'Covenant' returns for Ky Alta

EDMONTON, Alberta - Knight's Covenant, the 25-1 winner of the June 18 Alberta Derby, looks for his second straight stakes victory when he faces eight other 3-year-olds at Northlands Park in Saturday's one-mile Ky Alta.

Knight's Covenant sped wire to wire at 1 1/16 miles in the slop under jockey Desmond Bryan in the Alberta Derby at Stampede Park and figures to find Saturday's distance to his liking, particularly since rain is in the forecast. An Alberta-bred who races for first-time owner Robert Virgo, Knight's Covenant went into the Alberta Derby off a front-running six-furlong maiden win in his eighth race. He is trained by Monica Russell.

The field for the $50,000 Ky Alta has one invader, Hotenuforyoo, from Vancouver. Hotenuforyoo, a British Columbia-bred who will run here for trainer Stu Simon, also races on or near the front and will be break just outside Knight's Covenant in post 8. Rickey Walcott rides.

Love's Conquest is a California-bred who is just a neck away from having won all three of his starts. Shannon Beauregard will ride.

Leading rider Quincy Welch has been named by trainer Ernie Keller to ride Lonesome Leo. Claimed from a win from Greg Tracy's barn, the New York-bred Lonesome Leo has four victories, three of them this year.

Gusso comes off a victory in an optional claimer. Allright, who finished up the track in the Santa Anita Derby after his maiden victory, will be making his Alberta debut.