Harvest Gold Plate among four stakes on closing-day card
The $50,000 Harvest Gold Plate Handicap for 3-year-olds and up headlines Northlands Park’s closing day Saturday.
The Gold Plate is supported by three $50,000 stakes on the 11-race card, which begins at 1 p.m. Mountain. Among them is the Duchess of York Handicap, in which the top 3-year-old filly at Northlands, Onestaratatime, may be tested in the 1 1/16-mile race by the best local older filly or mare, Hero’s Amor.
The Freedom of the City leads off the stakes lineup; Ruffenuff will be heavily favored to win the one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies.
Norm’s Big Bucks, perfect in three starts, also will be a short price in the one-mile Canadian Juvenile for 2-year-olds.
The pick four, pick five, and Jackpot Hi 5 will have mandatory payouts since it’s the last day of live racing.
The four stakes were originally scheduled for Oct. 10 but were rescheduled due to unsafe track conditions. They were also part of last Saturday’s card, which was canceled for the same reason. They were not redrawn and will go as originally carded.
HARVEST GOLD PLATE (RACE 10)
KEY CONTENDERS
Killin Me Smalls, by Marcavelly
Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-81
◗ Trained by Ernie Keller, he comes off a front-running win in the Grade 3 Premier’s at Hastings on Oct. 1, and with more time between races, he benefits the most from the canceled days.
◗ He does like to be involved early and will deal with other speed. If he can stalk, he’s probably the winner.
Royal Warrior, by Majestic Warrior
Last 3 Beyers: 74-85-81
◗ Like the rest of the closers in the field, he didn’t have much chance when Killin Me Smalls got away with very slow fractions in the Premier’s.
◗ The David Nicholson-trained 6-year-old took advantage of an honest pace when he won the $75,000 Speed to Spare in his previous start at Northlands, and this could set up nicely for him.
DUCHESS OF YORK (RACE 6)
KEY CONTENDERS
Onestaratatime, by Cape Canaveral
Last 3 Beyers: 73-77-79
◗ With Rico Walcott riding for trainer Greg Tracy, she won the last four stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Northlands by a combined 30 1/4 lengths.
Hero’s Amor, by Street Hero
Last 3 Beyers: 57-79-72
◗ Trained by Tim Rycroft, she was an easy front-running winner in the $51,000 Madamoiselle and the $75,000 City of Edmonton at Northlands before fading after setting a fast pace in the $75,000 Delta Colleen at Hastings in her last start Sept. 10.
◗ Walcott, who has been her regular rider, abandons her to ride Onestaratatime.
Can’t Use Nellie, by Mineshaft
Last 3 Beyers: 72-55-72
◗ She won this race for trainer Shelley Brown last year and could pick up the pieces again if the top two, who have the same running style, get carried away up front.