A healthy Blue Dancer would be tough to handle

It was clear that something was bothering Blue Dancer when he finished last in the $50,000 Swift Thoroughbreds Inaugural at Hastings in his first race this year. Going into the 6 1/2-furlong Swift, he had a perfect record sprinting, and as a juvenile, he was fast enough to set the early pace in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Trainer Greg Tracy is expecting a better effort in a $35,000 optional-claiming race at Northlands Park on Wednesday evening.

“It turns out he had an infection that was hard to detect,” said Tracy. “There is a virus going around at Hastings, and a lot of my horses stabled there are coming down with it. Blue Dancer seems fine now, but we are going to keep a close eye on him, and it is possible he might not run.”

If he does run, Blue Dancer likely will be favored in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, which drew seven horses. Only six likely will start though. Last year’s Grade 3 Canadian Derby winner, Ready Intaglio, finished fifth in the $48,000 Journal last Saturday and undoubtedly will be scratched.

Blue Dancer has thrived at Northlands, compiling an 8-2-0 record from 12 starts. He didn’t want to go 1 3/8 miles when he finished fifth in the Canadian Derby, and he got fried when he dueled with Killin Me Smalls going 1 1/16 miles in the $50,000 Westerner last year.

He is a superior sprinter though, and if he is on top of his game, he should be tough to handle after he breaks from post 6.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Blue Dancer, by Bluegrass Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 64-82-81

◗ He’s had a couple of decent works since his debacle at Hastings, is the speed of the speed, and could be gone if he comes out of the starting gate running.

Hemlock Channel, by E Dubai

Last 3 Beyers: 83-78-73

◗ Also trained by Tracy, he was the runner-up to Grade 3 winner Killin Me Smalls in his first race on dirt in a $35,000 optional-claiming race at Northlands on May 12.

◗ With nine wins on Polytrack and Tapeta at Woodbine, he certainly knows where the wire is, and he retains the services of leading rider Rico Walcott.

For Cash, by Stephen Got Even

Last 3 Beyers: 72-75-69

◗ The classy 7-year-old is the top money earner in the field with $482,594 and has been training forwardly for trainer Dale Greenwood.

◗ He hasn’t won at the distance, but he can fire fresh and has won a couple of races going six furlongs, so he can sprint.