Littlemiss Allison favored to repeat

EDMONTON, Alberta Littlemiss Allison heads a field of seven juvenile fillies in the $50,000 Bird of Pay here at Northlands Park on Friday evening.

The Bird of Pay, the first of four straight stakes features on the holiday weekend, will be followed by the Count Lathum on Saturday, the Birdcatcher on Sunday, and the Sun Sprint Championship on Monday afternoon.

Despite drawing the outside post, Littlemiss Allison will be odds-on to follow her romp in the six-furlong Princess Margaret here July 13 with another win. Jockey Rickey Walcott had Littlemiss Allison under a firm hold down the lane in the Princess Margaret as she cruised to a 6 3/4-length victory over Highly Explosive. The winning time of 1:11.80 for six furlongs was exceptional for a 2-year-old on this circuit and stamped this Kentucky-bred daughter of Jump Start as something special.

Littlemiss Allisons dam, Fancy Prancer, was a stakes winner in Alberta for the same connections, and the extra yardage of the Bird of Pay would seem well within her grasp. Walcott rides again.

Greg Tracy, who trains Littlemiss Allison, won this race last year with Miss Sassy Sue.

Highly Explosive, a Kentucky-bred by Chief Seattle, remains a maiden after three starts but appears to have the best chance for an upset as she has closed ground each time. Highly Explosive drew the rail with Quincy Welch up for the first time and runs coupled with Huddha.