Two to beat bypassed stakes try

EDMONTON, Alberta - Blowin in the Wind and Candid Remark were among 10 nominees to last Saturday's $100,000 Speed to Spare, but instead they were dropped into much easier company in a $23,800 allowance, which goes as the feature race at Northlands Park on Wednesday.

Blowin in the Wind and Candid Remark, both stretch-runners, face four other rivals, including Eternal Secrecy, Alberta's claimer of the year in 2005, and Wild Bender, 2005's local champion 3-year-old filly who will be testing males at the one-mile distance.

The decision to bypass the 1 3/8-mile Speed to Spare appears prudent in the wake of True Metropolitan's commanding victory there.

True Metropolitan scored a 5 1/2-length win in wire-to-wire fashion against defending champion Beau Brass. True Metropolitan ($3.20) was never threatened, cruising home in 2:20 under a hand ride.

A pair of $50,000 Sales Stakes for 3-year-olds book-ended the Speed to Spare over the weekend.

On Friday, Tartan Star ($4.80) won the filly version under Stephan Heiler. Tartan Star tracked the pacesetting Nashwaak Dancer, gained the lead turning for home, and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:40.80.

Teagues Fight ($4.40) won the colts and geldings division on Sunday under Heiler, running the mile in 1:37.20.