Ka Blui seeks win No. 7

EDMONTON, Alberta - Wednesday's featured seventh race here at Northlands, an optional $40,000 claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs, provides an interesting challenge to handicappers despite drawing just six entrants.

Ka Blui, a leading contender for Alberta claimer of the year with six victories this year, and Cool Bender, a top sprinter on this circuit the past several campaigns making just his second start of 2007, are expected to battle for the lead.

Sixthirtyjoe, a multiple stakes winner on the comeback trail after missing all of 2006, makes his third start of the year and figures to lay mid-pack, as does Election Year, who needed his last start.

Deep closers Mocha John, who narrowly missed in his latest at this level and distance, and Mr Don, coming off a closing second to a very tough Prineville going a mile last out, round out the field.

* True Metropolitan ($2.90) defended his title here in Sunday's 1 1/16-mile Westerner, staving off a determined late bid by Teagues Fight to prevail by a neck. True Metropolitan's final time of 1:42.80 was just .20 off the track record set by Chilcoton Blaze in 1984.

* Last Saturday, Victory Romance ($4.40) captured the 6 1/2-furlong Sales Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, defeating Bears Artiste by a half-length in 1:19.20. Brazen Son ($3) had a much easier time of it in the Sales Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings, drawing off to defeat Mandarin by 7 1/4 lengths in an impressive 1:18.