They'll chase Royal Brittany

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - Friday night's $6,500 James Leakos Sophomore is a lopsided affair: Royal Brittany takes on five apparently overmatched foes in the one-mile stakes for Saskatchewan-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Sporting two wins and four seconds from six lifetime starts, Royal Brittany towers over her opponents, who total just three wins from 25 combined appearances.

Royal Brittany, owned by Ed, Don, and Ken Heuchert, won both the Saskatchewan Futurity for fillies and the Larry Lashyn Futurity last year.

This year, however, Royal Brittany is still searching for her first win. After running second to the solid colt Good Old Sprite in her allowance opener, Royal Brittany was no match for Royal Fractions in the Captain Stanley Harrison Handicap, as she finished five lengths back of the winner.

Luckily for the connections of Royal Brittany, Royal Fractions was not entered in this race, and Royal Brittany should be the heavy choice. Andrew Scarlett picks up the mount.

Also coming out of the Captain Stanley are the third- and fourth-place finishers, Top Stage Dancer and Sound of Power.

Top Stage Dancer won her maiden and then annexed her nonwinners-of condition to start off the season. In the Captain Stanley, she could close little ground but did catch a tiring Sound of Power for the show position. Clint Magera rides.

Sound of Power is still a maiden but has finished second or third in six of 10 starts. Last time out, she chased Royal Fractions for four furlongs before fading to fourth, beaten just two lengths for second money by Royal Brittany.

Completing the field will be P J 's Choice, who ran a good second in an allowance race last Friday, and the maidens Lil Red Roadster and Beating Heart.