Horse of the Year back in Golden Boy

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Corporate Shuffle, last year's local Horse of the Year, will be making his 2001 Assiniboia Downs debut Sunday in the Golden Boy.

The six-furlong race for 3-year-olds carries a purse of $27,500 and has attracted a field of six.

Owned by K-5 Stable and trained by Darla Singh, Corporate Shuffle was perfect in five starts as a 2-year-old. In his only outing this year, he finished fourth in a seven-furlong allowance at Sam Houston on March 30.

Corporate Shuffle, who has been working well here, will break from the rail with Rohan Singh in the tack.

Alberta invaders Boldanzar and Wartock, who both have run four times at Stampede Park this year, have the best chances of defeating Corporate Shuffle.

Boldanzar, trained by Dale Greenwood, won a conditioned allowance in his first start April 6 and followed with back-to-back second-place finishes, the latter in the President's Handicap.

Most recently, Boldanzar finished fourth in the May 27 Hoofprint on My Heart. He will break from post 2 with Tim Gardiner riding.

Wartock, trained by Red Smith, won his first lifetime start April 6 and since has recorded two seconds and a third against conditioned allowance company. He drew post 3 and will be ridden by Alan Cuthbertson.

Kenyawin was an impressive winner in his only start of the year here May 20. Trained by Chad Torevell and ridden by Brian Harding, Kenyawin will break from post 4.

U Otabe Wild, who will begin from the outside under Danny Vergara, won a conditioned allowance here in his 2001 debut. In his next and most recent start, he finished third against older horses at the next allowance level.

Rounding out the field will be Northern Ace, with Jacques DesAutels aboard.

o Nominations for next Sunday's $27,500 Free Press closed Thursday. The nominees for the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and upward are Smoky Cinder, Vernon Invader, Robnroy, Latter Day Ace, Tejano Ruler, Kalfaari, Popsicle Pete, and Fruit Rapport.