Shifty Time makes 3-year-old debut at Northlands

Shifty Time makes her seasonal debut in the $50,000 Chariot Chaser Handicap at Northlands Park on Thursday. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies drew six horses and will go as race 7 on the Canada Day card, which begins at 1 p.m. Mountain.

Trained by Greg Tracy, Shifty Time dominated the local 2-year-old filly division last year. After finishing second in a $27,500 maiden claiming race going 3 1/2 furlongs Aug. 3, she was never threatened while winning the Filly Sales, Sturgeon River, and Freedom of City stakes by a combined total of 24 lengths. In all three of her wins, Shifty Time stalked the early pace and was in complete control by the time she reached the top of the stretch. There is plenty of speed in the Chariot Chaser, and if she runs her usual race, Shifty Time should get a nice trip from a stalking position with usual rider Quincy Welch aboard.

Vying Ty Grr invades from Hastings for trainer Barbara Heads and she will provide some of the speed for Shifty Time to run at. She led from start to finish in the B.C. Cup Debutante and the $106,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity last year. In her latest start she set the pace before settling for third behind Otero and Dearest Princess in the $51,000 Emerald Downs at Hastings May 24.

Trainer Rod Cone has entered Jules J and Notoriously. Jules J might want more distance. Notoriously came from off the pace to win a $25,000 claiming race going 6 1/2 furlongs in her last start, which came at Hastings June 6.

Holly Michelle, trained by Jim Meyaard, looked sharp in her six-length win over That Voodoo Youdo in a first-level allowance race June 18.