Trooper John comes off bench to challenge Rock Victor in Western Canada Handicap

There is an excellent Saturday card at Northlands Park that includes the $50,000 Western Canada Handicap for 3-year-olds and the $50,000 Journal for 3-year-olds and up. Both races will be contested at six furlongs.

First up is the Western Canada, where last year’s Canadian Juvenile winner, Trooper John, will make his first start of the year. He will have to be on his toes to beat Rock Victor, who is coming off a sharp win in the B.C. Cup Stellar’s Jay at Hastings on April 30.

Trained by Tim Rycroft, who has won with 47 percent of his starters at the meet, Trooper John closed out his juvenile campaign with back-to-back stakes wins at Assiniboia Downs and Northlands.

Trooper John spent the winter in Ocala, Fla., where his owner, Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd., recently purchased a training center. He has had three works at Northlands and signaled his readiness with a bullet five-furlong move last Saturday.

Trooper John drew the outside post in the eight-horse field, with Keishan Balgobin retaining the mount.

The likely favorite is Rock Victor, who could be tough to run down if he breaks alertly from post 2 with Rico Walcott riding.

Trained by Greg Tracy, Rock Victor went unplaced in his two starts as a juvenile, but he hasn’t lost as a 3-year-old. He parlayed his win in a $30,000 maiden special weight race at Turf Paradise on April 3 into an impressive front-running win in the Stellar’s Jay.

Trainer Ernie Keller appears to have Killin Me Smalls primed for another big effort in the Journal. A two-time Grade 3 winner going 1 3/8 miles in the Premiers Handicap at Hastings, he also can sprint. Last year, he earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Sun Sprint Championship at Northlands, and he was an easy front-running winner going six furlongs in an optional $35,000 claiming race May 12.

His bullet five-furlong move in 59.20 seconds last Sunday tells us all we need to know about how Killin Me Smalls is coming into the Journal.

Hold the Giant, trained by Rycroft, also has speed, and if a duel develops, the race could set up for Annie’s Candy, who will be making his first start at Northlands for trainer Monica Russell.

Annie’s Candy is coming off a runner-up finish as the favorite in an optional $35,000 claiming race at Hastings for trainer Phil Hall on May 7. He got into a three-horse pace battle in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. He won the pace battle but lost the war when Sabado Allegre rallied to win going away.

In his last two wins in Southern California, Annie’s Candy came from a stalking position, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Walcott let him sit just off what figures to be a fast pace.

Annie’s Candy appeared to like the Northlands surface when he worked a bullet four furlongs in 47.20 seconds last Saturday.

Ready Intaglio won the Grade 3 Canadian Derby last year for trainer Amber Meyaard. That effort was flattered when fourth-place finisher Inside Straight won the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap. Ready Intaglio will want more distance than he’s getting Saturday.