'Saw Grass' gives mile a try

CALGARY, Alberta - Saw Grass Sabre, winner of the President's Handicap here May 15, heads a full field of 10 3-year-olds in the Hoofprint on My Heart Handicap, the featured eighth race Sunday afternoon.

The $40,000 Hoofprint is the major prep to the June 19 Alberta Derby, and the one-mile distance will separate the contenders from the pretenders.

Saw Grass Sabre, a Florida-bred, served notice in the six-furlong President's by drawing off to a three-length tally over a surface rated good under mild urging from Stephan Heiler.

Heiler, who said his mount "will run on," must deal with post 9 this time around.

The contention runs deep in the Hoofprint and trainer Red Smith does double duty by saddling both Saw Grass Sabre, the probable favorite, and Kat Cool, an impressive allowance winner May 18 who drew the outside post with leading rider Quincy Welch up.

Royalty Boy rates a long look after turning in an even effort in his seasonal bow sprinting, and he drew favorably in post 2 under Real Simard. Royalty Boy's juvenile form suggests he will appreciate the stretchout to a mile. He lost photos in a pair of stakes going long last fall at Northlands Park.

The coupling of Ol Fifty and Ozzie's J J, owned by Paul and Clare Asmundson, will receive support at the mutuels.

Ol Fifty, second to Saw Grass Sabre in the President's after making a strong move from well back, breaks from the rail with Rickey Walcott up, and Ozzie's J J, a stylish winner of an allowance the same day, drew post 7 with Perry Winters retaining the call.