Raylene goes after sweep

CALGARY, Alberta - Raylene, the 122-pound highweight, gives away nine pounds to each of her six rivals in Sunday's $40,000 Penny Ridge at Stampede Park as she attempts to sweep the three stakes for 3-year-old fillies at this meet.

The closing-day feature over 1 1/16 miles appears to belong to Raylene, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Tabasco Cat who captured the Mount Royal and Lilac with ease here this spring.

Raylene rated just off the pace in both stakes and displayed the same stretch kick that carried her to a divisional championship in Alberta last year.

Trainer Rod Haynes had nominated Raylene to Saturday's $100,000 Alberta Derby but resisted the temptation to test male rivals.

Her opposition Sunday includes two maidens and four fillies who are still eligible for the nonwinners of two condition.

Dave Wilson, who suddenly has found himself in a spirited fight for the riding championship after leading the standings virtually from day one of the meet, is back aboard Raylene, who drew post 3.

Wilson will be looking to place her just off the pace, a strategy that has carried her to six victories in nine career starts, but that plan could change due to the lack of early foot in the lineup.

Raylene stalked a pedestrian pace in the one-mile Lilac and still won drawing off, but with the caliber of her opposition on Sunday, it would not be a surprise to see her closer to the front.

Reagally Light set the early fractions against male horses in a one-mile conditioned allowance in her latest before fading to third. She is a candidate to seek the lead.