Lucky Willy likely to chase the pace in sprint feature

Lucky Willy appears primed to get his second win in a first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as the featured race Wednesday night at Northlands Park.

Lucky Willy, trained by Tim Rycroft, drew the outside post in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint that drew seven horses and will go as the eighth race.

A 4-year-old gelding by Mineshaft, Lucky Willy is versatile, and with plenty of speed drawn to his inside, jockey Tony Maragh figures to put him into a stalking position early. If he gets too far behind, there is no reason for his backers to panic. He rallied from second-to-last to be the runner-up in a first-level allowance race that drew 11 horses Jan. 10 at Golden Gate Fields. The 83 Beyer Speed Figure he received is a career best, and a similar effort would easily win this race.

Making his initial start on dirt and running in a two-turn sprint for the first time, Lucky Willy ran evenly while finishing third in a $25,000 claiming race for nonwinners of three May 22 at Northlands.

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If not Lucky Willy, it appears to be anyone’s race. Among the contenders is Run for Pleasure, who is making his first start since he won a maiden special weight race Oct. 18 for trainer Rod Cone.

Run for Pleasure has speed, drew the rail, and, according to DRF’s Formulator, over the past five years, Cone has won with 18 percent of his starters coming off a layoff of 180 days or more.

Post time for the first of nine races is 6:30 p.m. Mountain. Quarter Horse fans will want to arrive early to catch the first three races, which are trials for the Alberta-bred Quarter Horse Derby, to be held at Northlands on June 24.

KEN CONTENDERS

Lucky Willy (Last 3 Beyers: 68-69-83)

◗ He stands out from a Beyer perspective, and the shape of the race should work in his favor. He also could improve greatly in his second start in a two-turn sprint.

Run for Pleasure (Last 3 Beyers: 60-40-59)

◗ Speed on the rail can be a dangerous thing at Northlands, and he could be the one they have to catch if he leaves there running.

Dr Hook McCracken (Last 3 Beyers: 50-76-48)

◗ Conditioned by leading trainer Greg Tracy, he won here last year and shouldn’t mind the surface switch after flopping as the chalk in a $20,000 claiming race May 1 at Golden Gate.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Tracy has a 36 percent strike rate with horses going from turf to dirt.