Raylene rides to the rescue

EDMONTON, Alberta - Perhaps it has been left to Raylene, returning from Woodbine, to end the domination by Vancouver shippers in Alberta stakes for fillies and mares.

Raylene, Alberta's 2003 horse of the year, will meet Stole One, a winner of stakes at Stampede and Northlands this year, in a field of seven for the $50,000 Madamoiselle at 1 1/16 miles Friday at Northlands.

During her 14 months at Woodbine, Raylene won two allowances. In her only start this year, she finished third in the Ontario Matron at Friday's distance. Owned by Calmar Stables and Ranch, Raylene is back in the stable of Rod Haynes. She has drawn the outside post and is reunited with jockey Rickey Walcott.

Stole One, winner of the Marc Jenkins Memorial and the Wild Rose, is topweighted at 124 pounds, three more than Raylene, and will have Quincy Welch aboard for the first time. Stole One is coming off a second-place finish in the one-mile John Patrick after showing the way to the stretch.

Don Gilkyson will saddle an entry of Banjo Babe, with Stephan Heiler, and Braetta, to be ridden by Perry Winters.

Banjo Babe won optional claimers in her last two outings, while Braetta is looking for her first victory in seven starts this year. She has three seconds and a third.

Weekend Ceilidh, unplaced in two stakes tries this season, has drawn the rail with Real Simard up.