No Maddy capable of beating the boys

Despite being a filly facing males, No Maddy still looks like the one to beat in the feature race at Northlands Park on Friday. The $20,000 claiming race for 2-year-olds which have never won two races drew seven horses and goes as the seventh race.

No Maddy proved she can run with the boys when she closed strongly to finish second in the 5 1/2-furlong Graduation Stakes at Assiniboia Downs on Aug. 3. Her running style suggests she won't have any trouble handling the extra furlong offered here. Running for trainer Shelley Brown in Winnipeg, No Maddy came from off the pace to win her debut in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race on July 4 and then finished fifth in the $30,000 Debutante on July 17. She will be making her first start for trainer Kelly Grieves, who has named Shannon Beauregard to ride.

There should be an honest pace for No Maddy to work with. Halo's Houdini figures to be on or near the lead breaking from the rail. Trained by Pam McDougall, Halo's Houdini scored a front-running victory when he debuted in an Alberta-bred maiden special weight race going 3 1/2 furlongs on July 17. In his only other start he set the pace before tiring to finish fourth in a first-level allowance race on Aug. 7.

Angel Express and Seem's to Be both won going 3 1/2 furlongs in their debut. A filly by Devil His Due, Angel Express led every step of the way while winning a $12,000 maiden race for Alberta-breds on Aug. 7. Seem's to Be also led from start to finish when he scored by 2 1/2 lengths over Time for Slewpy for $12,000 on July 22.