Northlands Park: Tony the Tank eyes rebound in Wednesday sprint

Tony the Tank will try to make amends for his loss as the favorite in the $50,000 Birdcatcher when he runs in a first-level allowance race for 2-year-olds at Northlands Park on Wednesday. The six-furlong sprint drew eight horses and will go as the fourth race.

Trained by Greg Tracy, Tony the Tank was sent off as the heavy favorite in the Birdcatcher on Sept. 1 due to his impressive front-running win in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race Aug. 12, when he dominated the race from start to finish. He got hooked early in the Birdcatcher, however, and after dueling through quick fractions, he faded to fifth. Hollywood Drama, who won the race, came back to win his third stakes race in a row in the Alberta Premiers on Sept. 15.

Tony the Tank looks like the best speed in the field, and if he breaks alertly from his outside post with Rico Walcott aboard, he could be tough to catch.

The 2-year-old filly Canaveral Leader will be taking on the boys for the first time following three straight second-place finishes in stakes races. Trained by Ron Grieves, Canaveral Leader won her debut going 3 1/2 furlongs July 15 before finishing 10 lengths behind the Tracy-trained Tell Me Lies in the $49,000 Filly Sales Stakes. She also finished a distant second behind another Tracy-trained filly, Ten Thirty, in the Bird of Pay. Canaveral Leader came a lot closer to Tell Me Lies in the $50,000 Sturgeon going 6 1/2 half furlongs Sept. 15, finishing just 3 1/2 lengths behind the talented filly.

Canaveral Leader can stalk and could pick up the pieces if a duel develops between Tony the Tank and Risky Call.

Trained by Joan Petrowski, Risky Call has finished first twice in three starts, but he was disqualified to second for causing interference in the stretch in his second start. He made no mistakes in his 5 1/2-length win over Big City Bay in a six-furlong maiden special weight race Aug. 24, however.

◗ Also on the 10-race card is the $37,276 Alberta Derby Bred Final for Quarter Horses. The 330-yard race for 3-year-olds attracted eight horses. Cr Lil Bit of Ivory, who is coming off a win in the $22,000 Canada Quarter Horse Cup Derby at Lethbridge on Sept. 16, looks like the one to beat.