Round 7 for Coal Smudge and Stonewall Harris

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Familiar rivals Coal Smudge and Stonewall Harris, the top two contenders and only multiple winners in Sunday's $41,000 J.W. Sifton Stakes, will line up beside each other at Assiniboia Downs.

Nine 3-year-old Manitoba-breds will contest the 1 1/8-mile feature.

Coal Smudge and Stonewall Harris have faced each other in their last six starts, with Stonewall Harris finishing ahead of Coal Smudge in five of those meetings.

Coal Smudge won the Manitoba Stakes here June 26, with Stonewall Harris second.

Trained by Caesar DeMarni, Coal Smudge is 4 for 4 in restricted stakes, which accounts for all of his wins in a 12-race career.

Paul Leacock retains the mount on Coal Smudge, who breaks from post 3.

Stonewall Harris was claimed by trainer Harry Kube for $15,625 from his first start of 2004 with the two Manitoba-bred stakes for 3-year-olds in mind. He is one of three entrants whom Kube will send out for the Sifton.

Kube has given the call on Stonewall Harris to leading rider Travis Hightower for the first time. The pair will begin from post 4.

Larren Delorme, who has ridden Stonewall Harris in his last three races, replaces Hightower on the Kube-trained Shrike Zone.

Kube also sends out the maiden Brandy O'Nite, one of four fillies entered, who appears to be in the race to ensure an honest pace.

Shrike Zone, along with fillies Poppo's Song and Circulating Sziget, who finished first and third in the restricted R.C. Anderson Stakes, also appear likely to contest the pace.