Brighton Belle has best speed

CALGARY, Alberta - Brighton Belle heads a field of six older fillies and mares in Sunday's featured fourth race at Stampede Park, a four-furlong optional claimer with a $21,300 purse

Bred and owned by Dr. David Reid, the chairman of Horse Racing Alberta, the 6-year-old Brighton Belle is a stakes winner with lifetime earnings of $152,261 and is a perfect fit in this race.

Brighton Belle is rarely headed away from the gate and has posted a strong work tab this spring for trainer Rod Heggie, including a bullet four-furlong move March 24.

Brighton Belle drew post 5 with Leanne Painter up. She should be able to make an unchallenged lead in this race and seems likely to post her eighth victory from 20 lifetime starts.

Code's Decree drew the rail, a post not favorable in half-mile races here, which begin in the chute. But she has won at this distance and has trained sharply for trainer Yves Trudel, including a bullet five-furlong work last Monday. Trudel did well on opening weekend with three wins, a second, and a third from five starters.

Sunday's program marks the end of the four-furlong races this meet and racing secretary Barry McGrath will take entries on Sunday for Wednesday's program of six-furlong sprints.

McGrath has written a pair of open allowance races for next weekend to serve as the major preps for the May 8 Stampede Park Sprint Championship and the May 9 M.R. Jenkins Memorial.

Should both preps fill, which always is a question mark early in the season, local fans will get a look at Sixthirtyjoe next Saturday and Raylene the following afternoon.