Highlights of Alberta breds in the Open Stakes Season 

Alberta Bred Winners – Highlights of the 2018 Open ‘A’ Track Stakes Season

The 2018 ‘A’ Track Meet commenced on May 5th at Northlands Park and continued until Canadian Derby day on August 25th. The meet then moved down to Century Downs at Balzac and ran from September 2 through October 28th.

Champion Alberta bred SHIMSHINE was the first Alberta bred to win a stakes race in the 2018 season. This Wilko gelding won the Western Canada Handicap for three year olds on June 2 at Northlands for owner White Pine Ranch. The three year old is out of the Menifee mare, Shimmery, and was bred by Wally Pugh an Andy Stronach. Shimshine went on to have a successful remainder of the season earning a second place in the Alberta Derby on August 5th in addition to a third place finish in the Canadian Derby on August 25th, the last day of racing at Northlands. He also claimed second place in the Beaufort Stakes on Alberta Breeders’ Fall Classic Day to finish the 2018 season with a total of $79,775 in earnings. Shimshine now has lifetime earnings of $168,874 in 6 wins.

SMARTY RIVER PANTS was the next Alberta bred to capture a stakes race, the Princess Margaret Stakes for two year olds, on July 28th. The Afleet Alex gelding competed his season at Northlands with his next win in the $50,000 Birdcatcher Stakes for Two Year Olds on August 18th. Smarty River Pants continued his outstanding success in the Century Downs Meet with a win in the $50,000 Alberta Premier’s Futurity on September 16th at Alberta Breeders’ Fall Classic Day. The impressive runner went on to place second in the last stakes race of the year, the $75,000 Canadian Juvenile for two year olds on Sunday, October 28th at Century Downs. Smarty River Pants finished his inaugural year with a record of 4 wins and 1 second in 5 starts with $95,752 in earnings for owner and breeder, Riversedge Racing Stables.

MISTER JANGLES won the Timely Ruckus Stakes for Three Year Olds and Up on August 25th, the last day of racing at Northlands. The five year old gelding went on to add a second place in the Red Diamond Express Handicap at Century Downs on Alberta Breeders’ Fall Classic Day. The Ice Box runner completed his 2018 season with 2 firsts and 2 seconds in 7 starts and $54,475 in earnings, bringing his lifetime earnings to $121,447 with 18 wins. Owned by Mitch Klimove, Mister Jangles was foaled in Alberta by Roy Robert McClintock out of the Maria’s Mon mare, Graceful Nancy.

Smarty River Pants was the top Alberta bred by earnings at the Northlands 2018 Meet with a perfect record of 3 wins in 3 starts and earnings $62,903.

OUR SAMMI was the top Alberta bred by earnings at the 2018 Century Downs Meet with 2 wins in 4 starts and $35,460 in earnings. Our Sammi is a four year old Schramsberg filly out of the Seeking the Gold mare, Ensnare. She is bred and owned by Bar None Ranches Ltd. and now has lifetime earnings of $49,535 with 3 wins.

Credit should be given to the Alberta Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association and the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Association (Alberta Division) for their tireless work during the season to secure sponsorship to support purses and develop a successful stakes season at Northlands and Century Downs.

The April 2019 scheduled opening of live Thoroughbred racing at Century Mile will add excitement to the 2019 stakes season. The November 2nd, 2018 press release from Century Casinos, Inc. states that “Century Casinos announced today that important milestones have been reached toward the opening of Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in south Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The release confirms plans for the opening of Century Mile in the spring of 2019, “Up to 800 thoroughbred race horses will go through their daily training regimen when the stable area and racetrack will open for training in spring of 2019. The casino and the racetrack at Century Mile are scheduled for opening in April of 2019.” Horse Racing Alberta has announced the 2019 race dates however stakes dates have not yet been released for the next season. Century Mile will have a total of 51 days of racing starting on April 28 and finishing on August 26. Century Downs will have 16 days of racing beginning on September 8 and finishing the season on October 27.