Mia Isabel looms large in featured optional claimer

The razor-sharp Mia Isabel will try to extend her winning streak to four when she runs in a $25,000 optional-claiming race for fillies and mares that will serve as Friday’s feature at Northlands Park. The one-mile race drew five horses and goes as race 2 on an eight-race card that begins at 6:30 p.m. Mountain.

Trained by Rod Cone, Mia Isabel basically ran them off their feet in her three previous wins, which all came at this level. Each time, she broke sharply and never looked back with Heribert Martinez aboard. In her latest win, she romped by six lengths over Silkworm. She was so much the best that Martinez, after looking behind him more than once in the stretch, was patting her on the neck before she crossed the finish line.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mia Isabel (Last 3 Beyers: 72-70-59)

* The Kentucky-bred 5-year-old has won half of her starts this year and has an exceptional record of six wins from eight starts at the one-mile distance.

* There is other speed in the field, but before arriving at Northlands this spring, Mia Isabel was based in California, where beginning in 2011, she won eight races. In all her wins at Del Mar, Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, and Golden Gate, she either stalked or came from well off the pace.

Silkworm (Last 3 Beyers: 61-60-53)

* Trained by Tim Rycroft, she is the only other horse in the field with a win at the distance, and her win came in the $50,000 Freedom of the City as a 2-year-old in 2012.

* She was no match for Mia Isabel last time, but she should get some help up front from Caro’s Song and could pick up the pieces if an all-out duel develops.

Caro’s Song (Last 3 Beyers: 56-61-53)

* She has speed, drew the rail, and will be ridden by leading rider Rico Walcott. Trained by Ron Grieves, Caro’s Song is coming off a sharp win going 6 1/2 furlongs at this level Aug. 15.

* She never has won going around three turns, but the last time she tried a middle distance, she finished second to Smile Again Theta, who came back to beat Salsa Express and Mia Isabel the last time Mia Isabel lost a race.

DRF Formulator Fact: Over the past five years, Grieves has a 23 percent strike rate with horses going from a sprint to a route.