Hold the Giant takes Edmonton Juvenile after stablemate bolts

Hold the Giant inherited the win in the $49,920 Edmonton Juvenile at Northlands Park on Saturday when his stablemate Awesome Slate bolted at the top of the stretch. He paid $6 as the second choice behind Awesome Slate in the six-furlong dash for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Awesome Slate was in complete control of the race when he started to drift out on the stretch turn. He blew the turn and jockey Tony Maragh bailed when it looked like Awesome Slate was going to hit the outside fence. Awesome Slate pulled up in time, however, and both Maragh and Awesome Slate appeared to be fine after the scary incident.

With Ismael Mosqueira aboard, Hold the Giant broke from the outside post in the seven-horse field and forced the early pace while going three-wide around the first turn. He moved into contention after a half-mile but couldn’t keep up with his stablemate, who was starting to draw off from the field. He inherited the lead when Awesome Slate bolted but was passed on the inside by Macho North. He fought back gamely, wore down Macho North and easily held off N. Y. Smoke, who rallied late. The final margin was two lengths. Macho North held on to finish third.

Hold the Giant posted a final time of 1:13.05.

A Kentucky-bred gelding by Hold Me Back, Hold the Giant is trained by Tim Rycroft and owned by Riversedge Racing Stables Inc.

Friday night, Rycroft and Riversedge won the $55,550 Princess Margaret with Bootleggers Wife.

Bootleggers Wife, ridden by Shannon Beauregard, was impressive in her 11 3/4-length romp over Onestaratatime in the six-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies. She paid $3.90 as the heavy favorite in the five-horse field.

Beauregard had Bootleggers Wife well in hand as she posted a quick final time of 1:11.66 over a track rated fast.