Mia Isabel a winning machine

It is tough to look past Mia Isabel in the $25,000 optional claiming race that will serve as the feature at Northlands Park Wednesday night. The one-mile race for fillies and mares attracted nine horses and has been slotted as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 6:30 p.m. Mountain.

Trained by Rod Cone, Mia Isabel will be going for the hat track, as her two previous wins came at this level. In her latest win, she he was under pressure early but drew away late going a mile on July 30 with Heribert Martinez aboard. She drew the same post, 3, goes the same distance, and could be gone if she breaks on top.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mia Isabel (Last 3 Beyers: 70-59-61)

◗ With 10 wins from 32 starts, this 5-year-old mare knows how to win races. She set the pace in her last two wins at Northlands, but she is versatile, and can stalk if other speed presents itself.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: The past five years at Northlands trainer Rod Cone has a 22 percent strike rate with horses that won their last start.

Salsa Express (Last 3 Beyers: 58-27-62)

◗ The classy 9-year-old mare showed signs that she could be coming around when she made a late move going six furlongs in a race at this level July 30.

◗ Trained by Ernie Keller, the Idaho-bred has compiled an impressive 13-11-9 record from 41 starts since she arrived at Northlands in 2010. Last year, she used her good tactical speed to win half of her 10 starts, and she also finished second four times. She could be dangerous from a stalking position with Damario Bynoe aboard.

Smile Again Theta (Last 3 Beyers: 54-58-66)

◗ She beat Salsa Express and Mia Isabel in a similar race on July 4, but as indicated by her diminishing Beyer Speed Figures, she could be tailing off for trainer Jerri Robertson. She narrowly lost to Mia Isabel two back but she didn’t put up much of a fight while finishing a distant third behind the likely favorite in her last start.

◗ She will likely be an underlay with leading rider Rico Walcott retaining the mount.

Inca Beauty (Last 3 Beyers: 51-58-49)

◗ Trained by Floyd Arthur, Inca Beauty is coming off three solid sprints, and being a multiple route winner she shouldn’t have any trouble handling the added distance. According to Formulator, the past five years, Arthur has won with 13 percent of his starters going from a sprint to a route.