Northlands horsemen plan next moves

EDMONTON, Alberta - The racing season at Northlands Park is heading down the homestretch, and horsemen are examining their options.

Only one stakes race remains, the $50,000 Canadian Juvenile for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 13.

So Alberta-based horsemen such as trainer Red Smith are looking elsewhere. And on Saturday, he will saddle Fancy As at Hastings Park in the British Columbia Derby.

Fancy As already has won the Alberta and Canadian Derbies, and was runner-up in the Manitoba Derby.

Meanwhile, Alan Bott, the racing secretary at Northlands, has announced that a $20,700 allowance for 2-year-old fillies here Oct. 8 will be named in honor of Freddy Jones, a veteran Edmonton-based trainer who died during the off-season.

This race is assured of being wide-open in view of injuries that have sidelined the two dominant local fillies, Sly Lady and Brass to Diamonds. Sly Lady was scratched the morning of the Sept. 1 Birdcatcher because of chips in her knee, and Brass to Diamonds's campaign also came to an end on the day of the Sept. 22 Sturgeon River because of shin problems.

Bott also announced that two claiming handicaps at the marathon distance of 1 5/8 miles will be run on Oct. 12.

They will be called the Rocky Mountain Turf Club claiming handicaps, honoring Whoop Up Downs at Lethbridge, Alberta, which operates under the guidance of Max Gibb.

*Kid Copper and Harbour Ice head a field of seven 3-year-olds in Friday's feature. Both carry claiming prices of $32,000 in the one-mile optional claiming race.