Beau Brass noses out Raylene

EDMONTON, Alberta - Beau Brass, a 5-year-old owned by Edmonton businessman Tom White, became the first double winner of the $100,000 Speed to Spare since Arctic Laur's back-to-back scores in 1992 and 1993 when he beat the mare Raylene by a nose at Northlands Park last Saturday.

Beau Brass ended a streak of "seconditis" through three consecutive stakes by emerging from a stretch battle with Raylene after pacesetters Deputy Country and Illusive Force were overtaken in the backstretch of the 1 3/8-mile Speed to Spare for older horses.

Just as Deputy Country and the Vancouver invader Illusive Force had battled cheek to jowl for seven furlongs in the 60th running of the Speed to Spare, a similar dramatic late duel developed between Beau Brass at 9-5 and the 8-5 favorite Raylene.

"Raylene was leading us by a long neck in deep stretch, but Beau Brass fought back for the victory in the last few jumps," said Real Simard, Beau Brass's career rider.

Bought privately for $6,500 from breeder Denny Andrews, Beau Brass ($14.60) gave Rick Hedge his first Speed to Spare victory as a trainer. During his career as a jockey, Hedge won the race with Big Dan in 1973 and Ky Alta in 1981.

Beau Brass's next start will come on Sept. 24 in the $75,000 Alberta Breeders at 1 1/16 miles on Fall Classic Day, which offers seven stakes for Alberta-breds.