An eight-horse field has been drawn for the $135,000 ASHA Breeders Stakes, to take place Saturday, November 29 at Northlands Park in Edmonton, AB. Cams Card Shark bay Shark Fest has been named the morning line favourite.
Trained and driven by co-owner Keith Clark, Shark Fest has been solid in 15 starts this season. Sporting a seasonal slate of 5-4-2, the eight-time career winner has landed Post 2 for the rich tilt, carded as Race 8 (3:20 p.m.) on the nine-dash program. The morning line oddsmaker has pegged the $107,431 earner at 2-1.
After leaving from the rail in her elimination last weekend, Clark opted to eased Shark Fest into the fourth along the pylons before igniting his pupil in the second quarter with a first-up rush. A battle ensued in the third quarter, but Shark Fest showed the competition her fins in the late stages, as she scooted away to a four-length victory in 1:54.2, just a fifth of a second shy of her life's mark. Shark Fest was a $25,000 yearling buy in Harrisburg in 2006.
The ASHA Breeders Stakes is for three-year-old fillies that are either Alberta-owned, sired or foaled.
Horse Racing Alberta has provided a breakdown of the entire field, which is listed below.
To view the entries for the entire card, click here.
$135,000 ASHA Breeders Stakes
PP1, Doober Hoozzitz, 12-1
Driver: Warren Grant
Trainer: Warren Grant
• Only two wins in 23 career starts.
PP2, Shark Fest, 2-1
Driver: Keith Clark
Trainer: Keith Clark
• Broke stride in the $175,000 Northlands Filly Pace in May.
PP3, Rossridge Divine, 10-1
Driver: Ryan Grundy
Trainer: Jamie Gray
• A $50,000 purchase at an Alberta yearling sale, she has earned $48,289 in her career.
PP4, Red Star Hottie, 6-1
Driver: Jamie Gray
Trainer: Jamie Gray
• The stablemates start side-by-side.
• She had the slowest qualifying time from the elimination heats.
PP5, A Ps Money Maker, 5-1
Driver: Bill Tainsh
Trainer: Travis Umphrey
• Lost by eight lengths to Shark Fest on November 22.
PP6, Modern Legacy, 4-1
Driver: Bob Clark
Trainer: Keith Clark
• The second Keith Clark entrant is co-owned by former NHLer Pat Elynuik.
PP7, Bette Blue Chip, 8-1
Driver: Mark Bradley
Trainer: Lance Ward
• A $52,000 filly at a New Jersey yearling sale, she finished second to Shark Fest last weekend.
PP8, Stelle Nel Cielo, 3-1
Driver: Ron Graham
Trainer: Ron Graham
• Won a Breeders elimination heat but it was three full seconds slower than Shark Fest's qualifier.
(With files from HRA)