Kalfaari overnight stakes kicks off 50-day Assiniboia Downs meet

Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg kicks off its 60th season Sunday with a seven-race card headed by the $18,000 Kalfaari, an overnight stakes for older runners.

Racing will be conducted most Fridays and Saturdays; Wednesdays will be added June 7. The 50-day meet concludes Sunday, Sept. 10.

The highlight of the meet, the Manitoba Derby, is scheduled for Civic Holiday Monday, Aug. 7. The nine-furlong event for 3-year-olds carries a $75,000 purse.

Winter-raced runners could dominate the five-furlong Kalfaari. Trainer Rick Wise sends out a pair of Turf Paradise invaders, Swiss Idol and Deadly Black Eagle.

Swiss Idol led all the way in the 5 1/2-furlong P.C.’s Pine Bluff Stakes at Assiniboia Downs last June. He subsequently ran second in the Inner Spirit Stakes before a distant fifth-place finish in the Manitoba Mile.

Swiss Idol was prominent in his last two outings, both going six furlongs against $20,000 claimers at Turf Paradise. Expect him to lead the way after breaking from post 2 in the six-horse field.

Deadly Black Eagle is unbeaten in two local starts, both in optional-claiming company last year. He was competitive in three of his four winter excursions, the best of which was probably a third-place finish in a $12,500 claimer on March 22.

Shannon Beauregard, who has been riding both Wise runners, was named on each of them.

Mumbles beat $7,500 conditioned claimers in his penultimate race at Sam Houston and is exiting a wide third against open $10,000 company at Lone Star. After taking the Hi Lord Stakes at this track last May, he faded to fourth after participating in a speed duel in the Manitoba Dancer Stakes last June.

Media Melee has been freshened since running seventh for $20,000 on Jan. 16 at Turf Paradise. He won two stakes here last year, the Golden Boy and Manitoba Dancer, and was second in the Hi Lord.

Zdeno is the most accomplished runner in the lineup, but his readiness is in question following a nine-month layoff. The seven-time stakes winner is making his first start for trainer Gary Danelson, who has solid numbers with new acquisitions.

Son of Eleanor has been idle since Oct. 22, when he captured a one-mile optional claimer at Northlands. He was previously competitive here in stakes company.