Lots of speed in Valliere Memorial

FORT ERIE, Ontario - The $25,000 Don Valliere Memorial Cup tops the eight-race Sunday card at Fort Erie. The six-furlong Valliere Memorial is a restricted race for 3-year-olds and up who have started at least twice at Fort Erie this year.

Eleven horses will go to post, including the entry of Charlie O and Abitquick from the Martin Hinckson barn. Regina Sealock was named on both at draw time.

A hot pace battle is expected because a number of runners should go for the front end, including Mint Prospect with Chad Beckon up, Square Bob with Daniel David, and Nidas, who will be ridden by Cory Clark.

Nidas posted a 92 Beyer Speed Figure on this surface two races back under Clark. Nidas tries to bounce back from an out-of-the-money turf effort.

Tyler's Jewell, trained by Marilyn McMullen, goes from turf to dirt and will try to duplicate his winning performance of two starts ago.

Fleet Storm, from the John Simms barn, returns from an unplaced effort at Woodbine. Fleet Storm scored at the Fort this spring with a serious off the pace run.

Fire Power, trained by Jim Woods, has tactical speed and could be haunting the early leaders and waiting for the right moment to pounce.

The race is named in memory of the former general manager at the Fort during the era of Ontario Jockey Club ownership. Don Valliere died in 2004 at the age of 72.

Prior to his role here, Valliere worked in an executive capacity at Woodbine. He also founded the magazine Canadian Horse (now Canadian Thoroughbred) in the 1960s and was the publisher and president of Turf and Sport Digest.