Two go after stakes double

CALGARY, Alberta - A doubleheader kicks off the 2007 stakes schedule at this meet on Saturday, with last year's winners of the two $50,000 Sales Stakes back to defend their titles. The Sales Stakes, one for colts and geldings and one for fillies and mares, act as a prelude to the annual awards banquet held on the Stampede Park grounds Saturday evening.

To Dream Again defends her title in the fillies and mares division and, like last year, runs coupled with stablemate Speedy Gone Sally in the six-furlong handicap. Last April, To Dream Again circled the field to run down a stubborn Certainly Regal in the final jump and she faces that rival again in this field of seven.

Trainer Bob Kingston follows the successful script of 2006 by bringing the 7-year-old To Dream Again into the race off a string of works.

To Dream Again faces another strong coupling from trainer Don Gilkyson's barn, with the stretch-running Banjo Babe complementing the speed of Certainly Regal.

R Lucinda, a closing third in this race last year, comes off a closing third to repeat winner Sassy Sarah in a half-miler here opening weekend.

Liquid Louie pulled a 13-1 upset in the colts and geldings division last April but will be hard pressed to duplicate the feat against Teagues Fight this time around. Teagues Fight comes off a strong 3-year-old campaign and has worked solidly for trainer Doug MacDonald.

Only five runners were entered and four of them faced each other last year at 3. Teagues Fight, the 4-5 morning line favorite Saturday, handled those rivals with ease last year and stands out in this spot. If he fires his best race in his first start of the year, he is in line to capture his fourth straight stakes victory.