THE 2017 ALBERTA BREEDERS' FALL CLASSIC

2017 NORTHLANDS STAKES MEET:

Highlights of Alberta bred Runners

The Live Thoroughbred season at Northlands ran from May 6 through to September 16^th in 2017. Twenty four open stakes races were held throughout the meet in addition to the restricted Sales Stakes on August 12^th and the Alberta Breeders’ Fall Classic on September 16^th.

Alberta breds had a number of solid placings throughout the early part of the meet but really got going with a successful sweep of the six furlong $50,000 Princess Margaret Stakes for Two Year Old Fillies on July 29^th. The Big Lightning runner, EMMA JEAN TOO, had the first stakes win of the season for an Alberta bred runner. The two year old filly was bred by Esquirol Farms and is owned by Lora, Dennis and Wendy Barton. The graduate of the 2016 CTHS Alberta Sale became the first black type stakes winner for the Alberta freshman sire and Benardini son, Big Lightning. Her dam, the Left Banker daughter, Come Hither, was a stakes winner prior to becoming a successful broodmare. Besides the win, Alberta breds were represented in the Princess Margaret by second placed FUTURE STATE, and STREET MADE who finished third. Future State is by Othello’s Future and is bred and owned by William Short. Street Made is by Street Boss and was bred by Highfield Stock Farm and is owned by Highfield and Curtis Landry.

The Alberta bred runners had another highly successful day on September 2^nd finishing win, place and show in the $50,000 six and one half furlong Birdcatcher Stakes for Two Year Old Colts and Geldings. The winner was the Wilko colt, SHIMSHINE, bred by Wally Pugh and Andy Stronach and owned by White Pine Ranch. Shimshine adds his win to a lengthy list of winners sired by Wilko, whose progeny earnings are over $6.8 Million. The dam of Shimshine is a Menifee sired mare. The Stone Ranches bred runner, REGAL MAX, took second place over third place finisher, KIRWAN’S MOUNTAIN. Regal Max is sired by the Stone Ranches stallion, Max Forever, out of the stakes winning Regal Intention mare, My Miss Emily. The 2016 CTHS Sale graduate is owned by Kerredge Farm and Almac Racing Stable. The Big Lightning runner, KIRWAN’S MOUNTAIN, rounded out the Alberta bred dominance in the Birdcatcher. Kirwan’s Mountain is a homebred racing for J & G Murphy Holdings, who also raced Big Lightning, out of the Songandaprayer mare, Mountain Park. This two year old gelding had already gained stakes placed status previously on July 29^th with a third place finish in the Edmonton Juvenile.

A number of other Alberta breds had successful placings worthy of note throughout the Northlands meet. The Stone Ranches bred SAVEITFORARAINYDAY finished second in the Chariot Chaser Stakes in the first stakes race of the Northlands meet. The Albertus Maximus sired filly also placed second in the Northlands Oaks on July 15^th , third in the Sonoma on August 19^th  and second in the Alberta Oaks on Fall Classic day. She is owned by Riley Rycroft, Dale Stark and Lewis Mailer.

The Gayego runner, BAR NO Q, earned multiple stakes placed status in 2017 with consistent placings throughout the season. The three year old gelding placed second in the Western Canada on May 27^th, second in the Ky Alta on June 17^th and second in the Beaufort Stakes on Fall Classic Day. He was bred by Barrie and Collin Quamme and is owned by the Quammes and Bar None Ranches.

MISTY DO IT by Mister Do It earned some solid placings at Northlands finishing third in the Chariot Chaser Handicap on May 26^th, third in the RK (Red) Smith Handicap on June 16^th and third in the Alberta Oaks on September 19^th. This three year old filly was bred by Gordon Alger and is owned by Gary and Cathy Moholitney.

The Ghostzapper gelding ZIPPITY ZAP added to his stakes placed status by claiming three second place finishes in the Don Getty Stake on July 29^th, the Westerner on August 19^th and the Alberta Breeders’ ’Handicap on September 16^th. Zippity Zap was bred by Bar None Ranches and is owned by Bar C Ranch Ltd. The Kissin Kris filly Smart Fix had a second place finish in the John Patrick Handicap and a win in the Fall Classic Distaff on September 16^th. Smart Fix was bred by Esquirol Farms and is owned by Tim Kane, Lesley Hardy, Jerri Robertson, Judy Frost and Leanne Chiodo. The Kodiak Kowboy filly, Parcam Cowgirl, finished second in the Sonoma Handicap on August 19^th. Parcam Cowgirl was bred by Stone Ranches and is owned by Crystal Meadows Farm.

Alberta Breds in the Two Year Old Sales Stakes – August 12th

Alberta bred REGAL MAX by Max Forever, bred by Stone Ranches Ltd was victorious in the Colts & Geldings division for owners Almac Racing Stable and Kerredge Farm. Second place finisher was Alberta bred STRIPLING WARRIOR by Alydeed, bred by Running Fawcett Thoroughbreds Ltd & Laura-Jane Harvey and owned by Rollingson Racing Stable. Third place went to Alberta bred CHISUM G by Storm Military, bred by John Galatiuk and owned Lori Going. All six entries were Alberta breds.

In the Filly Division, the runner-up finisher was Alberta bred BITTERS by Old Fashioned. This filly is owned and bred by Red Ron Farms and Stone Ranches Ltd. Third place finisher went to Alberta bred BIG RIVER by Big Lightning, bred by Pierre Esquirol and owned by Alivia Gogush.

Shimshine was the top Alberta bred runner at the conclusion of the Northlands season with two stakes wins and a third place stakes in six starts, finishing the meet with a total of $74,453 in North American earnings.