Shimshine holds on in Western Canada Handicap

Shimshine held off a late bid by Star Czar to win the $56,000 Western Canada Handicap at Northlands Park Saturday. He paid $4.30.

With Rico Walcott riding, Shimshine settled into a stalking position early and when he easily took over the lead at the quarter pole, the only question seemed to be by how many lengths he would win. He also appeared to be home and cooled out when he held a four-length advantage at the top of the stretch. However, he stalled midstretch and was all out to win the six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds by a head. Star Czar stalked the early pace while saving ground and finished full of run when Dane Nelson wheeled him off the rail at the top of the stretch. He finished 4 1/4 lengths clear of Flash the Cash, who rallied from last after being in tight quarters early.

The final time was 1:13.72.

Shimshine, the champion 2-year-old in Alberta last year, was making his first start as a 3-year-old. Walcott said it wasn’t a lack of conditioning that caused the close finish.

“He likes to have something to run at and he started looking around in the stretch,” he said. “I heard the crowd roaring, so I just put my head down and rode him to the wire.”

Shimshine is trained by Elige Bourne. Acting on behalf of White Pine Ranch, Bourne claimed the son of Wilko out of his debut for $12,000. The $36,000 winner’s share boosted his earnings to $146,911.