Star's brother favored

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Fancy Bru, the only winner in the field, will be the one to beat in Saturday's Frank Arnason Sire Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.

Eight 2-year-olds have entered the five-furlong restricted event, which carries a purse of $30,000.

Fancy Bru, a half-brother to Fancy As, Horse of the Year in Alberta and British Columbia last year, won the only 2-year-old race run here this season.

Trained by Gary Danelson, Fancy Bru made a good late move between horses on his way to taking that June 7 race.

Also coming out of that race are Dances for Durham, Isle Dream, and New Release.

Trainer Chad Torevell will send out Isle Dream and New Release, who are not coupled.

Isle Dream set the pace before finishing second, three-quarters of a length behind Fancy Bru.

New Release finished fourth, beaten two lengths, while Dances for Durham was fifth, 3 1/4 lengths behind the winner.

Rounding out the field are first-time starters Hopetobeastar, Pippy Dance, Irish Treasure, and Bo Dippity.

The complete field with riders, in post position order, is Pippy Dance, Juan Crawford; Dances for Durham, Jacques DesAutels; Hopetobeastar, Gary Melanson; Isle Dream, Jerry Pruitt; Irish Treasure, Manuel Alicea; Bo Dippity, Anderson Ward; New Release, Rohan Singh; and Fancy Bru, Tim Gardiner.

Big upset in Chantilly

Last Sunday, longshot Sands Fury won the Chantilly Stakes over Sassy Shonda and Torquilla.

A 3-year-old daughter of Level Sands, Sands Fury improved her lifetime mark to three wins from five starts while increasing her earnings to $39,044.

Trained by Ardell Sayler and ridden by Anderson Ward, Sands Fury returned $36.90.

Jacques DesAutels topped all jockeys last weekend with six victories, and moved back into first on the rider standings with 29 wins. Ward and Manuel Alicea also had good weekends, winning five races apiece.

Gordon Marsh led all trainers with three victories last weekend. Sayler leads the trainer standings with 13 wins heading into this week's action.