Littlemiss Allison fit following surgery

CALGARY, Alberta - Littlemiss Allison towers over her four rivals in Sunday's $50,000 Lilac Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Stampede Park, where she seeks to bounce back from a loss to Sovereign Award winner Dancing Allstar in the Mount Royal here May 4.

Breaking from post 3 under her regular rider, Rickey Walcott, Littlemiss Allison will carry high weight of 124 pounds in the one-mile Lilac, conceding from seven to 11 pounds to her foes.

Trainer Greg Tracy said he felt something was amiss after Littlemiss Allison failed to respond to Walcott's urgings in the latter stages of the Mount Royal, in which Dancing Allstar led every step to post a rapid 1:10.20 clocking for the six furlongs.

"Rickey told me she had no kick when he asked her, and we had her scoped the next morning," said Tracy.

The examination revealed Littlemiss Allison had displaced her palate and she underwent minor surgery to correct the problem. After missing a few days of training, Littlemiss Allison was back galloping and allayed any fears in her camp when she posted a bullet five-furlong move of 58.80 seconds here May 17.

Bears Artiste, who drew the rail with Desmond Bryan up, won the restricted Sturgeon River last fall at Northlands Park.