Eligibility: C.T.H.S. Alberta‑bred 2‑Year‑Olds
Purse: $22,000
Scheduled Post Time: 3:35 PM MDT / 2:35 PM PDT
Venue Description
Evergreen Park’s Grande Prairie Race Track is a seasonal summer racing venue known for:
A tight dirt oval with short turns and a relatively short stretch.
A surface that is typically fast, dry, and speed‑favoring due to Alberta’s warm summer climate.
A jockey colony composed of Western Canadian riders familiar with local horses and regional stakes dynamics.
A racing environment where early speed and tactical positioning are crucial, especially in juvenile sprint stakes.
The C.T.H.S. Sales Stakes is a showcase for Alberta‑bred 2‑year‑olds purchased through the C.T.H.S. sales program, often producing breakout juvenile stars.
Expected Weather Conditions
Temperature: 86°F
Humidity: 42%
Wind: 10 mph WNW (crosswind, slight advantage to outside stalkers)
Sky: Sunny
Track Condition: Fast
Impact: Warm, dry weather favors front‑running juveniles and pace‑pressers.
Full Field Analysis – C.T.H.S. Sales Stakes
Post 1 – Prairie Prospect
Trainer: W. Smith Jockey: Ricardo Moreno Morning Line: 3‑1 (Favorite) Running Style: Tactical speed / stalker Last Three Finishes:
1st – Grande Prairie Maiden (Fast)
2nd – Lethbridge Juvenile Trial (Fast)
3rd – Evergreen Park Maiden (Fast) Analysis: Prairie Prospect is the most polished juvenile in the field. Breaks well, sits just off the leaders, and finishes strongly. Moreno is excellent at saving ground from the rail. Proven at 5 furlongs and bred to stretch out to 6. Major contender.
Post 2 – Northern Rookie
Trainer: J. McDonald Jockey: Trevor Simpson Morning Line: 6‑1 Running Style: Mid‑pack grinder Last Three Finishes:
3rd – Grande Prairie Maiden (Fast)
4th – Lethbridge Juvenile Prep (Fast)
2nd – Grande Prairie Maiden Claiming (Fast) Analysis: Consistent but lacks elite acceleration. Needs a hot pace to maximize his late run. Simpson is excellent at timing moves, but Rookie is more likely to hit the board than win.
Post 3 – Western Flyer
Trainer: C. O’Rourke Jockey: Jose Rocha Morning Line: 4‑1 Running Style: Front‑running speed Last Three Finishes:
1st – Lethbridge Juvenile Trial (Fast)
2nd – Grande Prairie Maiden (Fast)
1st – Evergreen Park Maiden (Fast) Analysis: Explosive early speed. Rocha fits him perfectly. Flyer breaks sharply and tries to wire fields. The question: can he stretch his speed to 6 furlongs? Dangerous if he gets loose early.
Post 4 – Prairie Dancer
Trainer: M. Thompson Jockey: Adrian Flores Morning Line: 10‑1 Running Style: Deep closer Last Three Finishes:
5th – Grande Prairie Maiden (Fast)
4th – Lethbridge Claiming (Fast)
3rd – Evergreen Park Claiming (Fast) Analysis: Closers rarely win juvenile sprints at Grande Prairie due to the short stretch. Prairie Dancer has talent but needs a meltdown scenario. More likely to finish mid‑pack.
Post 5 – Corona’s Kid
Trainer: S. Arriaga Jockey: Luis Negron Morning Line: 8‑1 Running Style: Pace‑pressing stalker Last Three Finishes:
2nd – Grande Prairie Maiden (Fast)
1st – Lethbridge Maiden Special Weight (Fast)
3rd – Evergreen Park Maiden (Fast) Analysis: Strong tactical speed and improving form. Negron is aggressive and will keep him close to the pace. Kid has upside and could surprise if he continues progressing.
Post 6 – Northern Prairie Star
Trainer: J. Evans Jockey: Ken Tohill Morning Line: 7‑2 Running Style: Pace‑pressing stalker Last Three Finishes:
2nd – Grande Prairie Juvenile Prep (Fast)
3rd – Evergreen Park Maiden (Fast)
1st – Lethbridge Maiden (Fast) Analysis: Veteran juvenile with strong tactical speed. Tohill is one of the best riders in the region and excels with horses who break well but don’t need the lead. Major contender.
Post 7 – Alberta Rising
Trainer: D. Dominguez Jockey: Israel Hernandez Morning Line: 12‑1 Running Style: Mid‑pack stalker Last Three Finishes:
4th – Grande Prairie Maiden (Fast)
3rd – Lethbridge Maiden (Fast)
1st – Grande Prairie Maiden Claiming (Fast) Analysis: Stepping up sharply in class. Has grit but lacks the speed figures of the top contenders. More likely to finish mid‑pack.
Post 8 – Prairie Princess
Trainer: J. Arriaga Jockey: Abner Adorno Morning Line: 5‑1 Running Style: Pace‑pressing stalker Last Three Finishes:
2nd – Lethbridge Juvenile Trial (Fast)
3rd – Grande Prairie Maiden (Fast)
1st – Evergreen Park Optional Claiming (Fast) Analysis: Strong tactical speed and excellent consistency. Adorno is a top stakes rider and will keep her straight and focused. Major contender.
Race Shape & Pace Projection
Early Speed: Western Flyer
Pressers: Prairie Prospect, Northern Prairie Star, Prairie Princess, Corona’s Kid
Mid‑Pack: Northern Rookie, Alberta Rising
Closers: Prairie Dancer
Expected Pace: Honest to fast Impact: Favors tactical stalkers (Prairie Prospect, Northern Prairie Star, Prairie Princess)
Projected Order of Finish
Prairie Prospect (Post 1) – Perfect trip + proven juvenile form
Northern Prairie Star (Post 6) – Strong pressing style, reliable
Prairie Princess (Post 8) – Tactical speed keeps her competitive
Western Flyer (Post 3) – Speed holds for a piece
