Trainer Rick Hedge is looking forward to watching Embellished make her first start of the year in an optional-$40,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies at Northlands Park on Wednesday. The champion 2-year-old filly in Alberta last year, Embellished has been training forwardly for Hedge and figures to be the first or second choice in the six-furlong sprint that drew five horses. Post time for the first mid-week card of the meet is 6 p.m. Mountain.Embellished won both of her two-turn sprints last year and has enough speed to take advantage of her inside post. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Bellamy Road, Embellished finished third when she debuted in a maiden special weight race going 3 1/2 furlongs and then was almost perfect in three subsequent races. In her second start, she scored a 3 1/2-length win over Smarty Jill in the six-furlong Princess Margarita Stakes and then romped by seven over Spirited Winner in the $50,000 Bird of Pay at 6 1/2 furlongs. She proved she could handle a middle distance when she finished first in the one-mile Freedom of City in her final start of the year. Unfortunately for her connections, she was disqualified and placed third for interfering with Spirited Winner just before the wire. Caliente Roja was awarded the win.Hedge was thrilled the race at Northlands filled. He had nominated Embellished to the $50,000 Emerald Downs at Hastings this Saturday just in case it didn’t.“She’s been training super and I am pretty happy we didn’t have to ship her to Hastings,” he said. “I am excited to get her year started. She hasn’t really grown a lot but she has filled out some over the winter.”Jockey Heribert Martinez retains the mount.Si Mar’s Dear could end up being favored. Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Si Mar’s Dear is coming off of a sharp win in a first-level allowance race at Turf Paradise on March 29 where she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 75. Si Mar’s Dear ran twice at Northlands last year, finishing second in her debut and then winning a maiden special weight race going 3 1/2 furlongs.Caliente Roja and Spirited Winner will be making their first starts since they were moved up in the Freedom of City. In her last start, Lily Rules won a $10,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two at Gulfstream Park on April 23.