Cedar Fever moves up after claim

CALGARY, Alberta - Cedar Fever drew attention in her meet opener at Stampede Park on March 31 and was claimed out of the race for $30,000. Her new connections liked what they saw that day and are moving her up a notch into Friday's optional $40,000 claimer for fillies and mares.

Cedar Fever, a Texas-bred 4-year-old filly, was bet down to 6-5 in a five-horse field last out. She displayed blazing early foot and ran away from her rivals in the four-furlong race, finishing four lengths clear under a hand ride from Leanne Painter. But the stewards disqualified Cedar Fever for coming over on Ice Machine coming out of the chute.

Trainer Dale Greenwood was impressed enough in the paddock to drop a claim for Cedar Fever on behalf of Bear Stables Ltd.

Despite the unhappy ending, Cedar Fever was clearly the best in her last race and finished up in the manner of a horse looking for more ground. In 2006 she won 4 races and had 3 seconds from 9 starts.

The six-furlong sprint, carded as Friday's eighth and final race, carries a $22,000 purse and drew a full field of 10.

Cedar Fever drew post 5 with Quincy Welch picking up the mount, and she is the one to catch.

Ebony Lady, from post 2 with Jake Barton up, and Regal Magi, from post 6 with Perry Winters, are candidates to provide a pressured pace.

Closers Kathern's Cat, Cee's a Flirt, and In Bleu Genes would benefit from rapid early fractions.