Will the real Hilldrop Shady please stand up? That's the question handicappers may be asking when Race 11 goes behind the gate on Saturday night at Northlands
Park.
Now a winner of over $100,000 (all in Alberta) courtesy of his last victory, a 24-1 shocker at the Open Pace level, 'Shady' has the rail against seven other fine steeds in top class action this week.
"He's a late bloomer," says trainer Ken Read of 'Shady'. "He was unraced as a two-year-old, but I knew there was something there. He then had a little trouble, on the turns in GP [Grande Prairie], racing as a three-year-old. His four and five-year-old seasons were impressive enough and now he's peaking. 2012 should be a good year for 'Shady'."
Owned and bred by Millet's Wally McKay, the six-year-old son of Shady Character, out of Grecian Formula by Artsplace, has Alberta's fastest mile of 2012 (1:54.1) and leads all top class contenders in wins (three) so far on the year.
"At times he has trouble grabbing the track -- especially during this time of year," says Read. "He'll slip and lose momentum, but he'll always try his hardest."
It appears that when Hilldrop Shady is not slipping, he's winning and the longshot players love him. His three wins in 2012 have returned $2 win pays of $27.90, $16.00, and most recently $51.70. From seven wins in his last two years of racing 'Shady's average win ticket pay is $22.00!
"He's matured nicely," adds Read. "I know right now that he's exceeding all of [driver Brent] Grundy's expectations. 'Shady' knows when the battle's on and he knows where the wire is. He'll give you everything he has and then some when it’s a fight to the finish."
Hilldrop Shady (p1:53.2) has 20 wins and $104,021 in overnight money earned from 70 Alberta starts.
Saturday's night top class field features three former Western Canada Pacing Derby champions in Lil Dude Starrbuck (2004), Trust The Artist (2007) and Neal Diamonique (2008). Add to that the likes of former stake champions Timberline Court, All Canadian Mjjz and Sixdaysontheroad. With overnight monsters Hilldrop Shady and Gts Jake in the mix, track announcer Shannon 'Sugar' Doyle describes the field as "one of the best Open Pace fields -- not to mention most competitive -- that I've ever seen here at Northlands."
Alberta's 2011 Aged Horse of the Year All Canadian Mjjz, owned by Larry Thomas and Rod Starkewski, gets morning line favourite status at 5-2 with Starkewski aboard.
"It's all about the trip," says Starkewski. "Any horse can win this race -- it's that close. I've got a shot, but so do seven others."
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Saturday Entries - Northlands Park.
(With files from Northlands Park)