The top competitors in the 2013 Alberta Sires Stakes program will meet for their final battle of the season on Saturday as Northlands Park hosts the $300,000 Battle of Alberta Super Finals.
First race post time on Saturday is 1 p.m. with the first of four $75,000 Super Finals set to begin in race eight.
Two-year-old pacing fillies will kick off the battles with Triple Action, who boasts a perfect ABSS triple heading into the final, as the 2-1 morning line favourite. Philip Giesbrecht will drive the Brandons Cowboy-The Three Of Us filly from post two for trainer Joe Ratchford and Calgary owner Raggs To Riches.
Blue Eyed Cowboy headlines the two-year-old pacing colt field as the early 2-1 favourite for driver Bill Tainsh Jr. and Lamont, Alta. trainer/owner Rod Starkewski. The Brandons Cowboy-Eicarls Blue Eyes gelding will also leave from post two. He is the division's fastest pacer thanks to his ASHA Colt Stakes win on Oct. 13 in an Alberta Downs track record clocking of 1:53.3. Meanwhile, 3-1 second choice Comes Home First will be looking to wrap up a perfect ABSS season for driver Jim Marino and trainer Lance Ward. The Brandons Cowboy-Cinderella Came colt, who was scratched sick from his last assignment (the Premiers Colt Stakes on Oct. 25), is owned by the J J J Stables of Aldergrove, B.C.
Starkewski's Crackers Hot Shot will be seeking redemption in the three-year-old pacing filly division after a near perfect freshman campaign, which ended with a heart-breaking sixth-place finish in last year's Super Final due to an early break in stride. She's banked over $100,000 in purses during her sophomore year with victories in the first two Princess and Diamond sires stakes legs. Tainsh Jr. will also drive the Camcracker-Shesahotshot miss, who drew the popular post two. She is the early 2-1 favourite.
Premium Attaction will look to defend his Super Final title in the three-year-old pacing colt division for horseman Kelly Hoerdt and partner Blair Corbeil of Beaumont, Alta. The Clintons Cigar-Themaneattacktion colt will be looking to rebound after a break in last week's Maverick leg, his only off-the-board finish of his sophomore stakes campaign. The $192,441 career earner has drawn post six and is the 5-2 second choice. The Campbell family's Play Me Right is the slight 2-1 favourite after winning the Maverick final, but will have to overcome a post eight start. Brandon Campbell will drive the Ameripan Gigolo-Clintons Delight gelding for his father Sanford, mother Debbie and girlfriend Jodi Loftus.
Saturday's card also includes four $20,000 Consolations and an Open Pace, which includes former Super Final champions Flak Jacket, Wrangler Betonme, and Timberline Court amongst the field.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Saturday Entries - Northlands Park
Click here for free, printable program pages for Saturday's harness racing card, courtesy TrackIT.