Espresso Springs one sharp speedster

A very sharp Espresso Springs looks like the one to catch and beat in a $17,500 claiming race Wednesday evening at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses and goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 6:30 p.m. Mountain.

The quality field includes stakes winner Ready Racer and Hollywood Dreams.

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Espresso Springs, trained by Rick Wise, also is a stakes winner. As a 5-year-old in 2012, he won the $35,000 Grand Canyon Handicap, restricted to Arizona-breds, at Turf Paradise.

Espresso Springs is on a roll. Beginning at Turf Paradise in a $16,000 claiming race Dec. 28, he has used his good speed to win six of his last eight starts. The only time he finished worse than second during that period was in the $35,000 Lyman and Bradley Rollins Handicap on April 25 at Turf Paradise when he got hung five wide on the turn in the six-furlong sprint for statebreds.

Returning to Northlands, Espresso Springs reeled off front-running wins in back-to-back $17,500 claiming races on May 18 and 29.

Espresso Springs has won from a stalking position, but not for a while. The last time he won a race when he didn’t have the lead at the half-mile call came in a $25,000 claiming race at Santa Anita in 2010.

Espresso Springs drew post 2, and there isn’t any doubt jockey Scott Williams will ask him to try and outgun Hollywood Dreams early.

Hollywood Dreams, trained by Dean Martiniuk, is fast, drew the rail, and will be ridden by Quincy Welch. Welch received the coveted Avelino Gomez Memorial Award on Sunday at Woodbine. The award goes to a jockey who has ridden in Canada for at least five years and has made a significant contribution to horse racing.

KEY CONTENDERS

Espresso Springs (Last 3 Beyers: 71-64-74)

◗ He set fast fractions and was a very easy winner at this level in his latest start. He will have to deal with Hollywood Dreams early, but he can run well when hooked, and he is just a very sharp horse right now.

Ready Racer (Last 3 Beyers: 24-55-28)

◗ The deep closer was the champion sprinter in Alberta in 2013 and should appreciate the shape of the race.

◗ Trained by Dale Saunders, Ready Racer is coming off a rough trip in a $25,000 claiming race June 5 when he stumbled at the start and then checked sharply on the stretch turn.