Northlands: Initforreal goes after fourth straight

Initforreal will be shooting for her fourth straight win in a $10,000 claiming race that will serve as Friday’s feature at Northlands Park. The one-mile feature attracted six horses, and once again Initforreal figures to be right in the mix at the finish.

Initforreal has been popular at the mutuel windows and the claim box in her last three starts. Sent off as the 3-1 favorite June 19, Initforreal rewarded her backers with an easy 5 1/2-length win in a one-mile $7,500 claiming race and was haltered by owner-trainer Douglas Smith. She came right back at 2-1 to edge Driven by Seattle by a nose in a $10,000 claimer and was taken by trainer Pam McDougall. Smith took her back for $7,500 Aug. 24 when she again beat Driven by Seattle by a nose.

Initforreal paid $4.70 in her latest win and once again she figures to receive considerable support Friday.

Initforreal is versatile, and jockey Heribert Martinez can either put her on the lead or settle her into a stalking position. With plenty of other speed in the field, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Martinez take her off the pace.

Driven by Seattle was claimed out of her narrow loss to Initforreal Aug. 24 and will be making her first start for trainer Deanna Walper. Driven by Seattle set the pace before losing by a bob of the head Aug. 6, and in her latest loss to Initforreal she came from a stalking position.

Chandlers Heart will be making her first start at Northlands and she has been a gem of consistency while running at Prairie Meadows and Oaklawn Park this year. In 10 stars she has compiled a 1-4-4 record, and the only time she finished off the board was in the $75,000 Carousel at Oaklawn in March. She is coming off a win going 1 1/4 miles in a claiming race that had an interesting twist. There was a $5,000 minimum claiming price but if owners wanted to run their horses for a higher price, two pounds were added for each additional $1,000. Chandlers Heart ran for $7,000 and was claimed by trainer Greg Tracy, who was acting on behalf of Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.

Chatahoochie has won her last two sprints in Grand Prairie but has never won going around three turns.

Posse R N and Brewella have good speed but both are stretching out to a middle distance for the first time.