Bell n' Gone, Teagues Fight go at it

CALGARY, Alberta - Bell n' Gone, champion juvenile colt on this circuit last year, thanks to stakes victories in the Birdcatcher and Canadian Juvenile, and Teagues Fight, winner of the Sales Stakes and Alberta Premier's Futurity, renew their rivalry in the $50,000 President's Handicap at Stampede Park on Saturday.

A field of 10 3-year-olds will run in the President's at six furlongs, with Bell n' Gone breaking from post 7 under Real Simard as the 120-pound highweight.

Bell n' Gone, an Ontario-bred son of Fast Play, came to hand last fall for trainer Ron Grieves, reeling off three straight wins to wrest the divisional championship from arch-rival Teagues Fight, who finished second to him in the Birdcatcher and third in the Canadian Juvenile.

Both Bell n' Gone and Teagues Fight come into the President's without benefit of a prep. Teagues Fight has the more impressive work tab of the two with a pair of bullet drills for trainer Doug MacDonald. He will have Ron Blinston up at 119 pounds.

The other serious contenders all have wins this year. My Guy, one of four invaders in the field, won a maiden special weight at Laurel in February. He has worked strongly at Hastings for trainer Terry Jordan and gets the services of leading rider Quincy Welch.

Napinowaan was an impressive allowance winner here April 12. Perry Winters will ride in place of Leanne Painter, who injured her collarbone in a training spill Tuesday morning.

Tiger Energy, a half-brother to former Alberta sprint champion Timely Ruckus, romped against maidens at Stampede Park on April 23 but will get a stern test in the President's.

A one-mile allowance prep for the May 20 Teeworth Plate is also on the President's card. It attracted Alberta's 2005 champion 3-year-old and Alberta Derby winner Knight's Covenant, who takes on seven rivals.