Inuit Fisher fit for Journal

Inuit Fisher, the 2008 sprint champion in Alberta last year, heads a strong field of older sprinters in the $50,000 Journal Handicap at Northlands Park on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong feature attracted eight horses and goes as the seventh race.

Inuit Fisher was sent off as the odd-on favorite when he made his seasonal debut in a classified allowance race that carried a $40,000 claiming option May 24. He looked like he was going to win the race, but he tired in the stretch and finished third behind Tanika and Test Boy. His trainer, Dale Saunders, expects him to run a big race on Saturday.

"He needed the race," said Saunders. "Those are a couple of pretty nice horses that beat him and Test Boy probably had a conditioning edge because he had been training in Phoenix during the winter."

Quincy Welch retains the mount.

The now horse in the Journal is Diamond Doc. Trained by Albert Strumecki, Diamond Doc has improved dramatically this year. He has won both of his starts at the meet, including a three-length win over 2008 Alberta horse of the year Teagues Fight in the $49,000 Sales Stakes on May 23. His 91 Beyer Speed Figure is easily the best last-race figure in the field, and if he continues his forward progress he could be tough to handle.

Codio ships in from Hastings where he finished a close third behind Seminole Brave and True Metropolitan in the $50,000 George Royal on May 2. Codio does his best running late and there is plenty of speed to set up his good closing move.

Forest Prince set the pace before tiring in the Fox Sports Network at Emerald Downs on May 25.