Rocky Mountain Turf Club was in high voltage action on Saturday as the Alberta-Bred Stakes Races kicked off live racing for the fall season.
 
The first stakes race was 5 1/2 furlongs for colts and geldings, and Les Adams, "Visions of Joy", ridden by Oral Bennet, edged out, "Why Not Live", ridden by Blandford Steward and trained by Nellie Pigeau.  "Visions of Joy", launched a late stretch drive to pick up the victory over, "Why Not Live", who was attempting to go gate to wire.
 
The next Alberta Bred Stakes was 5 1/2 furlongs and Garry Marks trained the first and second place horses in this race.  "Lady Amelia", ridden by Blandford Stewart, proved once again that she is still one of the best mares on the track.  Marks' other horse, "Capali", ridden by Trevor Simpson, picked up second-place money
 
The seven-furlongs Alberta bred Stakes went to Jim Depew's, "Captain Will", ridden by Alexi Rizo to a convincing victory.  Nellie Pigeau's, "Dudley Do", ridden by Juan Apango, was a distant second.
 
Wrapping up the Alberta Bred Stakes action was the seven-furlong event for fillies and mares.  Godfrey Weaslehead's, "Gayshan", ridden by Alexi Rizo, picked up the upset win beating out Les Adams, "Ms. Watson".  The day, despite some chilly temperatures, was very well attended with a handle of over $83,000 for the day.
 
Labor Day Monday races were cancelled due to a huge downpour of rain.  The day will be made up this upcoming Monday with post time Saturday and Sunday at 1:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Monday.
 
In addition to Godfrey Weaslehead's stake victory, he also won another race and will undoubtedly be in the running for leading trainer in the fall meet. Godfrey has been in the horse-racing business for over forty years, starting out with his father-in-law, Rufus Goodstriker, before branching out on his own. Godfrey is training fourteen horses at Rocky Mountain Turf Club and has tied in with up and coming rider Alexi Rizo as his first-call rider. Godfrey has raced all over Western Canadian tracks in his forty-year journey, as well as several American tracks.