A six-race line up of Alberta Sires Stakes Super Finals will feature some of the province’s finest in action on Saturday afternoon at Northlands Park
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The first final, for four-year-old pacing mares, is slated for Race 2 and the Travis Umphrey-trained A Ps Money Maker has been chosen as the 1-2 favourite in the morning line. Fresh off a win in her Alberta Heartland division, the Cardmaster Hanover-Mint Kondition mare will leave from Post 4 and look to earn the lion’s share of the $50,000 purse with Bill Tainsh, Jr. in the bike for owners Terry Hamilton, Joe Tinelli and Shir Win Racing Stable.
At odds of 7-5, Timberline Court and trainer, driver and co-owner Gerry Hudon leads the field of four-year-old horses and geldings in the matching $50,000 final. The With Held-Bon Temps gelding, who won his Alberta Prairie and Parkland divisions, will leave from Post 5 in Race 5.
In the $100,000 freshman filly pace, Keith Clark pupils Rossridge Fortune (Clark) and 2-1 favourite W Jean (Don Monkman, Jr.) – both winners of their Premier’s Filly and Alberta Starburst divisions – have drawn post positions two and three. Their stablemate, Wrangler Raine (J.F. Gagne), also an Alberta Starburst winner, will leave from Post 5.
The $100,000 two-year-old colts and geldings pace will feature Flak Jacket, who has yet to finish off the board in 10 starts for trainer-driver Jamie Gray. The Brandons Cowboy-Jackies Whacky gelding won his Alberta Rising Star division at Grande Prairie on September 11 in a track record time of 1:57.2. He also captured his Lone Star division more recently at Northlands and is appraised at odds of 2-1. He will start from Post 3 for owner Robert Murphy of Surrey, B.C.
At odds of 3-2 Swiftys First Star, who is three-for-three in ABSS action, leads the $100,000 glamour boys finale. Jeff Stone is listed to drive the son of As Promised-Swiftys Girl for trainer Robert Sabourin, Jr. The Post 5 starter is coming off a second-place finish in the Western Pace. To his inside, Wrangler Hitech and trainer-driver Keith Clark will also attempt to cap off a perfect ABSS season. The As Promised-Raines Lucey gelding has been assessed at odds of 2-1 in the morning line.
With the luck of the draw, 2-1 favourite A Special Lady, a winner of her Alberta Diamond and Marquis divisions, has been assigned the rail spot in the $100,000 three-year-old filly pace final. Bill Tainsh, Jr. will handle the driving duties for trainer Deborah Manning. Keith Clark’s Lady And Thetrench, 3-1 in the morning line, will start from Post 5 and Grande Prairie track record holder Western Bee, 4-1, drew Post 7. Trainer J.F. Gagne will drive.
Along with a pair of consolations, the purses will top $500,000 making it the richest card in Alberta.
"All of the Northlands resources will be focused on that day," Northlands' Jonathan Huntington told the Edmonton Sun. "It's reasonable to predict our best day of the year, both for handle and attendance.
"The only thing that could hurt us is snow and below-freezing temperatures," he continued. "My fingers are crossed already."
Post time for Saturday is set for 1 p.m.
To view Saturday’s harness racing entries,