Teagues Fight in tough this time

CALGARY, Alberta - Teagues Fight and jockey Stephan Heiler are unbeaten and unchallenged since teaming up last September, and have four straight stakes tallies to show for their efforts.

But Teagues Fight, a 4-year-old gelding, was favored in each outing and faced less-than-stellar opposition, and he faces a real test here at Stampede Park on Saturday in the $50,000 Teeworth Plate, which drew a strong field of 10 older horses.

Teagues Fight breaks from the cozy post 2, and his tactical speed will suit him well in the short run to the first turn in this one-mile handicap.

There is plenty of speed signed on, with Colombiano expected to send early from the rail and a rejuvenated Laketon, winner of three straight sprints, a forward factor from post 3. Plagiarist, winner of the Stampede Park Sprint Championship here April 28, drew post 5 and will be in the first flight, as will Fly Esteem, who drew post 9.

If Heiler is able to fashion a stalking trip with Teagues Fight and get past the front-runners, then they will have to deal with some serious challenges in the stretch run.

Churchbridge missed by a nose to Plagiarist in the Stampede Park Sprint and was by the winner a jump past the wire. Quincy Welch picks up the mount on Churchbridge from Heiler.

Beau Brass lost all chance in the Sprint when packed extremely wide on the first turn. He rallied late for Jake Barton, who retains the mount. A multiple stakes winner, Beau Brass had the misfortune of running against Sovereign Award winner True Metropolitan four times last year, and he rates a look Saturday at a square price.

Test Boy is a deep closer. He retains the services of leading rider Rickey Walcott, who will need to fashion a trip from the outside post.