Fall Classic looking like a 'Cool' day

Trainer Cody Anderson, jockey Real Simard, and owner-breeder Ab Brewster are looking forward to another big day in the 13th edition of the Fall Classic Day at Northlands Park on Saturday. Together they won the last three of seven stakes carded last year. This year they have an excellent chance to win four.

The three horses they won with last year - Cool Ventura, Cool Diablo, Cool Synsation - are all back, and Cool Kahuna looks like the one to beat in the Alberta Premier's Futurity. They are all out of the same mare, Devil's Favour, and Cool Ventura and Cool Synsation are full brothers.

"With any luck we could win four races," said Anderson. "Cool Snysation is the least sound of them but he's doing very well right now."

Kicking off the seven stakes, which are each worth $50,000 and restricted to Alberta-breds, is the Alberta Breeders' Handicap for older horses. The 1 1/16-mile feature drew seven horses and goes as the second of 11 races on the card.

Cool Ventura, who won the Beaufort Stakes as a 3-year-old last year, is coming off a 2 1/2-length win over Approval Rating in the $100,000 Speed to Spare on Sept 6. He is the only horse in the field with a stakes win this year and he figures to be a short price despite having to pack high weight of 125 pounds.

"He came out of his last race in great shape, so I expect him to run a good race," said Anderson.

Cool Ventura is also a fresh horse, with just three races this year. He won his previous start in a one-mile classified allowance race by over six lengths on Aug. 3.

Smile N Wave will carry 121 pounds and looks like the main threat to Cool Ventura. Trained by Joan Petrowski, Smile N Wave is coming off of an upset win over Salt Flat Speed in a $40,000 optional race on Sept. 9. He was coming off a dull effort behind Cool Ventura Aug. 3, but prior to that he was a sharp horse. He won a $40,000 optional race on July 8 and then finished third in the $50,000 Westerner Handicap on Aug. 8.

Ron Blinston retains the mount on Smile N Wave.

Assinboia Downs-based Arthur Looks Good finished second in the Breeders' last year and should improve off of his dull effort behind Salt Flat Speed on Aug. 19.

Rolletti and Slews the Standard have speed and should help set things up for Cool Ventura.