Three stakes in three days

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - The Assiniboia Downs stakes schedule begins in earnest this week, with a stakes race each day.

The Golden Boy and the Chantilly, originally slated for June 5 and 6, were rescheduled to Friday and Saturday after a press-box fire forced the cancellation of four race days. The La Verendrye goes on Sunday.

All three stakes will be run at six furlongs and carry a purse of $40,000.

Deputy Ambassador seeks his first stakes win and third victory in as many starts in the Golden Boy, for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Trained by Clayton Gray, Deputy Ambassador was an impressive winner over maiden special weight company in his only start as a 2-year-old. Deputy Ambassador took a first-level allowance race in his only start this year. Deputy Ambassador breaks from the rail under Paul Leacock.

To his outside will be the well-traveled Skipper. Trained by Raymond Liu, Skipper was claimed for $20,000 at Oaklawn Park in early March. He has raced three times since then, twice at Stampede Park and once here.

Skipper overcame a poor start to finish second behind Deputy Ambassador two starts ago, and he finished fifth in the Hoofprint on My Heart Handicap at Stampede last time out. Ken Hendricks will ride him for the first time.

Shanghied won his maiden from well off the pace at five furlongs here in his only start on May 29. Trained by Bert Blake, the son of A.P. Indy should relish the extra furlong of the Golden Boy and breaks from post 8 with leading rider Travis Hightower on board.

Stonewall Harris was claimed for $15,625 when he won his maiden in his initial start of 2004. Trained by Harry Kube, Stonewall Harris took a first-level allowance race in his next start. Gary Melanson again has the call on Stonewall Harris, who starts from post 9.

Rounding out the field, in post order, are Shrike One (Larren Delorme to ride), Old Coyote (Vince Guerra), Mark Out Rythm (Tim Gardiner), Coal Smudge (Jason Leacock), and Polaris (Ricky Walcott).