Trainer Tim Rycroft is hoping Greek Geek can salvage what has been a disappointing season for the 5-year-old son of Misremembered when he runs in the $50,000 Alberta Breeders’ Handicap on Saturday at Century Mile. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew five horses and goes as race 5. It is one of seven $50,000 stakes races restricted to Alberta-breds that are featured on the 12-race Alberta Fall Classic Day card. The stakes festival gets under way at 12:45 p.m. Mountain with three Quarter Horse stakes for Alberta-breds. There is a $25,000-guaranteed pool for the pick four, which begins with the Alberta Oaks in race 9. Last year, Greek Geek compiled an impressive 7-1-1 record from 9 starts, and he was disqualified from first for interfering with Regal Max on the stretch turn in one of his runner-up finishes. This year, Greek Geek is winless in five starts and coming off a seventh-place finish in the $99,000 Century Mile Handicap on Aug. 20. The Mile was one of his four stakes victories in 2021. “He has had foot problems all year,” Rycroft said. “It’s been soak and poultice, soak and poultice. He’s doing well now and he is the best horse in the race, so hopefully he can show what he can do.” Greek Geek is versatile, which will give leading rider Enrique Gonzalez options after he breaks from post 4. Regal Max has been the runner-up in the Alberta Breeders’ Handicap the past three years, and trainer Jim Brown had this race in mind when he claimed the 7-year-old gelding by Max Forever on behalf of Kirk Sutherland for $22,000 on July 1. In his first start for his new connections, Regal Max scored a front-running victory over Eddyshak in a nonwinners-of-four allowance race that carried a $25,000 claiming option ($31,000 for Alberta-breds) on July 29. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures “We knew Greek Geek wasn’t as good as last year, and Regal Max is pretty honest,” Brown said. Regal Max, who looks like the one they will have to run down, will break from the rail with Dane Nelson up. ◗ Brown likes his chances of winning the Distaff Handicap with Dance Shoes, who had won three straight races, including the $50,000 Redtail Landing and $50,000 Shirley Vargo, before finishing last after trying to keep up with Infinite Patience during the early stages of the $97,500 Northlands Distaff Handicap on Aug. 20. Infinite Patience increased her win streak to eight races while setting a track record in the one-mile race. “That’s what happens when you hook into and try to beat a monster,” Brown said. “She recovered well now, so I expect her to run a good race.” The Rick Hedge-trained Plum Blue will try to build off her second-place finish in the Northlands Distaff. The 1 1/16-mile Distaff drew four horses and goes as race 4. ◗ Big Hug figures to be a short price in the Sturgeon River for 2-year-old fillies. The six-furlong dash drew seven horses. Trained by Rick Hedge, Big Hug is undefeated in two starts and is coming off a 3 1/2-length victory over Bootiful Rose in the $49,000 Princess Margaret on Aug. 19. In both of her victories, the daughter of Mr. Big rallied late to win going away with Rafael Zenteno Jr. aboard. She drew the outside post and with plenty of speed to run at, she should get the same kind of trip with Zenteno up. The Carson Frey-trained Bootful Rose, who held on well to finish second after dueling with Fastestgirlintown in the Princess Margaret, could be dangerous if she shakes loose early. Rico Walcott retains the mount. ◗ Oneofthemgirls is the one to catch and beat in the 1 1/16-mile Alberta Oaks, which drew eight 3-year-old fillies. Trained by Greg Tracy, the daughter of Exhi is undefeated in five starts at Century Mile and is coming off a narrow victory over Tone It Up in the $49,500 Sonoma Handicap on July 29. The one-mile race was her first try at a middle distance. She will have to deal with other speed in the Oaks and could be vulnerable coming off a layoff while stretching out an extra sixteenth of a mile. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets. The Alivia Kettleson-trained Stevie Wonder Girl is stepping up in class after winning a $15,000 conditioned claimer Aug. 27 but has the right running style and could get up in time if things fall her way. ◗ The Premier’s Futurity for 2-year-olds appears to be a wide-open event. Mudinator will be among the favorites in the six-furlong dash that drew eight horses. The son of Cape Canaveral was impressive winning a maiden special weight restricted to Alberta-breds for trainer Monica Russell on Aug. 13. He finished second to Big Hug in his debut and fifth in the $50,000 Martin Deerline Juvenile in his second start. Brown thinks he can win with first-time starter Mohamed, who will break from the rail with Alex Marti up. “I really like him,” Brown said about the son of Mor Spirit. “He’s fast and does everything right.” ◗ Boss Man Can will try to remain undefeated for trainer Ron Grieves as he stretches out to a middle distance for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile Beaufort for 3-year-olds. The son of Can the Man won his first three starts by a combined 27 1/4 lengths and is coming off a nine-length romp in his only start this year going seven furlongs in a conditioned allowance race Aug. 13. He will have to beat the Tracy-trained Flashfordani, who finished fourth in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby on Aug. 20. ◗ The Red Diamond Express Handicap wraps up the card. The six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up appears to be wide open. Wedge Pond is trending in the right direction for Kettleson and could end up a slight favorite over Backstreet Bobby.