Killin Me Smalls lays over two opponents in Speed to Spare
Trainer Ernie Keller isn’t taking anything for granted when Killin Me Smalls runs in the $75,000 Speed to Spare on Saturday at Northlands Park. Just about everyone else is, including Matt Jukich, the morning-line maker at Northlands.
“Can I go lower than 1-9?” he said.
Not only has Killin Me Smalls dominated his opponents as the highweight in his last two starts, winning the $53,000 Don Getty Handicap and $53,000 Westerner by a combined margin of 18 1/2 lengths, the 1 3/8-mile Speed to Spare will be contested at equal weights. Killin Me Smalls carries the same 126 pounds he packed in the Westerner, while his two opponents, Ready Intaglio and Royal Warrior, are picking up seven and six pounds, respectively.
“I guess he kind of scared everyone away, but the horses he’s running against have beaten him before,” Keller said.
All three horses have won going around four turns. Killin Me Smalls won the Grade 3 Premier’s at Hastings twice and is 3 for 4 at the distance.
He also figures to control the tempo right from the start with Keishan Balgobin riding again.
Keller said that if the 7-year-old son of Marcavelly comes out of the race well his next start could be in the Premier’s on Oct. 9. He also is looking at cutting him back to seven furlongs in the $100,000 Harvest Plate on Oct. 22 at Century Downs. The inaugural Century Downs meet runs from Sept. 23 through Nov. 5 and marks the return of Thoroughbred racing to the Calgary area following a nine-year absence.
“The good thing about him is he can go any distance,” Keller said.
Also on the nine-race card, which begins at 1 p.m. Mountain, is the $50,000 Birdcatcher for 2-year-old colts and geldings. The 6 1/2-furlong race drew eight horses, and with no obvious favorite is in complete contrast to the Speed to Spare.
Regal Max, trained by Rick Hedge, will take some support off of his eight-length romp in the $50,000 2-year-old Sales Stakes. The Alberta-bred son of Max Forever came from a stalking position to win the 6 1/2-furlong dash and should get a similar trip breaking from post 2 with Shamaree Muir riding again.
Star Czar, trained by Joan Petrowski, took them all the way in the $49,000 Edmonton Juvenile on July 29 and will try to repeat the feat Saturday with Dane Nelson aboard. He will break from post 7 and will have to deal with other speed, most notably Stripling Warrior, who was the runner-up to Regal Max in the Sales Stakes.
Shimshine was impressive winning a maiden special weight race for trainer Elige Bourne on Aug. 16. He could be dangerous with leading rider Rico Walcott, who had other options, keeping the faith.