Killin Me Small favored in Friday feature

Trainer Greg Tracy is on a roll at Northlands Park, and he has an excellent chance of adding to his totals with Killin Me Smalls, who figures to be favored in a $35,000 optional-claiming race that will serve as the Friday feature. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses including Ready Racer, the champion sprinter in Alberta in 2012-13.

Tracy has won with 15 of his 36 starters and holds a clear advantage over Rod Cone, who sits in second with five wins. One of Tracy’s scores came with Killin Me Smalls in a $25,000 optional-claiming race May 10, and the 4-year-old gelding figures to be tough to handle despite stepping up in class.

Killin Me Smalls is going for his third straight win. Prior to coming to Edmonton he scored a front-running win in a $17,500 conditional claiming race for trainer Steve Asmussen at Fair Grounds on Feb. 28. Tracy’s brother Ray claimed Killin Me Smalls out of the race and shipped him to Prairie Meadows, where he worked a couple of times but didn’t start. He made a strong impression in his first start at Northlands, coming from a stalking position to win by a length over his stablemate Live a Little.

Killin Me Smalls drew the rail, and Scott Williams may put him on the lead if he breaks on top.

Ready Racer wasn’t much of a threat in his first start at the meet, which came in a $35,000 optional-claiming race, but neither were the rest of the horses that were chasing Tigger Town, who won the six-furlong sprint by over 11 lengths.

A Dale Saunders trainee, Ready Racer took a few starts to get rolling last year, but once he did he reeled off three wins in five starts, including a 4 1/2-length romp over Boomtown Brat in the $50,000 Sun Sprint Championship. Ready Racer does his best running late and there should be plenty of speed to set up his late move.

Red Red Rose chased Tigger Town through quick fractions before fading in the stretch. He was running without blinkers for the first time in his nine-race career. Trainer Tim Rycroft has elected to put them back on, and Red Red Rose could be dangerous if he clears early.

Swiss Idol also has speed. Keene On Demand could be a threat from a stalking position.