Ward aboard right ones in stakes

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Jockey Anderson Ward, who is selective in accepting mounts here, rides the favorite in both the Agassiz Stakes and Distaff Stakes on Monday. Two Sales Stakes, one for 2-year-old colts and geldings and one for 2-year-old fillies, also will be run here Monday.

Both the Agassiz and Distaff go at one mile, carry a purse of $30,000, and are for Manitoba-breds. The Agassiz is for 3-year-olds and upward and the Distaff is restricted to fillies and mares.

Gus Again will be favored in the Agassiz, as he looks to win this race for the second consecutive year. Trained by Harry Kube, Gus Again has one win from four starts this year.

Certified Coin and Sovereign-adversary, second and third in last year's Agassiz, should provide the toughest competition for Gus Again.

The complete field for the Agassiz, with riders from the rail out, is Rare Deputy, Jacques DesAutels; Gus Again, Ward; Certified Coin, Jerry Pruitt; Sovereignadversary, Rohan Singh; Speedy Treat, Juan Crawford; G and L Special, Robert Munoz; and U Otabe Wild, Tim Gardiner.

Dawn Edition will be heavily favored as she breaks from the rail in the six-horse field for the Distaff.

Trained by Wendy Anderson, Dawn Edition has run against the top local older mares all meet, winning an allowance race in her last start after finishing second in the Winnipeg Sun Stakes.

Con's Night Flight, last year's Distaff winner, starts just outside Dawn Edition with Crawford in the irons.

Completing the field are Farrmost, Singh; Complete Edition, Navin Mangalee; Polka Tune, Pruitt; and Cayenne Pepper, DesAutels.

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Sales Stakes, for 2-year-olds eligible through last year's Manitoba yearling sale, also are worth $30,000 and will be run at six furlongs.

Fancy Bru, a half-brother to leading Manitoba-bred money-earner Fancy As, is the one to beat in the colts and geldings division.

Fancy Bru, trained by Gary Danelson, is one of three winners in a field of eight, along with Bold Lover and Hopetobeastar.

In the fillies division, Air Driver and Bo Dippity are the only two winners in the field of seven.

The Manitoba yearling sale takes place in the Assiniboia Downs grandstand on Tuesday, beginning at 6:30 p.m.