Northlands: Rancour can retain supremacy

EDMONTON, Alberta - Rancour will take a major step toward retaining his crown as Alberta's top older horse when he heads a field of seven in the $40,000 Spangled Jimmy Handicap at Northlands Park on Saturday.

Trained by Ernie Keller, Rancour will carry top weight of 121 pounds, including regular rider Quincy Welch, in this one-mile event.

A 5-year-old, Rancour is coming off a one-length victory over They Call Me Cody, who is one year his junior, in the 1 1/16-mile Herald Gold Plate at Stampede Park.

They Call Me Cody, from the Dave Toner-trained Sunrise Farm, has had an impressive season to date. After being beaten by a nose in an allowance, They Call Me Cody finished third in both the Stampede Park Sprint Championship and the Teeworth Plate.

Serious opposition can be expected from Sixthirtyjoe, who has already won three stakes this year under rider Real Simard.

Sixthirtyjoe was assigned

120 pounds after capturing the Stampede Park Sprint and the Teeworth Plate. He then added Northlands Park's first stakes feature, the 6 1/2-furlong Journal.

Tyko Tycoon should be the speed in the race, coming off a wire-to-wire victory in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance. He had two fourths and a fifth in stakes at Stampede.

Scotman, a multiple champion in Alberta two years ago, returns to his home track hoping to regain his winning form. Scotman has not won since the Teeworth in the spring of 2001 but did finish second to Rancour here in the Speed to Spare three months later. His last victory at Northlands was in the 2000 Canadian Derby.

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