Veteran pair drop from stakes

EDMONTON, Alberta - Beau Brass and Candid Remark, fifth and sixth in the Don Fleming Memorial here at Northlands on July 28, head a field of eight in the featured one-mile optional $40,000 claimer on Friday evening.

The 7-year-old Beau Brass is a multiple stakes winner of $453,424 who now is a notch below the top handicap horses on this circuit but a formidable force at this level. Prior to his even effort in the Don Fleming, Beau Brass was a closing third to Wye Red and Catalone in a similar spot.

The gelding's only win this year came in a one-mile allowance on June 2 at Stampede Park with a stalking trip from mid-pack, and rider Real Simard will likely employ a similar strategy Friday from post 5.

The 9-year-old Candid Remark has had a similar campaign, being unable to seriously threaten in stakes competition, with his only victory coming in a one-mile allowance here July 14. Candid Remark, reunited here with his favorite rider Perry Winters, draws post 2 and can be expected to lay just off the pace.

Frontier Express, stretching out to a mile for the first time, exits two unsuccessful tries in sprint stakes and is expected to set the early fractions.

Catalone, beaten a neck in each of his last two races, drew post 6 with Desmond Bryan up. A 7-year-old gelding, Catalone gets in light at 115 pounds as the only entrant in for a tag and can be expected to make his usual bid from mid-pack.

Churchbridge drew the rail and also runs his best races from off the pace. Forever Rascal posted a $55 upset last out, coming from last to nail Catalone in deep stretch.