Oren's Star owns an edge in Edmonton Juvenile

Six 2-year-old colts and geldings will get their first crack at stakes money in the $50,000 Edmonton Juvenile at Northlands Park on Saturday.

Oren's Star is the only horse with a win going around two turns and could have a big advantage in the Juvenile, run at six furlongs around two turns.

Trained by Ron Grieves, Oren's Star scored a 4 1/2-length win over Northern Hennessy, a horse he will face again in the Juvenile, in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race on July 3. With Grieves aboard, Oren's Star came back to work a half-mile in 48.60 seconds last Monday.

"He's a little studdy but he is a very mature horse for a 2-year-old," said Grieves. "I had a big hold of him when he worked last Monday and I actually thought he was going a lot slower."

Grieves identified Salty Time, who won his debut going 3 1/2 furlongs on June 19, as the main threat.

Hastings shipper Mr. Instigator scored an easy 2 1/2-length win over Minstrel's Time when he debuted in a 3 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race May 9.

Dakota Digger could be the sleeper. He was the odds-on favorite when he debuted in Oren's Star's race and finished third despite breaking a step slowly and blowing the first turn.

* In the co-featured $50,000 Princess Margaret for 2-year-old fillies, Smarty Jill figures to be a short-priced favorite.