Zuri Mwana starting year

Zuri Mwana heads an excellent field of older sprinters running in Monday's featured race at Northlands Park. The six-furlong classified allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option drew seven horses.

Trained by Gordon Amthor, Zuri Mwana will be making his seasonal debut Monday. He was voted the champion sprinter in Alberta last year on the basis of his win over Codio in the 6 1/2-furlong Journal Handicap. Zuri Mwana won his first three races in 2009 -- a 3 1/2-furlong $40,000 optional race, the Journal, and the one-mile Spangled Jimmy.

Zuri Mwana will be making his first start since he finished second in the 1 1/16-mile Westerner on Aug. 8, but he runs well fresh. He won his initial start in a maiden special weight race at Stampede Park 2008, and he just missed when he debuted in a $40,000 maiden race for California-breds at Santa Anita in 2007.

Zuri Mwana drew the rail, where Shannon Beauregard will be able to put his good speed to use.

Inuit Fisher has been working forwardly for trainer Dale Saunders. The champion sprinter in Alberta in 2008, Inuit Fisher had a productive season last year, winning the Sun Sprint Handicap as well as a $40,000 optional race July 17. He displayed his readiness with a bullet five-furlong move in 1:02.40 seconds around the dogs on May 21.