Stakes runners miss preps

CALGARY, Alberta - The inclement weather that forced the cancellation of the Saturday and Sunday programs at Stampede Park altered the plans of several trainers looking to prep their horses for upcoming stakes.

Trainer Floyd Arthur had entered Northern Neechitoo in an optional claimer on Saturday with an eye toward this Sunday's M.R. Jenkins Memorial, but Northern Neechitoo will have to go into the stakes off works alone.

The optional claimer was redrawn as Wednesday's second race. It attracted five fillies and mares, headed by the speedy Brighton Belle.

Taiaslew, a unanimous choice as Alberta's champion 2-year-old of 2002, was slated to make his seasonal bow Saturday in an allowance prep for the May 10 President's Stakes.

The allowance comes back as Wednesday's eighth race, with seven 3-year-old colts and geldings, but Taiaslew is not among them.

Trainer Greg Tracy now is in the same position as Arthur and will be forced to start Taiaslew in the six-furlong President's off works alone.

The six-furlong allowance is now headed by the Bar None Ranches' entry of Diablo Contento and Fuhr Ore.

Diablo Contento won two races last year and finished second and third to Taiaslew in the Birdcatcher and Edmonton Juvenile.

Fuhr Ore registered a pair of front-running wins and will be part of the pace in the feature.