Familiar foes for Galaxy Belle

EDMONTON, Alberta - Four fillies and mares who finished behind winner Rum Candi in a $35,000 optional claiming race here July 9 will meet again in a similar 6 1/2-furlong test that goes as Saturday's feature at Northlands.

The four - Galaxy Belle, Gleichen Reserve, To Dream Again, and Catfish Alley - are part of a field of six.

Galaxy Belle, who was runner-up to Rum Candi, drew the rail with Quincy Welch her rider. With a victory in a similar field June 20, Galaxy Belle has not been worse than third this year.

Gleichen Reserve (Shannon Beauregard to ride), Catfish Alley (Leanne Painter), and To Dream Again (Real Simard) are each looking for her first win of the season.

Whataweekend, with Perry Winters up, will be seeking her third straight victory, although she was a veterinarian's scratch on opening day, June 25. She went wire to wire in two optional claimers, on May 23 sprinting six furlongs and on June 5 at a mile.

Braetta will have Ron Blinston aboard in a bid for her third victory of the year. Braetta is coming off a victory over $28,000 claimers. She launched her campaign by beating $22,000 horses in the mud going a mile.

* Sly Lady, winner of the Wild Rose here July 3, heads the nine nominees for Friday's one-mile John Patrick Handicap for fillies and mares. One of Sly Lady's chief rivals will be A Shaky Start, voted the top 2003 Alberta-bred filly and winner of the Marc Jenkins Memorial at Calgary this spring.

There are 10 nominees for Saturday's Ky Alta, a stepping-stone to the $250,000 Canadian Derby here Aug. 28.