Tanika gets it done at 1-9

EDMONTON, Alberta The margin of victory was just a neck but Stephan Heiler had Tanika well in hand in the closing yards of Sundays $50,000 Madamoiselle after repulsing a challenge turning for home from Fox on a Ridge.

To put it mildly, it was not the strongest renewal of the 1 1/16-mile handicap, which was an allowance stakes last year when the brilliant B.C. invader Monashee accepted the cozy weight conditions to post an easy tally. But, the two Vancouver invaders this year never got a chance to participate. Destinys Home was a vet scratch Sunday morning and Napa was scratched just minutes before the race after falling in the saddling enclosure.

Tanika delivered at 1-9 but not before the chalk players had an anxious moment when Fox on a Ridge took up the chase after Tanika had disposed of pacesetter Bears Swan past the quarter pole. Fox on a Ridge settled for second in a very good effort.

o Lecturing Lynn, saddled by Stu Simon after her trainer, Tracy McCarthy, had her flight from Vancouver canceled at the last moment, scored her second stakes win at this meet under a heady ride from Quincy Welch in Saturdays $100,000 Sonoma.

My filly didnt break alertly but I knew the speed was holding, and fortunately we found room between horses in the run through the first turn to settle into a striking position, said Welch.

It proved to be a winning move as Lecturing Lynn dueled just outside of the pacesetting Broken Hearted through moderate fractions and drew off for a 1 3/4-length tally over Testy Hussy, who closed well as the longest shot in the field of six 3-year-old fillies.