Right Swiftly Mike could be tough to catch in Sales Stakes
Trainer Tim Rycroft won the first two stakes at the meet, and he has a big chance to win another with Right Swiftly Mike in the colts-and-geldings division of the $50,000 Sales Stakes at Northlands Park on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong dash – restricted to 2-year-olds foaled in Canada who went through a Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society sale in Alberta or Manitoba – drew eight horses, and Right Swiftly Mike likely will be the one they have to run down.
Sharing the spotlight on the eight-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Mountain is the 2-year-old fillies’ division, in which Onestaratatime figures to be favored.
Right Swiftly Mike broke a half-step slowly from the rail when he debuted in a maiden special weight race going 3 1/2 furlongs July 8. Using his good speed, he made the lead but was caught in the last stride by Leena, who will be running in the fillies’ division in race 4.
Right Swiftly Mike left the starting gate like a rocket when he returned, going 5 1/2 furlongs for the same condition July 22, and he never looked threatened as he easily won by 5 3/4 lengths with Tony Maragh aboard.
With leading rider Rico Walcott picking up the mount, Right Swiftly Mike undoubtedly will be a short price Saturday. Expect Walcott to put him on the lead after he breaks from post 4.
Rycroft also entered Victory Day, who figures to improve after finishing third to stablemate Awesome Slate going 3 1/2 furlongs in his debut June 13. In his next start, Awesome Slate was going to win the Edmonton Juvenile by as much as he pleased before he bolted at the top of the stretch.
Charpetti, trained by Joan Petrowski, owns the best Beyer Speed Figure in the field, which he earned in his third start, a $12,000 maiden-claiming race restricted to Alberta-breds.
Colts and geldings (race 7)
Key contenders
Right Swiftly Mike (Last 2 Beyers: 27-26)
* The second foal out of a mare who won six sprints and earned $70,000 could be tough to run down if he breaks as sharply as he did in his second start.
Victory Day (Last Beyer: 11)
* A half-brother to Alberta Oaks winner Lemon Pepper figures to take a big step forward in his second start going around two turns.
Whiskey Bird (Last Beyer: 15)
* Hastings invader got off to a poor start when he debuted in a maiden special weight race July 12, and it is encouraging to see jockey Richard Hamel accept the call.
Fillies (race 4)
Key contenders
Onestaratatime (Last 2 Beyers: 25-9)
* Trained by Greg Tracy, she will appreciate easier company after finishing second to the impressive Bootleggers Wife in the Princess Margaret.
DRF Formulator fact: Over the past five years at Northlands, Tracy has a 30 percent strike rate with 2-year-olds running in stakes races.