Grieves sends pair in claimer

EDMONTON, Alberta - Northlands Park races Friday afternoon in order to accommodate the various events of Capital Ex, including chuckwagon races over this oval in the evening, as the annual fair and exhibition swings into full gear. First post is 1 p.m.

On the eve of the Northlands Oaks, the first of two $100,000 races for 3-year-old fillies, with the Sonoma scheduled three weeks hence, Friday's featured optional $32,000 claimer for 3-year-old fillies going one mile provided a more suitable spot for eight local runners.

Trainer Ron Grieves saddles both Iron Resolve and Rosealee, who will run coupled in the wagering. Iron Resolve drew comfortably in post 4 and will be ridden by Jake Barton, while Rosealee drew the outside post with Shannon Beauregard up.

Iron Resolve tested stakes company twice at the Stampede Park meet in Calgary with modest results, and was caught three wide in her latest, versus tougher allowance foes. Rosealee has some early foot, and Beauregard may elect to send her early from the outside in order to gain position.

Cagey Dee, from post 5 with Rickey Walcott up, and Littlebit Awesome, from post 6 under Desmond Bryan, will also be looking to gain forward positions in this wide-open contest.

If the pace collapses then Bourbon Country, an improving filly who trounced $17,500 claimers sprinting in her latest, will be moving from mid-pack along with Iron Resolve.