Changes should benefit Robo Willie

Robo Willie figures to appreciate the drop in class and cutback in distance when he runs in Wednesday's feature race at Northlands Park. The $22,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs drew seven horses and goes as race 6.

Robo Willie, trained by Greg Tracy, has never run in a straight claiming race in his 17-race career and should be tough to handle if he runs his usual race. A 4-year-old colt by Jump Start, Robo Willie won five stakes races at 2 and 3 and he looked like he was going to be one of the leaders in the older handicap division when he won a $40,000 optional race despite going extremely wide on May 24. He came back to finish fourth to Salt Flat Speed in the Journal Handicap June 12 and then faded badly when he stretched out to a mile in a $40,000 optional race July 1. Robo Willie has good speed but doesn't need the lead, and jockey Anthony Salgado will likely have him forwardly placed during the early stages of the race.

A Royal Tizzy, trained by Robertino Diodoro, owns the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, 77, but he has been off since he won a $15,000 claiming race going six furlongs on June 4. It was just his second start at Northlands, and he also ran a solid race to finish second behind It's Good to Be Me on May 23. Similar to Robo Willie, A Royal Tizzy is versatile.

Trained by Red Smith, Part Pirate won for fun at this level June 26 and in his most recent start he was up close for four furlongs before tiring to finish fifth in a $30,000 claiming race July 4.