Saunders sends two good ones

EDMONTON, Alberta - Veteran trainer Dale Saunders suffered through his worst Northlands meeting in memory last summer. But Saunders has replenished his stock for 2007 and sends out a formidable coupling of Huddha and Highly Explosive here in Friday's $50,000 Princess Margaret.

The Princess Margaret, a six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies, drew seven entrants, and the Saunders runners appear to have an edge in the first stakes of the season for this division. Huddha won going 3 1/2 furlongs at first asking on June 17 at Stampede Park and has since worked strongly, including a smart five-furlong move of 1:02.60 here last Sunday.

Highly Explosive remains a maiden after two outings, but closed very strongly in a 5 1/2-furlong race here June 23 to finish second to the promising colt Zipperose. Highly Explosive also is the only filly in the field to have raced beyond 3 1/2 furlongs.

Daniel Boudreau retains the mount on Huddha and apprentice Rico Walcott stays aboard Highly Explosive.

Littlemiss Allison, Bears Artiste, and I Lost My Halo all won their career debuts at 3 1/2 furlongs.

The Kentucky-bred Littlemiss Allison showed plenty of grit in her June 6 tally at Stampede Park, prevailing despite being carried out on the turn. Littlemiss Alison hails from Greg Tracy's powerful shed row and was no secret in her opener, returning $3. Tracy's barn was formidable here last summer in juvenile stakes.