Invaders may decide Sales Stakes

Invaders from Hastings will have a big say in the outcomes of both divisions of the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes on Sunday at Century Downs.

Notice figures to be a short price in the 2-year-old fillies division, which drew seven horses and goes as race 4 on an eightrace card that begins at 1:15 p. m. Mountain.

The colts and geldings division, race 7, drew nine horses and appears to be a wide-open event. Purple Storm, who finished third in a maiden special weight race in his only start for trainer Craig MacPherson at Hastings, looks like the one to beat.

Both races will be around two turns at seven furlongs.

Trained by Mark Cloutier, Notice was an easy 4 1/2-length winner of the CTHS Sales Stakes on Aug. 24 at Hastings, and she came back with another strong performance when she was the runner-up to Dancin Shoes in the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity on Sept. 8. Dancin Shoes lost for the first time when she was the runner-up by three-quarters of a length to the sensational Summerland in the $75,000 Fantasy on Sept. 29.

Notice has speed, and Cloutier is hoping to dampen some of it by taking the blinkers off.

“I think taking the blinkers off will help her relax a bit more,” he said.

She will break from post 3 with Rigo Sarmiento riding.

Miss Hesi, perfect in two starts at Century Downs, looks like the one with the best chance of pulling off an upset.

She came from off the pace to win a maiden special weight race Sept. 10 and closed with a rush to edge Can’t Touch This in the $50,000 Sturgeon River for Alberta-breds on Sept. 16. In her other start, she finished fourth in her debut at Northlands Park.

With plenty of speed in the field, the race could set up nicely for her and jockey Shamree Muir.

Purple Storm looks tough

Purple Storm is a maiden, but the 54 Beyer Speed Figure he earned for his third-place finish behind Explode in a maiden special weight race Sept. 9 stands out. Explode came back to romp by 6 1/4 lengths for Cloutier in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation last Sunday.

MacPherson was pleased with Purple Storm’s half-mile move out of the gate Sept. 28 at Hastings.

“He broke a half-step slow in his race and he was a lot quicker coming out of there in his work,” he said. “He shipped to Century right after the work, and Tim said he is doing fine.”

He was referring to Tim Rycroft, who will be the trainer of record Sunday.

A son of Storm Victory, Purple Storm will break from post 7 with Rico Walcott riding.

Rycroft also will be represented by debut winner Ojo Del Mar and I Play to Win.

I Play to Win is the better of the two, and he will be happy to get away from his stablemate Smarty River Pants, who has dominated the 2-year-olds in Alberta this year.

Bonnies Lil Rascal, trained by Jerri Robertson, is coming off a runner-up finish behind Smarty River Pants in the $50,000 Alberta Premier’s on Sept. 16 at Century.