Corky’s Luck could be hard to catch in Friday sprint feature

The rapidly improving Corky’s Luck looks like the one to catch and beat in a first-level allowance race that will serve as Friday’s feature at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and goes as the sixth race with a post time of 8:50 p.m. Mountain.

Owned by Riversedge Racing Stables, Corky’s Luck showed some potential in his only start as a 2-year-old last year, finishing second in a maiden special weight race going 3 1/2 furlongs for trainer Greg Tracy.

When Tracy and Riversedge parted ways last winter, Tim Rycroft took over as the trainer for Corky’s Luck. He didn’t make his first start for Rycroft until Aug. 2, when he was in tight going into the first turn, and after making a strong middle move, he tired to finish fifth in a six-furlong, $22,000 maiden-claiming race.

Corky’s Luck took a huge step forward in his second start for Rycroft. With Ismael Mosqueira riding him for the first time, he romped by 7 3/4 lengths going 6 1/2 furlongs in a $12,000 maiden-claiming race Aug. 22. He showed that his big effort was no fluke when he set the pace and held on well to finish second behind Calgary Caper in a first-level allowance race Sept. 13.

KEY CONTENDERS

Corky’s Luck (Last 3 Beyers: 69-66-17)

◗ He drew post 2, and being the speed of the speed, he could be tough to catch if he breaks on top.

◗ The lightly raced 3-year-old has his Beyer Speed Figures heading in a positive direction, and the 69 he earned in his last race is the highest in the field.

Boo Diddy (Last 3 Beyers: 58-65-53)

◗ Trained by Mike Halabi, he shouldn’t mind the move back to a sprint after finishing second to Wild Legend in first-level allowance race at one mile Aug. 27. Wild Legend earned an 86 Beyer when he came back to win the $48,620 Beaufort for Alberta-bred 3-year-olds by 17 1/2 lengths last Saturday.

◗ A deep closer, the shape of the race could also work in his favor.

Five Star Bert (Last 3 Beyers: 67-65-56)

◗ He isn’t as fast as Corky’s Luck, but he has decent speed and set honest fractions when he finished third in a one-mile, $15,000 conditional-claiming race Sept. 6.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past four years, trainer Kerri Raven has a 17 percent strike rate with horses going from a route to a sprint.

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