Northlands Park: Silver Baubles seeks clean trip in Harvest Gold Plate

Silver Baubles had a rough trip when he finished second as the heavy favorite behind Wild Crush in the $50,000 Alberta Breeders’ Handicap, and he figures to redeem himself with a clean trip in the $50,000 Harvest Gold Plate Handicap at Northlands on Monday.

The 1 1/16-mile Gold Plate headlines a 12-race closing-day card that includes the $50,000 Duchess of York Handicap for fillies and mares.

Trained by Ron Grieves, Silver Baubles was stuck on the rail in the Alberta Breeders’ Handicap, and a hole never opened up for him. He appeared to be full of run on the stretch turn, but jockey Shannon Beauregard had to steady him behind horses while Wild Crush was making his winning move on the outside. Beauregard eventually wheeled Silver Baubles to the outside, and he finished full of run to be second.

“It hurts when you have the best horse and you get a trip like that,” Grieves said. “Hopefully, he’s the best horse again on Monday. He’s sound and doing well, so I assume he’ll run another good race.”

Beauregard retains the mount on Silver Baubles, who won the Harvest Gold Plate last year.

Wild Crush rewarded CanMedia Inc. with a quick return on its investment after it claimed him for $17,500 out of his winning race Sept. 11. In his first start for trainer Rod Cone, he came from last to capture the Gold Cup with Rico Walcott aboard.

Walcott is at Hastings on Monday, so Ismael Mosqueira will ride Wild Crush.

Aces Again should provide an honest pace for Wild Crush to work with. He is coming off a second behind Tigger Town in a $25,000 optional-claiming race Oct. 5, and the last time he went around three turns, he took them all the way in a one-mile, $25,000 optional-claiming race Sept. 6.

For Cash couldn’t keep up with Broadway Empire in the Canadian Derby but looked good in beating Alberta-breds in the $50,000 Beaufort in his next start. Trained by Dale Greenwood, For Cash is versatile and should get a nice trip from a stalking position with Krista Carignan picking up the mount from Fernando Perez.

Salsa Express in Duchess of York

The 8-year-old mare Salsa Express will try to win her first stakes since she was a 3-year-old when she runs in the Duchess of York. Trained by Ernie Keller, Salsa Express has been a gem of consistency throughout her career, compiling a record of 21-14-10 from 52 starts.

She is coming into the race off three straight wins and, remarkably, will be trying 1 1/16 miles for the first time. Two of her five wins at this meet came at a mile.

“I don’t think she’ll have any trouble handling the slightly longer distance,” Keller said. “She’s a tough, old horse, and she’s done all this despite losing an eye when she was a 2-year-old.”

The 3-year-old Tell Me Lies could be dangerous if she gets away on her own. Brady’s Tomboy looks like a threat from a stalking position.