Northern Neechitoo eyes No. 18

EDMONTON, Alberta - Northern Neechitoo seeks her second straight win in Saturday's $21,800 feature at Northlands, a $40,000 optional-claiming race for fillies and mares.

In her last start, in Calgary May 11, Northern Neechitoo registered her 17th career victory when facing similar at Saturday's one-mile distance. She has earned almost $375,000.

Quincy Welch rides Northern Neechitoo, who will have five rivals.

* Sixthirtyjoe, who captured the 6 1/2-furlong Journal with an impressive rally here June 25, runs in next Saturday's one-mile Spangled Jimmy.

A 7-year-old who races for his owner-trainer-breeder, Deanne Davies, Sixthirtyjoe was voted Alberta's champion sprinter in 2003 and took home titles as the province's best older horse and horse of the year in 2002. While amassing more than $508,651 in purse money, Sixthirtyjoe has won 18 races, 12 of them at Northlands and the others at Calgary.

Longer races have been beyond Sixthirtyjoe's range. But this year the Westerner has been cut back to 1 1/16 miles. That change makes the Westerner another opportunity for Sixthirtyjoe.

* The Spangled Jimmy drew 11 nominations, including Hot Talk, who missed by a head as the Journal runner-up; Rindanica, who surged from last place to be third; Beau Brass, the winner of last year's Speed to Spare; and Deputy Country, Alberta's 2004 horse of the year.