Next up: Pair of Marathons

EDMONTON, Alberta - Following the excitement of Saturday's Alberta Fall Classics program, which comprises stakes races for Alberta-breds in seven categories, the Thoroughbred season in this province will be set to wind down.

Sunday's nominal feature, the seventh race, brings together seven $15,000 claimers at a mile.

The remaining highlights of the meeting, which closes Oct. 19, are a pair of marathons at 1 5/8 miles this coming week and two stakes for 2-year-olds here Thanksgiving weekend. The Freedom of the City, a one-mile race for fillies, will be run Oct. 12, and the 1 1/16-mile Canadian Juvenile on Oct. 14.

This Friday is the finale of the Hearts of Oak, at 1 5/8 miles the longest race of the meet to this point. The race drew 10 nominations, headed by Glance Remark and Stage Door Jade, who won legs of the series at distances of 1 5/16 miles and 1 3/8 miles, respectively.

On Saturday, the spotlight will be on the 1 5/8-mile Northlands Marathon final, which attracted 10 nominees. Legs were won by Sam Steele, who has won three in a row at a mile or more, and Caspian, with two straight wins.

Taiaslew and Raylene, who have virtually clinched divisional titles this year, will have an opportunity to distinguish themselves further in the closing stakes for juveniles.

Taiaslew, a Washington-bred from the barn of Greg Tracy, will be heavily favored to win the second running of the $75,000 Canadian Juvenile.

Raylene, trained by Rod Haynes, was entered in Saturday's Grade 2 Mazarine at Woodbine and would be the one to beat in the $40,000 Freedom of the City.