Northlands Park: Maiden Lord Calezaar has big shot in allowance

Lord Calezaar is a maiden, but he still looks like the one to beat in a first-level allowance race at Northlands Park on Wednesday. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew five starters, two of which are fillies, and will be run as the second of eight races. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m. Mountain.

Lord Calezaar began his career at Hastings with trainer Barbara Heads and compiled a 0-2-1 record from six starts there. In his last start in Vancouver, he had an odd trip when finishing second as the 4-5 favorite. He broke alertly that day and vied for the lead for the first half-mile. After easing into a stalking position going around the second turn, he got stuck on the rail while the rest of the field swamped him going down the backstretch. After dropping back to last, he rallied to finish second. With a clean trip, he probably would have won.

Lord Calezaar was then shipped to Northlands, where he was sent off at 9-1 in a first-level allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 21. It looked like he was going to win his first race, but after taking a clear lead into the stretch he came up short and had to settle for second behind On the Key. Lord Calezaar could take a big step forward in his second start in Edmonton, and if he does he will be tough to beat with Ismael Mosqueira retaining the mount for trainer Rick Hedge.

Sports Report set the pace before tiring to finish fifth here behind Lord Calezaar, and then came back to finish third in a first-level allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 9. Trained by Cody Anderson, Sports Report drew the rail, and Rico Walcott will likely use his good speed coming out of the gate.

Sports Report’s only win came in a $30,000 maiden-claiming race at Santa Anita going seven furlongs last May.

Trainer Jerri Robertson had Fair Command primed for a big effort when she debuted in a maiden special weight race for fillies and mares here Aug. 26. With Jorge Espitia aboard, Fair Command took control of the 6 1/2-furlong race early and ran off to win by 7 1/4 lengths. A British Columbia-bred daughter of Second in Command, Fair Command could have her hands full running with the boys in her first route attempt in just her second start.

Rockport Street is stepping up in class but should be heard from late.

The 4-year-old filly Street Savy completes the field.