Illusive Force looks best

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Illusive Force faces four rivals as he looks to continue his dominance in the older horse division in the feature here at Assiniboia Downs on Sunday. The 7 1/2-furlong allowance race will serve as a prep for the Wheat City here Aug. 6.

Owned by Canyon Farm, Illusive Force has won stakes at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 5/16 miles. Illusive Force won an allowance race and the Free Press Stakes, both at six furlongs, in his previous two starts here this year and should have no trouble with Sunday's distance or the one mile of the Wheat City.

Illusive Force tuned up for Sunday's race by posting the fastest five-furlong work here July 1, going in 1:03.00 around the dogs. Elite Mercedes, Plenty of Heat, and Arthurlooksgood, the third-, fourth- and sixth-place finishers in the Free Press, finished within three-quarters of a length of one another.

Elite Mercedes, who won the Wheat City in his first local start last season, appears to be rounding back into form after a poor outing in his first start of 2007. Trained by Emile Corbel, Elite Mercedes has a 2-1-0 record from 3 starts at 7 1/2 furlongs to one mile.

Plenty of Heat should also appreciate the added distance. Trained by Clay Brinson, Plenty of Heat won a classified allowance here last July at 7o1/2 furlongs and scored his first victory at one mile over the main course at Santa Anita.

Arthurlooksgood will be ridden by Mark Anderson for the first time this season. Anderson piloted Arthurlooksgood, a gelding who is owned and trained by Clint Willson, to a second-place finish in the R. J. Speers here last year.

The field rounds out with Quick Witted, who has failed to do much in his last three starts, all against second-level allowance company.

* Jockey Carlos Marquez suffered a fractured pelvis here last Saturday when his mount, Let's Have Dinner, flipped over on him in the post parade. Marquez is expected to miss the remainder of the season.