Teagues Fight has history on his side

Teagues Fight, the 2008 horse of the year in Alberta, makes his seasonal debut in the colts and geldings division of the $50,000 Sales Stakes at Northlands Park on Saturday. The filly and mare division of the Sales Stakes is also on Saturday's card. It drew six horses and goes as the fifth race.

The six-furlong feature drew nine older horses, but the race is all about Teagues Fight. If history repeats itself, Teagues Fight will win at a short price. Trained by Doug MacDonald, Teagues Fight has won a division of the Sales Stakes for the past four years. He wasn't favored as a juvenile, but he was 5-2 when he won the 2-year-old version of the race in 2005. Teagues Fight was the odds-on favorite in his next three Sales Stakes appearances, and he figures to be a very short price on Saturday.

According to MacDonald, Teagues Fight is coming up to the race in excellent shape.

"This has been a profitable spot for him," said MacDonald. "He's as good as I can get him right now and I think it's one of the first springs where I haven't had to rush him into the race."

Teagues Fight won 5 of 7 starts in 2008 for earnings of $216,362. His career numbers are impressive as well, with 15 wins from 28 starts for $542,835, easily the most in the field. MacDonald is hoping to get five good starts from Teagues Fight this year.

"He has a few issues," said MacDonald. "I picked and chose his spots last year and it really worked out well. We avoided True Metropolitan and I'll be pretty careful with him again this year."

Teagues Fight, who will carry high weight of 123 pounds, will be ridden by Stephan Heiler. Heiler has ridden Teagues Fight in 16 straight races.

The filly and mare division figures to be much more competitive race than the colts and geldings division. R Lucinda won the 2008 Sales Stakes and she appears to be primed for a big effort by her trainer, Stuart Simon.

R Lucinda is coming off of a second-place finish in a 3 1/2-furlong $40,000 optional race on May 9. From the looks of her bullet five-furlong move on May 16, she could take a big step forward on Saturday.

It could be a big day for Heiler, who rides R Lucinda.

Bears Artiste and Minimus appear to be the main threats to R Lucinda.