Hemlock Channel at top of his game for Spangled Jimmy

Hemlock Channel rallied into a fast pace when he set a track record of 1:15.38 for 6 1/2 furlongs at Northlands Park on May 31. He should get a similar trip in the $50,000 Spangled Jimmy Handicap at Northlands on Saturday.

Hemlock Channel will be negotiating three turns for the first time in the one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. However, he won going 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack at Woodbine in 2012, so the distance should be well within his range.

The Spangled Jimmy, race 8, drew a competitive field, with all seven horses entered having won at least one stakes. On the other hand, the co-featured $50,000 Ky Alta for 3-year-olds going one mile looks like a matchup between Trooper John and The All Button.

Trainer Greg Tracy likes the way Hemlock Channel is coming into the Spangled Jimmy. Tracy claimed the son of E Dubai for $10,000 at Woodbine last November. In his first start for Tracy, he finished second to Killin Me Smalls in a $35,000 optional-claiming race at Northlands on May 12.

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“He’s doing very well, and he just seems to be getting better,” said Tracy. “He’s 18 hands tall, and I thought he might have some trouble with the tight turns here, but so far, so good.”

Hemlock Channel drew post 3, with Rico Walcott retaining the mount.

Walcott rode one of Hemlock Channel’s main rivals to a stakes win in his last race. Walcott guided Annie’s Candy to a front-running win in the $48,000 Journal on May 27. The race was Annie’s Candy’s first at Northlands and his first for trainer Monica Russell.

The 93 Beyer Speed Figure that Annie’s Candy received in the Journal is the best last-race figure in this field, and Russell thinks he should be fine stretching out to a middle distance. She was also pleased with his five-furlong move in 59.80 seconds June 8.

“He can stalk, so I was surprised he went to the lead in the Journal, but they were going pretty slow,” she said. “He worked great and galloped out strong.”

A Kentucky-bred son of Twirling Candy owned by Peter Redekop, Annie’s Candy drew the outside post, with Dane Nelson picking up the mount.

Speed will be provided by Grade 3 winner Killin Me Smalls, Blue Dancer, and Hold the Giant. Last year’s Canadian Derby winner, Ready Intaglio, will be rolling late.

Ky Alta: Hit The All Button?

The All Button will be making his first start for Russell in the Ky Alta. He has won two races since Redekop claimed him for $32,000 out of a win at Del Mar on Nov. 24. In his last start, which came for trainer Eddie Truman, The All Button took them all the way in a one-mile, $32,000 starter optional-claiming race at Santa Anita on May 20.

“I haven’t had him very long, but he seems like a nice horse,” said Russell. “He’s certainly eating and training well here.”

Walcott rides The All Button and likely will put him on the lead from post 3.

Trooper John, trained by Tim Rycroft, was impressive in winning the $48,000 Western Canada at Northlands in his first start this year. With Keishan Balgobin aboard, he made an eye-catching move in the stretch to edge Bar No Q by a half-length in the six-furlong dash.

It was his third straight stakes win. Trooper John closed out his 2-year-old season by winning the Winnipeg Futurity at Assiniboia Downs and then romping by 8 1/2 lengths in the one-mile Canadian Juvenile at Northlands.

“It’s all going well with him,” said Rycroft. “We didn’t want him flying and dying, so we opened up his blinkers, and he’s responded very well. He loves to have a target to run at.”

The son of Colonel John drew the outside post in the six-horse field, with Balgobin retaining the mount.