Northlands: Bond James Bond and Hollywood Dreams try to regain stakes glory in Sales Stakes

Bond James Bond and Hollywood Dreams are the only stakes winners entered in the colts and geldings division of the $50,000 Three and Four Year Old Sales Stakes at Northlands Park Saturday, and they look like the ones to beat. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew nine horses and goes as the seventh race.

Regal Tigereyes heads the fillies division, which drew eight horses and goes as the sixth race. Both races are restricted to horses foaled in Canada that passed through a Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society yearlng sale with the full commission paid.

Bond James Bond was purchased for $3,500 out of the 2009 Alberta sale by Monica Russell, who was acting as the agent for Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. He has more than paid his way, winning his first five races, including three stakes races as a 2-year-old in 2010. He looked like he was on his way to another strong year when he won his first start at Hastings in 2011 but he hasn’t won since. Trained by Greg Tracy, Bond James Bond appears to be rounding into form with a fast-closing second behind Forgetthestorm in a $40,000 optional claiming race July 7.

Rico Walcott retains the mount.

Hollywood Dreams, trained by Dean Martiniuk, is looking for his first win since he captured the $50,000 Red Dial Express last Sept. 17. He has made three starts at Northlands since returning from a nonproductive trip to California last winter, finishing third twice in $40,000 optional claiming sprints, the latest July 28. Sandwiched between the two races was a ninth-place finish in the $50,000 Journal. He likes to be involved early and there is plenty of other speed in the field.

Cactus Cat hasn’t been worse than second in five starts at the meet and is coming off a sharp win over Locksley Hall in a $15,000 claiming race July 28.

◗ Regal Tigereyes won the Fillies Sales Stakes as a 3-year-old last year when it was carded at one mile, and she is coming off a very good effort in the $50,000 John Patrick, rallying to finish second behind Alywyn.

Trained by Kirsty Luft-Nault, Regal Tigereyes is better going a middle distance but she has won sprinting and she is going to appreciate the substantially easier company on Saturday.

My Daddy’s Girl looks like the main speed and could be tough to catch if she gets away on her own. Trained by Tracy, My Daddy’s Girls used her considerable speed to win two stakes races as a 2-year-old last year. She returns to Northlands after finishing fourth in the $30,000 Chantilly at Assiniboia Downs June 22.