Killin Me Smalls tries to continue momentum in Spangled Jimmy

Killin Me Smalls will try to complete the hat trick when he runs in the $50,000 Spangled Jimmy on Saturday at Northlands Park. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew 10 horses and headlines a nine-race card which begins at 1 p.m. Mountain.

Trained by Ernie Keller, Killin Me Smalls was a sharp winner of his first two races at the meet, both at six furlongs, and doesn’t figure to have any trouble going around three turns for the first time this year. In 2014 he won the 1 1/16-mile Westerner Handicap by 4 1/2 lengths and then finished second going 1 3/8 miles in the $73,110 Speed to Spare.

Killin Me Smalls has good speed and is versatile. In his first race at the meet, he set honest fractions on his way to an easy win in a $35,000 optional-claiming race. In his latest score, which came in the $53,404 Journal, he came from just off the pace while easily handling For Cash.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Killin Me Smalls (Last 3 Beyers: 84-87-75)

◗ He figures to get a nice trip sitting just off Bear’s Reality, who is stretching out and trying stakes horses for the first time.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Keller has a 23 percent strike rate with horses going from a sprint to a route.

For Cash (Last 3 Beyers: 75-67-80)

◗ The 2013 Zia Park Derby winner was a huge overlay at almost 23-1 when he rallied to finish second behind Killin Me Smalls in the Journal.

◗ Trained by Dale Greenwood, For Cash will relish the added distance and could pick up the pieces if Killin Me Smalls and Bear’s Reality hook up early.

Just Win Baby (Last 3 Beyers: 63-76-62)

◗ His only stakes win came in the 2013 Saskatchewan Derby, but he owns the best Beyer Speed Figure at the distance and has tactical speed, which wins a lot of races at Northlands.

◗ Adding to his appeal is the potent jockey-trainer combo of Rico Walcott and Greg Tracy.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years at Northlands, Walcott and Tracy have teamed up to win at a 34 percent clip.

◗ Tracy also entered Deadly Truth, who beat Killin Me Smalls in the Speed to Spare last year. He figures to improve in his first route attempt this season.