Momma's Gone Wild has speed to spare
Momma’s Gone Wild looks like the one to catch and beat in a $25,000 optional-claiming race for fillies and mares that is the featured Thoroughbred race at Northlands Park Wednesday. The six-furlong sprint drew seven horses and goes as the fourth race.
Quarter Horse fans will want to arrive early to catch the first two races, which includes the $31,928 Alberta Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds going 330 yards.
Post time for the first of nine races, a $20,000 allowance race for Quarter Horses 3-year-olds and up, is 6:30 p.m. Mountain.
Momma’s Gone Wild used her good speed to win both of her starts at Northlands this year. Trainer Rod Cone had her tuned to a perfect pitch when she made her seasonal debut on May 24, winning a six-furlong $17,500 claiming race by over 10 lengths with leading rider Rico Walcott aboard. She earned a career-best 75 Beyer Speed Figure, so it wasn’t surprising she regressed slightly in her second start back. She was still good enough to win a $25,000 optional claiming race June 6 with a 66 Beyer, however.
The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare drew the outside post with Walcott retaining the mount.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Momma's Gone Wild (7-5 morning line) Trainer Rod Cone is 4 for 13 (31 percent win rate) over the past six months at Northland Park with horses that won their last race. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
It is hard not to like a horse like Salsa Express. The classy 9-year-old mare has compiled a 21-15-11 from 56 starts in a career that began in Boise, Idaho, in 2008. Last year she won half of her 10 starts and finished second four times, all for trainer Ernie Keller. One of her second-place finishes came in the $56,000 Duchess of York.
She started out this season being overmatched in an allowance race won by the dominant older filly or mare at Northlands, Saturday Nite Ride. She didn’t fire when she came back for a second start in a $25,000 optional-claiming race, but she showed signs of coming around when she finished third to Momma’s Gone Wild in her latest. She has tactical speed and could do some damage if Yes It’s Jackie hooks up with Momma’s Gone Wild early.
Portofappeal will appreciate the easier company following a strong effort June 6 in the $49,000 John Patrick. Trained by James McCullough, Portofappeal won a $17,500 claiming race going six furlongs May 17 before finishing second to Saturday Nite Ride in the one-mile John Patrick.
Bonita Bella, second to Momma’s Gone Wild June 6, could be ready for a peak effort in the third start of her form cycle for trainer Rick Hedge.