Fall Classic Day puts spotlight on Alberta-breds

Greek Geek will be a prohibitive favorite to win the Alberta Breeders’ Handicap on Saturday at Century Mile. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up goes as the second race and is the first of seven $50,000 stakes races restricted to Alberta-breds that make up the bulk of the 10-race Fall Classic Day card.

Post time for the first race is 1:15 p.m. Mountain. There are guaranteed pools for the pick five ($15,000) and pick four ($25,000).

Greek Geek, who will carry high weight of 126 pounds, is trained by leading trainer Tim Rycroft and is looking for his third straight win. He crossed the finish line first in five of his six starts at the meet, but was placed second by the stewards for causing interference in the stretch in an allowance race July 25.

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The 82 Beyer Speed Figure he received for his win over Sir Bregovic in his most recent start, which came versus open company in the $76,125 City of Edmonton Mile Handicap, stands out in this field. The top figure any of his four rivals have posted is the 72 Regal Max received when he was placed in front of Greek Geek on July 25.

A 4-year-old gelding by Misremembered, Greek Geek will break from the rail with Enrique Gonzalez up.

If there is a threat, it is Regal Max. The Rick Hedge-trained son of Max Forever was the runner-up in the Breeder’s the past two years, has speed, and could be dangerous if he can get away on his own.

He will break from post 2 with Rafael Zenteno Jr. aboard.

Fall Classic Distaff

Smart Fix and Sarahs Elegance look like the main players in the Distaff, which drew six fillies and mares and goes as the third race.

Smart Fix, trained by Jerri Robertson, is looking for her first win since she won the 1 1/16-mile Distaff last year. The 8-year-old daughter of Kissin Kris also won the 2017 Distaff at Northlands Park.

The Ron Grieves-trained Sarahs Elegance will carry high weight of 123 pounds. The 4-year-old daughter of Run to Victory is coming off a fourth-place finish versus open company in the $75,000 Northlands Distaff Handicap on Sept. 11.

Red Diamond Express

The Red Diamond Express Handicap drew a well-matched field of six older horses.

Smarty River Pants and Solo Ring share high weight of 124 pounds. In their last meeting, Solo Ring, trained by Deanna Walper, edged the Rycroft-trained Smarty River Pants in a nonwinners-of-four allowance race on Aug. 28.

Dune d’Oro, Zicatela, and Stormchaser, last year’s Express winner, also have realistic chances in the six-furlong dash.

Alberta Oaks

The Hedge-trained Plum Blue will be tough to beat in the Alberta Oaks if she can repeat her strong second-place performance in the $75,000 Century Casino Oaks on Sept. 11. Her main threat in the 1 1/16-mile Alberta Oaks is the Jim Brown-trained Dance Shoes, who edged Plum Blue by a neck in an open allowance race on Aug. 22 before finishing a troubled fifth in the Century Casino Oaks.

The Oaks goes as the fifth race, and each of the eight horses entered will carry 124 pounds.

Tracy tough in juvenile races

Trainer Greg Tracy has contenders in the Sturgeon River for 2-year-old fillies (race 8) and the Alberta Premier’s Futurity (race 9) for 2-year-olds. Both races are at six furlongs.

Oneofthemgirls will appreciate the easier company in the Sturgeon River after finishing eighth on Tapeta in the $201,600 Muskoka on Aug. 29 at Woodbine. In her only start on dirt, the daughter of Exhi finished third when she debuted for Tracy in a maiden special weight race on June 20 at Prairie Meadows.

Oneofthemgirls is one of many possibilities in the Sturgeon River, which drew nine horses.

Flashfordani will be a short price in the Futurity, which drew 10 horses.

The son of Tapiture is coming off an easy win going seven furlongs in the $48,750 Birdcatcher on Sept. 3. He will be tough to reel in if he breaks alertly from the inside post with leading rider Rico Walcott up.

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Beaufort Stakes

Closing out the card is the Beaufort. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds drew 11 horses, with Smart Play and Maria’s Song the ones to beat.

Maria’s Song lacks experience, but the son of Marine Landing was very impressive in his only start, winning a six-furlong maiden special weight race Sept. 11 for trainer Craig Smith. His breeding does not scream route, but the 77 Beyer he received tops anything any of his rivals have ever posted.

Smart Play, trained by Robertson, should be favored. After all, in his last start the son of Smarty Jones forced the issue early and held on well to finish a close third while packing 126 pounds going 1 1/4 miles in the Grade 3, $124,875 Canadian Derby on Sept. 11.

Each of the horses in the field will carry 124 pounds.