Speedy Gone Sally looks for revenge

EDMONTON, Alberta - With allowance conditions written to effectively bar any stakes winners from the field, the feature race here at Northlands Park on Sunday includes a cast of eight not-quite-ready-for-prime-time fillies and mares racing 6 1/2 furlongs.

Speedy Gone Sally lost by a rapidly diminishing neck to the front-running Sassy Sarah going six furlongs on Aug. 15, and looks like she should be able to take advantage of the extra half-furlong and reverse the decision. Robert Kingston, trainer of the 5-year-old Speedy Gone Sally, has acquired the services of leading rider Rickey Walcott and she has been installed as the 3-1 morning-line choice.

Sassy Sarah has 1 win and 3 seconds in 7 starts at the distance, an indication of her tendency to get clipped in the last few yards of the race. Nevertheless, the 4-year-old Sassy Sarah managed to keep a nose in front when winning at this distance on July 14 and could once more prove difficult to catch. Sassy Sarah, trained by Ron Grieves, is again in the hands of Real Simard.

Another to consider is R Beau Genes, who is trained by Red Smith and will be ridden by Quincy Welch. Another 4-year-old filly, R Beau Genes most recently finished second in a $40,000 optional claimer and has Beyer Speed Figures that indicate she may be on the upswing.

Rounding out the field, in post position order, are She's Twenty Below, L'Il Trooper, Ribbon Creek, Pretty Beaucat, and Awesome Deal.

Ribbon Creek and She's Twenty Below both raced last time in the one-mile John Patrick, finishing seventh and ninth. The others were also-rans in the Aug. 15 race won by Sassy Sarah.