Stakes-rich Fall Classic Day closes meet

The 2017 Northlands Park meet ends Saturday with Fall Classic Day and a 12-race card that features seven $50,000 Thoroughbred stakes restricted to Alberta-breds.

The first two races are the $22,350 Alberta Bred Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horses and the $45,000 Alberta Bred Futurity for 2-year-old Quarter Horses. Post time for the first race is Noon Mountain.

Traditionally, the final day of the Northlands meet marks the end of live racing on Alberta’s major circuit. However, Century Downs begins its inaugural 16-day meet Sept 23, with the $100,000 Harvest Plate for 3-year-olds and up Oct. 22 as the highlight.

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The final race at Northlands is the Beaufort Stakes for 3-year-olds, in which Captain Will receives class relief after finishing fourth at Northlands in the Grade 3, $150,000 Canadian Derby won by Chief Know It All on Aug. 19. The race was validated when Chief Know it All came back to win the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings on Sept. 9.

Trained by Ron Scott, Captain Will was coming off a six-length romp in a $35,000 optional-claiming race with Dane Nelson riding July 29. A similar effort would be good enough to win the 1 1/16-mile race on Saturday. He will break from the outside post in the nine-horse field, with Nelson riding.

Makealittlenoise won his first four starts before being overwhelmed by Real Quality in the $53,000 Alberta Derby at Grande Prairie. Trained by Craig Smith, he rebounded with a third-place finish in a $30,000 optional-claiming race Sept. 2 and could make some noise Saturday with leading rider Rico Walcott retaining the mount.

The first Thoroughbred stakes on the day is the Alberta Breeders’ for 3-year-olds and up. The 1 1/16-mile race shapes up as a battle between last year’s winner, For Cash, and the rapidly improving 4-year-old Zippity Zap.

Trained by Dale Greenwood, For Cash is the class of the party. Among his six stakes wins was an upset score in the $200,000 Zia Park Derby in 2013. The son of Stephen Got Even is coming off a nose win in a $35,000 optional-claiming race Aug. 25.

Zippity Zap’s lone stakes win came in the $16,000 Open Derby at Lethbridge last year. The Craig Smith-trained son of Ghostzapper is coming off back-to-back runner-up finishes behind Killin Me Smalls in the $53,000 Don Getty Handicap on July 29 and the $53,000 Westerner on Aug. 19. He was never a threat to the two-time Grade 3 winner, though, finishing well back both times.

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Smith claimed him for $15,000 on behalf of Bar C 5 Ranch Ltd. on June 28. In his first start for his new connections Zippity Zap was an easy winner of a $25,000 optional-claiming race June 28.

Parcam Cowgirl, trained by Dale Saunders, figures to be a short price in the one-mile Alberta Oaks, which drew eight 3-year-old fillies. She will need to avoid getting into a duel with Misty Do It, though. If the two speedy fillies hook up early it could set up nicely for the Red Smith-trained Piper Rose.

Street Made could end up a slight favorite over Teemans Kid in the Sturgeon River for 2-year-old fillies. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew eight horses and appears to be wide open.

Onestaratatime has been installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the Fall Distaff Classic for fillies and mares. The Greg Tracy-trained 4-year-old is looking for her first win since she romped by nine lengths in the Alberta Oaks on Fall Classic Day last year.

Golden Odie is coming off a sharp win in a $25,000 optional-claiming race Sept. 1 and looks like the one to beat in the Red Diamond Express for 3-year-olds and up. Trained by Tim Rycroft, Golden Odie owns the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up, a 72.

Take your pick between Shimshine and Regal Max in the 6 1/2-furlongs Alberta Premier’s Futurity, which drew 10 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Trained by Elige Bourne, Shimshine beat Regal Max in the Birdcatcher Stakes on Sept. 2. Regal Max had to steady sharply on the stretch turn, however, and was impressive winning the 2-year-old Sales Stakes by eight lengths in his previous start.