Three red-hot three-year-olds will meet for the first time on Saturday in the first of two $15,000 eliminations for next week's $100,000 Western Pace at Northlands Park
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Returning to Alberta, trainer Travis Umphrey brings in Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots champ Blended Whiskey fresh off a lifetime best 1:51.1 score at Woodbine. Owned by Terry Hamilton of Lethbridge, the three-year-old son of Rambaran - Leia Lee leaves from post 5. Right to his outside is 2-1 morning line favourite Sixdaysontheroad, an Allamerican Native - Resume Speed colt that's unbeaten in eight starts this year for trainer-driver Ron Graham and owners Walter Moroz and Willie Wychopen.
Coming back to Alberta after a successful stint in British Columbia will be Camblazer, a homebred of B.C.'s Bill Boden. That Camcracker-Squeaker Hanover sophomore comes into Saturday's elims fresh off a win in the $75,000 Robert Murphy Breeders Stake Final at Fraser Downs.
"This will be a good test to see if he can compete with Blended Whiskey," Boden told Trot Insider while on vacation in Hawaii. "My horse is in good shape right now."
That good shape is clearly evident from his current four-race win streak. Those wins include a sweep of the Murphy Series (two legs and the final) plus his lifetime best effort in his start prior to the series - against older foes and over a sloppy track, to boot.
"He's a late bloomer, he was a bit immature last year and didn't impress us all that much," continued Boden, "but Dave [Hudon] says he's getting better with every start."
Boden is clearly pleased with his homebred, a colt that is already 9-for-15 on the season and if he is getting better with every start could be in for his biggest payday of the year. On Saturday, Camblazer leaves from the advantageous rail position and is assessed at 7-2 on the morning line. Gerry Hudon takes over the lines from his B.C.-based brother Dave.
"He's a pretty handy colt, on the front or off the pace," stated Boden, "and I'm looking forward to seeing how he'll do."
To view the TrackIT program for Saturday's card, click here. For entries, click here.