Hoofprint distance helps 'Willy'

CALGARY, Alberta - Blackjack Willy, a closing second to Golden Hunt in the six-furlong President's here May 7, stretches out to a mile in Saturday's $50,000 Hoofprint on My Heart Handicap at Stampede Park.

Blackjack Willy fell a length short of catching Golden Hunt in the President's but was going the best in deep stretch despite failing to switch leads. Trained by Rick Hedge, Blackjack Willy should appreciate the additional two furlongs in this major prep to the June 18 Alberta Derby.

The Hoofprint on My Heart drew just five entrants and lost the probable pacesetter, Golden Hunt, who is being pointed to a sprint stakes at Assiniboia Downs by leading Stampede trainer Greg Tracy.

Tracy will saddle Dakota Duke, who closed from well back to finish third in the President's despite a wide trip and subsequently posted a bullet five-furlong work of 59.40 on May 21. Leading rider Quincy Welch will break Dakota Duke from post 3, just inside of Blackjack Willy and Perry Winters.

Itsaninetyniner, most recently second to Forever Rascal in a six-furlong allowance run the same day as the President's, drew post 2 with Leanne Painter up and is the probable pacesetter.

Forever Rascal, who was making his 2005 debut, won the allowance in impressive fashion while completing the six furlongs in 1:11.60, compared to Golden Hunt's time of 1:10.40 two hours later.