Stablemates Suzette and Raider go at it in Chariot Chaser Handicap

Suzette, voted the top 2-year-old filly in Alberta last year, returns to Northlands Park on Friday and will be among the favorites in the $50,000 Chariot Chaser Handicap.

One of the horses Suzette will have to deal with is her stablemate Raider, who will be ridden by Suzette’s regular rider Rico Walcott. With Walcott bailing on Suzette, Raider could end up being the favorite in the six-furlong dash, which drew six 3-year-old fillies.

The only time Suzette ran at Northlands she won the $51,000 Bird of Pay by 14 1/4 lengths with Walcott riding for trainer Greg Tracy on Sept. 1. She also romped in her next race – with Walcott aboard – in the $60,000 Freedom of the City at Century Downs. That was her last start as a 2-year-old, and Walcott rode her again when she made her 3-year-old debut in the $50,000 Ross McLeod at Hastings, where she was close to a sizzling pace before finishing fourth.

Raider was also making her initial start this year when she finished third in the McLeod with Enrique Gonzalez aboard. In her only race at Northlands she won the $50,000 Filly Sales Stakes, with Walcott guiding her to a three-length victory.

Tracy doesn’t have a preference between his two fillies, but Walcott has been the dominant jockey at Northlands since 2011, and he could be telling us something with his choice of mount.

“They are both doing great” said Tracy. “Suzette might have a bit of an advantage breaking from the rail, but Rico should be able to get Raider into a good spot early. They both ran well at Hastings. Raider got stuck on the rail and had to wait for room. With a little luck she might have won the race.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Raider, by Stephanotis

Last 3 Beyers: 52-47-52

◗ She can stalk, and with plenty of speed drawn inside of her she could pick up the pieces if they get carried away up front.

Suzette, by Overanalyze

Last 3 Beyers: 52-45-44

◗ That was a decent effort in the Ross McLeod, and she’s back in Alberta where she dominated her opponents in both of her starts there.

◗ She has plenty of speed and should make good use of it breaking from the rail with Keishan Balgobin riding.

I Miss Back When, by Alydeed

Last 3 Beyers: 55-51-10

◗ Trained by leading trainer Tim Rycroft, she is perfect in two starts this year and could get a nice trip sitting just off a potential duel between Suzette and Teemans Kid.

Teemans Kid, by Treeman

Last 3 Beyers: 55-38-34

◗ The Jennifer Hunt-trained Alberta-bred is two noses away from being undefeated, and she almost took them all the way in an open allowance race won by I Miss Back When in her only outing this year.

◗ She is eligible to take a big step forward with a race behind her, as she did last year when she won the $50,000 Sturgeon River in her second start.