Dakota Dusty aims to continue momentum in Saturday feature

What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday, Northlands ran 13 races, including three stakes headed by the Grade 3, $195,720 Canadian Derby. This Saturday, the feature is a $17,500 claiming race that drew five horses and headlines a nine-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Mountain. Although the quality doesn’t compare to the Canadian Derby card, once you get past the second race, the average field size before scratches is 8.8 horses per race.

The featured one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up running for a claiming price of $17,500 goes as the first race, with Dakota Dusty looking like the one to beat. Trained by Rick Wise, Dakota Dusty is coming off a 1 3/4-length win over Live a Little in a similar race July 18, and he could be the one they have to run down with Scott Williams gaining the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Dakota Dusty (Last 3 Beyers: 74-72-39)

◗ The 4-year-old son of Dehere has improved dramatically in his last two races, and in three starts at the one-mile distance, he has a win and two second-place finishes.

◗ He has good speed in a race where they probably won’t be going very fast early, but he is capable of stalking if other speed shows up.

Keene On Demand (Last 3 Beyers: 55-72-70)

◗ He beat Dakota Dusty by a neck July 2 and then was overmatched when he tried to keep up with multiple stakes winner For Cash and Commander in the $55,820 Fred Jones Handicap on July 19. He was claimed out of his winning race by trainer Tom Rycroft, and according to DRF Formulator, Rycroft has a 19 percent strike rate with horses making their second start after being claimed.

◗ He has won half of his 10 starts, all at Northlands.

Royal Grand (Last 3 Beyers: 71-68-45)

◗ He could be sitting on a big race in the third start of his current form cycle. Trained by David Nicholson, he rallied to finish a close third behind Keene On Demand and Dakota Dusty in his first start of the year, and he closed willingly in Dakota Dusty’s win July 18.

Barfly’s Survivor (Last 3 Beyers: 50-53-69)

◗ He has been a bit dull in his last two starts, but he drew post 2 and could be the one they have to catch if Dakota Dusty doesn’t break on top.

◗ He will be ridden by Rico Walcott, who is winning races at a 31 percent clip at the meet.