Napinowaan sitting on first win of year

EDMONTON, Alberta - Napinowaan, looking for his first win of the year, heads a field of seven 3- and 4-year-olds in Sunday afternoon's allowance feature here at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong race is for nonwinners of three and offers a purse of $20,000.

Racing under identical allowance conditions here June 23, Napinowaan turned in a good effort under apprentice Rico Walcott to finish second, beaten three-quarters of a length. That race was Napinowaan's fourth start of the year, and his performances and Beyer Speed Figures have been consistent. Napinowaan, a 4-year-old Illinois-bred gelding by Indian Charlie, is trained by Robertino Diodoro and will break from post 6.

Fifth Estate, starting immediately to the inside of Napinowaan, is another to consider. A Kentucky-bred 3-year-old Smoke Glacken gelding, Fifth Estate launched his 2007 campaign by winning his maiden for a $20,000 tag and then came back to win an optional claimer.

In his most recent start, Fifth Estate moved up to tackle stakes company in the Western Canada Handicap for 3-year-olds. Trained by Yves Trudel, Fifth Estate received decent play at the windows and was sent away at 6-1 in the field of nine. Fifth Estate rallied well to finish fifth in that race and enters Sunday's event after a bullet work and with a new rider in Stephen Heiler.

Cuddabinthewhiskey is coming off a third-place finish, just a length behind Napinowaan, in the June 23 allowance. A Washington-bred 4-year-old gelding, Cuddabinthewhiskey is trained by Carla Christoffersen and will be ridden by Real Simard.

Bear Soldier, Rey Del Camino, Freud's Cure, and Fever round out the field.