Canadian Derby Weekend Highlights: CTHS Alberta Sale Grads and Connections to the 2026 Sale

🏇 Canadian Derby Weekend Highlights: CTHS Alberta Sale Grads & Connections to the 2026 Sale 🏇

Canadian Derby weekend at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino showcased not only outstanding racing, but also the success of CTHS Alberta Sale graduates and some exciting pedigree connections to the yearlings on offer in the upcoming 2026 CTHS Alberta Thoroughbred Sale.

From stakes performers to winning sale graduates, here are the highlights from Friday and Saturday:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21

🏇 Race 2 – Claiming, 3-Year-Olds & Up

2024 CTHS Alberta Sale graduate ABSOLUT JOHN finished a strong second for owner Dialed In Racing Corp. and trainer Craig Smith. The Alberta-bred three-year-old sold for approximately $7,105 to Dialed In Racing Stable.

There is a direct connection to this year’s sale — Absolut John has a full sister selling as Hip 35, by Fed Biz out of the Congrats mare Hope’s Appeal, consigned by Highfield Investment Group.

🏆 Race 4 – Princess Margaret Stakes

Winner CENTELLA is by Bakken, a sire represented by six yearlings in the upcoming CTHS Alberta Sale.

Third-place finisher SILENT BLURR, a Kentucky-bred, is a 2025 CTHS Alberta Sale graduate. Consigned by C.W. Matier, she was purchased by owner Al Pitchko for approximately $11,477.

🏆 Race 5 – Canadian Juvenile Stakes

The first two finishers in this race for two-year-olds — BC-breds COWBOY NOW and BAKKEN TOWN — are both 2025 CTHS Alberta Sale graduates.

COWBOY NOW was consigned by Mike Anderson & Terry Clyde and sold for $25,369 to owner Curtis Landry. He is by Counterforce, who has seven yearlings on offer in the sale.

Runner-up BAKKEN TOWN was consigned by Red Rocks Farm and sold to Stetsco Inc. and Lori Going for approximately $22,068. He is by Bakken, whose six yearlings in the 2026 sale offer buyers another opportunity to select from the sire’s progeny.

🏇 Race 8 – Maiden Claiming

BC-bred winner BLUE GRANITE provided another highlight for sire Bakken and another reason to take a close look at the six select Bakken yearlings on offer in the upcoming Alberta sale.

Second-place finisher SCHMUGLEY is an Alberta-bred 2024 CTHS Alberta Sale graduate and has a half sister selling as Hip 4, consigned by Les Marks and out of the Quiet American mare Aunt Sara.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

🏇 Race 3 – Allowance Optional Claiming

BC-bred winner PUTTINONTHEFOIL is a 2023 CTHS Alberta Sale graduate by Counterforce who was purchased by Curtis Landry for approximately $47,213.

Buyers will have another opportunity to select from the sire’s progeny, with seven Counterforce yearlings on offer in the 2026 sale.

Even more exciting, a half sister to Puttinonthefoil sells as Hip 16, out of the Katowice mare Chilli Chines and consigned by Highfield Stock Farm, Agent.

🏇 Race 4 – Claiming, Fillies & Mares 3-Year-Olds & Up

Second-place finisher WORTHY SPIRIT is an Alberta-bred runner owned by Boe Stone, Janet Stone and Dialed In Racing Stable. Consigned by Styled by Stars Ranch, she was purchased through the 2023 CTHS Alberta Sale for approximately $12,830.

🏆 Race 8 – Northlands Distaff Handicap

Winner CHI CHI TIME has a half brother on offer as Hip 1 out of the Northern Afleet mare, Amarachi and consigned by Gladys and Karen Dittloff.

Two-time Alberta Horse of the Year BIG HUG added another stakes placing to her outstanding career with a third-place finish in the Northlands Distaff, bringing her career earnings to approximately $679,211.

The Alberta-bred 2021 CTHS Alberta Sale graduate was consigned by Stone Ranches and purchased by owners Empire Equestrian and Kerredge Farm for approximately $3,818.

The 2026 sale offers an exciting opportunity to purchase Hip 81, a half sister to the champion runner, out of the Unusual Heat mare Temeeku and consigned by Boe Stone.

🏆 Race 9 – Century Casino Oaks

2024 CTHS Alberta Sale graduate SIXTY SIX captured second in this black-type stakes for three-year-old fillies.

The Alberta-bred runner was consigned by C.W. Matier and sold to Dorn Ries for approximately $28,420.

A half sibling to Sixty Six is selling as Hip 33, out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Holiday Maker and consigned to the 2026 sale by C.W. & Shirley Matier.

🏆 Race 11 – $200,000 Grade III Canadian Derby

The sale offers an exciting opportunity to purchase two yearlings on offer by War of Will, the same sire as Canadian Derby winner, QUARRY. Consignor Boe Stone has Hip 8 on offer, a filly by War of Will out of the Unusual Heat stakes winning mare, Best Present Ever and Starline Thoroughbreds offers Hip 91, a War of Will gelding out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare, Getting Lucky.

The weekend’s feature race provided another major result for a CTHS Alberta Sale graduate as BIG CURL ran a strong second in the $200,000 Grade III Canadian Derby.

The three-year-old Kentucky-bred is a 2024 CTHS Alberta Sale graduate, consigned by Cal Britton and sold to Everblack Cattle Company for approximately $33,495.

⭐ Find Your Own Winner at the 2026 CTHS Alberta Sale!

Canadian Derby weekend was another great example of what can come through the CTHS Alberta sales ring — from winning two-year-olds and stakes performers to a two-time Alberta Horse of the Year and a Grade III Canadian Derby runner-up.

The 2026 CTHS Alberta Thoroughbred Sale offers plenty of opportunity to find your own winning racehorse, with over 100 quality yearlings on offer.

📅 Friday, September 18, 2026
📍 Westerner Park, Red Deer

Visit www.cthsalta.com to view the sale catalogue and explore the pedigrees of the yearlings on offer.