in Cool Venturas case the $50,000 Beaufort Stakes, a 1 1/16-miles stakes restricted to 3-year-olds foaled in Alberta, looms as a much cozier spot on Fall Classic Day here Sept. 27.

Anderson knows the potential perils and rewards of shipping from high-altitude Alberta to sea-level Vancouver as he was barn foreman for Red Smith in 2001 when Fancy As followed up his Alberta Derby and Canadian Derby victories with wins in the B.C. Derby and the B.C. Premiers to clinch championships in both provinces.

* What the Devil, a 10 1/4-length winner of the 1 5/16-mile first leg of the Northlands Marathon series, carries high weight of 123 pounds and faces six rivals in the 1 3/8-mile second leg here Saturday.