Can weight stop Teagues Fight?

EDMONTON, Alberta - For the three years now, Teagues Fight has repeatedly subjugated his competition at Northlands Park, posting 8 wins in 12 starts over the surface. Saturday, Teagues Fight looks to extend his dominion here when he takes on seven rivals in the $75,000 Don Fleming Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.

The race, formerly known as the Klondike Handicap, is named in honor of longtime newspaperman and Northlands publicist Don Fleming, who passed away in 2006.

Teagues Fight, an Alberta-bred 4-year-old gelding, notched his third win in four starts this season when he took the one-mile Spangled Jimmy by two lengths on July 7. Despite his success at Northlands, Teagues Fight was sent away as the second favorite there at a shade less than 2-1.

As a result of this most recent win, Teagues Fight will carry 124 pounds, spotting his rivals 5 to 11 pounds. Stephan Heiler will have to get his mount to carry the weight an extra sixteenth in the Fleming.

The two that look the most likely to benefit from the weight advantage are Trick of the North and Test Boy, the two-three finishers in the Spangled Jimmy.

Trick of the North was a mild surprise in the Spangled Jimmy, at 6-1. He will receive six pounds from Teagues Fight and once again has Quincy Welch aboard.

Test Boy, who upset Teagues Fight in the Teeworth Plate at Stampede Park May 19, was favored in the Spangled Jimmy but failed to deliver. Test Boy will receive five pounds from Teagues Fight.