Raylene tries to start new streak

EDMONTON, Alberta - Despite a stakes defeat at Woodbine that snapped her three-race winning streak, Raylene is expected to rule as a prohibitive favorite in a field of nine in the inaugural $40,000 Freedom of the City for 2-year-old fillies going a mile at Northlands on Saturday.

Raylene's dominating closing burst should stand her in good stead in her first race at a mile.

Trainer Rod Haynes claims that Raylene's recent defeat should not be seen as a deterrent by her local supporters.

"She wasn't outrun at Toronto," said Haynes, of Raylene's fifth-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Mazarine Stakes. "She just didn't like the track. She couldn't get hold of it."

Raylene won an allowance, the Princess Margaret, and the Bird of Pay before venturing east.

Regular rider Rickey Walcott, who did not make the trip to Woodbine, will ride Saturday.

Raylene drew post 8, just inside Vying Rose, who is trained by Doug Clements. The two fillies are owned by Calmar Stable and will be coupled in the betting.

The chief threat should be Dowhawtuthinksright, who won the restricted Filly Sale Stakes and the Sturgeon River, but was a distant runner-up to Raylene in the Bird of Pay.

Trainer Dave Nicholson named Real Simard as Dowhatuthinksright's rider in place of Stephan Heiler, who recently left to ride in Macao.

Also to be considered are Whataweekend, who was second to Raylene in the Princess Margaret, and Audio Express, who won for $20,000 and was second in the Sturgeon River.

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