Sam Steele has a long way to go

EDMONTON, Alberta - Sam Steele, the 118-pound topweight, will take a winning streak of three into the $11,700 final of the Northlands marathon series Saturday.

A field of seven will run 1 5/8 miles, the longest race of the Alberta season.

Sam Steele's most recent victory was in the 1 3/8-mile second leg of the Northlands marathon series, for horses racing for a claiming price of $5,500 to $11,000.

A 4-year-old who had been claimed for $5,500 from his last start by trainer and co-owner Doug Smith, Sam Steele won by a head in that race over Northern Root, to whom he will concede four pounds Saturday.

Northern Root is only a head and a neck from enjoying a three-race winning streak as well. His victory came in a $4,250 claiming race at 1 1/16 miles.

Shingen Victory has not been worse than fourth in seven starts since the end of April. He won two races for $4,250 before moving up the ladder and finishing third to Caspian in the 1 5/16-mile leg of the marathon series.

Caspian competed in the previous two legs of the series, recording a victory and a fourth.

Kristopher Road won at a mile early in the Northlands meet for $4,250, then ventured north to Grande Prairie and won at 1 1/16 miles. Since then, he has finished far back with this kind.

Whyte Avenue has not hit the board since being claimed by Ron Scott for $5,000 out of a race he won in May.

Still looking for his first victory of the year is Egotistical, although he finished a strong third to Sam Steele in the second leg.

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