Curlish Figure well positioned for second straight Shirley Vargo victory

Curlish Figure returns Saturday to Northlands Park, where she will try to win the $75,000 Shirley Vargo Handicap for the second straight year. She is clearly the one to beat in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares, which drew 10 horses.

Curlish Figure was trained by Tim Rycroft when she won the inaugural running of the Shirley Vargo for Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd in 2017. In her only other start for Rycroft she finished second as the 4-5 favorite in the $50,000 Duchess of York Handicap July 29.

She didn’t race again in 2017 and her next two starts were at Hastings for trainer Craig MacPherson. She was the runner-up to the crack sprinter Alliford Bay going 6 1/2 furlongs in the $50,000 Vancouver Sun on May 21, and she finished third going 1 1/16 miles in the $50,000 Strawberry Morn June 16.

MacPherson will be the trainer of record Saturday, but it is a team effort. Rycroft supervised her sharp four-furlong move in 47.60 seconds at Northlands on June 30, and he is pleased with how she is coming up to the race. He also explained the lengthy layoff from July 2017 to May 2018.

“She pulled a muscle when she tried to kick a feed tub here last year, and because it is such a short season we just gave her the rest of the year off,” he said.

MacPherson was happy with how she left Hastings.

“She’s a classy horse and easy to train,” said MacPherson. “She ran well in both of her races here and was doing just fine when she left for Alberta. Tim and I don’t really care who gets the credit. We just hope she runs well.”

She will break from post 4 with Rico Walcott riding. Alberta’s dominant rider, he was aboard in both of her races at Northlands last year.

KEY CONTENDERS

Curlish Figure, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 66-77-62

◗ A stalker, she was facing tougher horses in her two starts at Hastings, and with plenty of potential speed in the field she should get the right kind of trip.

Anstrum, by Rosberg

Last 3 Beyers; 70-57-60

◗ Last year’s local 3-year-old filly champ, she ran a huge race to win the $50,000 John Patrick by a widening 2 1/2 lengths at Northlands June 16.

◗ The Monica Russell trainee does her best running late and there will be speed coming back to her.

Saveitforarainyday, by Albertus Maximus

Last 3 Beyers: 62-65-63

◗ Trained by Tom Rycroft, she may have moved too soon when she opened up a clear lead at the top of the stretch in the John Patrick. It was just her first route this year, and with a well-timed ride by Wilmer Galviz she could pull off a small upset Saturday.