08/27/2012 3:24PM

Northlands Park: Reggie Dunlop comes off career-best figure

By Randy Goulding
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Reggie Dunlop could either progress or regress when he runs in a $30,000 claiming race that headlines Wednesday’s eight-race card at Northland Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and goes as the fifth race.

Reggie Dunlop, trained by Kirsty Luft-Nault, is coming off a game second to Salt Flat Speed for the same price going six furlongs Aug. 10. He received an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for his strong performance, the best figure he has earned in his 27-race career. His second-best figure is the 84 he received when he romped by eight lengths in a $25,000 claiming race going 6 1/2 furlongs in 2010. He regressed in his next two starts, though, earning a 69 Beyer for his third-place finish in a one-mile $32,000 optional claiming race and a 57 for his third-place finish in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for the same condition.

Reggie Dunlop also won a $30,000 claiming sprint June 17 and is solid horse at this level. If he comes close to repeating his latest race he is going to be tough to beat. He ran pretty hard in his tough loss, however, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him bounce.

Heribert Martinez rides Reggie Dunlop and will likely put him into the race right away.

Gatwick was an easy 7 1/4-length winner over Reggie Dunlop at this level and distance June 1 but wasn’t able to keep up in his next two races. Trained by Dale Saunders, he forced the pace before tiring to finish fifth in a $40,000 optional claiming race won by Tiny Giant July 14. In his latest start he was up close to an honest pace before tiring in a one-mile $30,000 claiming race Aug. 3. It was the third time Gatwick has tried a middle distance and he lost by double digits in his two previous tries, which came at Hastings. Gatwick should appreciate the move back to a sprint.

Espresso Springs won the last time he ran for $30,000 and will appreciate the class relief after going unplaced in back-to-back $40,000 optional claiming races.

Points Alert was a well-beaten third by Hollywood Dreams and Bond James Bond in the $49,000 Three and Four Year Old Sales Stakes Aug. 11. He was coming off a win over Rum Ruckus in a second-level allowance race Aug. 1.