Northlands Park: Familiar rivals square off in Wild Rose

Shakenwithanolive and Alywyn will renew acquaintances in Sunday’s $50,000 Wild Rose Handicap at Northlands Park. The six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares attracted six horses, including Classic Alley Kat, who ships in from Hastings off of two dominating performances in the Brighouse Belles and Senate Appointee.

Shakenwithanolive and Alywyn met four times at Northlands in 2010, with each winning twice. Shakenwithanolive edged Alywyn in the John Patrick and Madamoiselle before tailing off in the City of Edmonton and Duchess of York, which were both won by Alywyn.

Both come into the Wild Rose razor sharp.

Shakenwithanolive, trained by Robertino Diodoro, has started twice in 2011. In her first start, she galloped to a 7 1/2-length win in the $25,000 Princess of Palms at Turf Paradise, where she received a 101 Beyer Speed Figure. She came back with another strong performance, finishing third in the $75,000 Time to Leave at Hollywood Park. Irish Gypsy, who finished second in that five-furlong dash, came back to win the $75,000 Valid Expectations at Lone Star on May 30.

Diorodo believes Shakenwithanolive is a much better horse than she was last year.

“The main thing is she has learned how to relax,” Diodoro said. “That was a really big race for her at Hollywood. She went four wide, made the lead, and then got passed late by a couple of nice horses.”

Shakenwithanolive will need to be at her very best to beat Alywyn. Trained by Jim Meyaard, Alywyn has won 10 of her last 12 starts, and her two seconds were narrow losses to Shakenwithanolive. In two wins at Fonner Park this year Alywyn won by a combined total of 13 1/2 lengths. If Shakenwithanolive and Classic Alley Kat hook up early, she will likely pick up the pieces.

Classic Alley Kat could be dangerous if Shakenwithanolive lets her go early, which, according to Diodoro, is a possibility. Classic Alley Kat set fast fractions and never looked back in her two stakes wins at Hastings, and trainer Elizabeth Stolzenberg said she is coming up to the race full of confidence.

“She is doing very well, and my only concern is how well she’ll handle the ship,” Stolzenberg said. “She does have a mind of her own.”

Notoriously adds to an already strong field. The Rod Cone trainee was the champion 3-year-old filly in Alberta in 2010 and in her only start this year she finished a fast-closing second to Classic Alley Kat in the Brighouse Belles.

Miss Victoriana and Malakwa round out the field.