Raylene wins Edmonton Distaff

EDMONTON, Alberta - With an explosive burst in deep stretch reminiscent of her 2003 horse of the year campaign in Alberta, Raylene captured the $75,000 Edmonton Distaff by 1 1/4 lengths here Sunday.

The 1 1/16 mile Edmonton Distaff was Raylene's first victory since she took a pair of allowance races last year while spending parts of two seasons at Woodbine.

Trained by Rod Haynes for Calmar Stables and Ranch, Raylene made up ground along the rail coming out of the last turn, then jockey Rickey Walcott swung her to the outside to collar front-running Ice Girl and Vancouver invader Gold Accent.

Raylene had been defeated by four lengths by Ice Girl in her homecoming appearance in the Madamoiselle, ending the domination of Alberta distaff stakes by Vancouver-based mares.

Ice Girl appeared to be home free for a repeat win and her fourth consecutive triumph in the Edmonton Distaff when she was cruising with a two-length lead turning into the stretch.

But Ice Girl still had Raylene to deal with, along with Gold Accent, who defeated Ice Girl by 1 1/2 lengths for second money.

Gold Accent, who won two stakes in Alberta this season, was partnered with Socorro County in a David Forster-trained entry.

Socorro County finished fourth followed by This Crime Pays and another Hastings-based mare, Victor's Secret.

The Edmonton Distaff victory boosted Kentucky-bred Raylene's career earnings to $724,175.

Raylene now will be looking for new fields to conquer because this was the last open stake for mares in the Northlands season.

The $100,000 Speed to Spare here Sept. 10 at 1 3/8 miles, the same distance at which Raylene won the 2003 Canadian Derby, is a remote possibility.