Striking Time looks to close Marquis meet with stakes win

Marquis Downs will close out its 2010 meeting on Saturday with a 10-race card featuring the rescheduled Prairie Lily Stakes.

The $25,000 Prairie Lily, for 2-year-olds who passed through the local yearling sale, originally was scheduled for last Friday but that card was canceled after torrential rains left the racetrack submerged.

Striking Time, who if anything will benefit from the extra week’s rest, has towered over his opposition in Saskatoon this season, with three wins in as many starts by an aggregate total of 26 1/2 lengths.

Trained by Fern Zdunick and ridden by Neville Stephenson, Striking Time should have no trouble with the 6 1/2-furlong Prairie Lily distance after winning the six-furlong Harlequin by 7 3/4 lengths and the six-furlong Western Heritage by 12 3/4 lengths.

Tingle finished second in the Woodland, the Heritage Day stakes for 2-year-old fillies, and should handle the balance of this field of seven.

The $7,500 Prairieland Handicap, also originally scheduled for last Friday, will be the supporting feature on the closing-day program.

J C’s Action, the top older runner on the circuit, will be looking for his fifth win in his sixth start at the meeting in the 1 1/16 mile Prairieland. Tim Moccasin retains the mount on J C’s Action, who also is trained by Zdunick.