R Lucinda seems likely to improve

CALGARY, Alberta - R Lucinda, second to Rumbeau Ruckus in the six-furlong Mount Royal here May 8, will be favored in Sunday's one-mile Lilac for 3-year-old fillies.

Trainer Stu Simon will saddle both R Lucinda, who led inside the sixteenth pole in the Mount Royal after a three-wide bid, and Kathern's Kat, who put in a dull effort as the favorite that day.

The fillies worked together May 20 and the clocker caught both in 1:00.20, the best of 25 workers at the five-furlong distance. Quincy Welch was aboard Kathern's Cat for the workout and is named first call on the filly, who is proven at a mile.

Welch is named second call on R Lucinda, but Frank Gonsalves, who rode her in the Mount Royal and was up for the May 20 work, will be back aboard should all seven entrants start.

R Lucinda is eligible to improve off her last effort as it was her first start of the season. She drew post 2 for Sunday and is the highweight at 118 pounds, while Kathern's Cat drew post 6 and was assigned 117 pounds.

Speedy Gone Sally, winner of the restricted Sturgeon River over a mile last fall at Northlands Park, also made her first start of the campaign in the Mount Royal. Speedy Gone Sally was an even fifth, beaten six lengths, and should improve off the tightener as she breaks from post 5 with Perry Winters up.

Silver Seven is expected to set the early fractions.