Fast splits should suit Dillon Said

FORT ERIE, Ontario - A competitive field of 11 will go to post in the $27,500 Don Valliere Memorial Cup, the Sunday Fort Erie feature. For 3-year-olds and up, the six-furlong Valliere is restricted to horses who have made two starts at the meeting. The 11 runners entered are all geldings.

A number of the entrants have good speed and there is a good chance that a hot pace will develop.

Dillon Said, from the Ralph Biamonte barn, has never been better and has crossed the finish line first in his last two starts. He was disqualified and placed last in his most recent race, a decision that is currently under appeal.

In his last two races, both at five furlongs, Dillon Said stalked the pace and then blew by his opponents. Gary Cruise will be back in the saddle.

Another runner who will enjoy fast fractions on the front end is Break Even from the Robert Gilyana barn. In his most recent start, Break Even came from well off the pace with a powerful wide rally to win a first-level allowance by a neck. Rui Pimentel retains the mount.

The speed of the race is expected to be last year's Fort Erie horse of the year, Frezacon. He will most likely be joined by Expect No Regret and Bright N Golden.

Frezacon had been routing up to his recent runner-up sprint try, and he could be sitting on a top front-end effort with Corey Clark aboard.

Chad Beckon, the meet's leading rider, is going for his fourth win in a row on the 5-year-old Bad Boy Will, who has tactical speed. He has proved he can sit just off the pace or set it depending on what the rest of the field has to offer. The two sleepers in the mix are Tothemoonandback and Tyler's Jewel. Both chased Break Evenin their last outing.

Sweet Lil Punky upsets Anderson

Sweet Lil Punky outfinished favored Nasty Fever to upset last Monday's Mike Anderson Memorial Cup. Trained by Jack Wilson, the 6-year old mare brought her backers a tidy $15.90 win payoff.

After keeping the speedy Grain of Truth in her sights through the first half-mile, Sweet Lil Punky went by that one from the outside while Nasty Fever tried what some considered to be a dead rail and came up a half-length short.

Stormy Comet took the late money

Handicappers who thought they had an overlay with the Biamonte-trained Stormy Comet in last Monday's ninth race were left gaping when their choice came home the winner but paid only $4.90.

As the runners entered the gate Stormy Comet was sitting at 9-2, having dropped from 6-1 a few moments before post time.