Short fields drawn for both divisions of Sales Stakes

Both divisions of the $50,000 Three and Four Year Old Sales Stakes at Northlands Park on Tuesday came up a bit light. The 6 1/2-furlong sprints are restricted to horses foaled in Canada that went through a Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Sale.

The colts and geldings division drew five horses, but according to trainer Dale Saunders, Legend Fortynine is doubtful. The 3-year-old son of Gold Legend won the one-mile $55,000 Ky Alta Handicap on June 21, and Saunders seemed reluctant to run him back this quickly.

“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” said Saunders. “Plus, he’s a better horse going long, and I’m not sure I want to shorten him up.”

Saunders is not without representation, however, and he likes the way Hollywood Drama is coming into the race. The 4-year-old gelding by Ministers Wild Cat was the champion 2-year-old in Alberta in 2012. He never got untracked as a sophomore, though, finishing third once and going unplaced in four of his five starts.

Hollywood Drama hinted that he could be returning to form when he finished third in a $35,000 optional-claiming race in his only start this year. He also may have tipped his hand when he worked a bullet five furlongs in 59.80 seconds with Rico Walcott aboard June 24. Walcott is riding Tuesday at Hastings, and Scott Williams will pick up the mount.

“He had a problem that set him back last year,” said Saunders. “He’s doing really well right now, so I am hoping he’ll run a good race.”

The main threat to Hollywood Drama is Clever Speed, who is coming off a narrow loss in a $25,000 optional-claiming race June 7.

Trained by Marcos Malvaez, Clever Speed should be the one they have to catch and could be dangerous if he breaks alertly from his outside post.

Tell Me Lies tops fillies division

The fillies division kicks off the nine-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Mountain. Tell Me Lies will be a short price over Canaveral Lady in the three-horse field that offers win and exacta wagering only.

Tell Me Lies will need to take a big step backward to get beat in the fillies division. After finishing second to Saturday Nite Ride in her seasonal debut May 3, she broke on top and widened her margin at every call to win a $35,000 optional-claiming race in an 11 1/2-length romp June 11 over Lynn’s Foxie Lady and Canaveral Leader. Trained by Greg Tracy, Tell Me Lies was purchased as a yearling for $12,000 by Darrell and Curtis Landry out of the 2011 CTHS Alberta Sale. Her latest win boosted the multiple stakes winner’s earnings to $231,250.

Canaveral Leader beat Tell Me Lies in last year’s Sales Stakes but will need to improve substantially off her latest effort to threaten her Tuesday.