Monashee's connections are on a roll

CALGARY, Alberta - Monashee, fresh off an allowance victory at her home base of Hastings on April 17, and Kathern's Cat, a $75,000 claim by local connections out of a March 9 race at Gulfstream, face five locally trained 3-year-old fillies in the $50,000 Mount Royal here Sunday.

Monashee hails from the same outfit that sent out Stole One to an upset victory in the M.R Jenkins last Sunday under a rousing ride from Chris Loseth, who returns from Vancouver to partner with Monashee, a Kentucky-bred.

Her three-wide bid under Loseth in her 2005 debut proved a winning move, and bodes well for her chances in this six-furlong handicap. Owner Ole Nielsen has sent several horses to trainer Stu Simon this spring, including Stole One, and their strong work tabs signal readiness.

Monashee breaks from post 6 under 116 pounds and will have to deal with Kathern's Cat, who will also be saddled by Simon.

Kathern's Cat made a successful invasion last October to capture the one-mile Freedom of the City at Northlands Park. She made three starts at Gulfstream over the winter and has a fitness edge here.

Leading rider Quincy Welch's first call is on Kathern's Cat, the 118-pound highweight, although he is also named on R Lucinda.

R Lucinda, winner of the Filly Sales Stakes last August, is Simon's third entrant. Speedy Gone Sally, winner of the Sturgeon River last September, is the other Alberta stakes winner in the field.