'Cody' tries to regain old form

EDMONTON, Alberta - They Call Me Cody, last year's champion older horse in Alberta, will seek his first victory of the season when he faces six rivals in Sunday's allowance feature at Northlands Park.

The one-mile race is open to 3-year-olds and upward who have not won $17,500 in 2004.

They Call Me Cody will have Rickey Walcott aboard for the first time, replacing the just-retired Stephan Heiler.

Last year, They Call Me Cody won the Herald Gold Plate and the Westerner and lost a photo finish to Regal Ability in the Speed to Spare.

They Call Me Cody has yet to finish better than third in four 2004 starts, however.

Regal Ability is also off to a slow start and is unplaced in three outings. Desmond Bryan will ride Regal Ability.

Winspear, Top of the Hour, and Fuhr Ore are all coming off victories at Stampede Park.

Winspear, coupled with Top of the Hour, won an allowance race at six furlongs following a pair of second-place finishes at the same distance.

After the Run, who has arrived on the circuit after a campaign in northern California, recently won for a $32,000 claiming tag at Golden Gate. He was claimed price $20,000 from his last start at Bay Meadows.

* Northlands will deviate from its regular schedule this week, bypassing Wednesday in favor of Thursday's Canada Day holiday program, featuring the Western Canada Handicap for 3-year-olds sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs. Alberta Derby champion Fly Esteem is among the 10 nominees.