Northlands: Kool Atlantic gets belated shot to make it three straight on Sunday

Kool Atlantic once again looks like the one to beat in a $10,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as Sunday’s feature at Northlands Park. The six-furlong sprint drew nine horses and goes as race 9 on the 10-race card, which begins at 1 p.m. Mountain.

Eight of the horses entered were scheduled to run in a similar race last Wednesday but didn’t get to go when the races were canceled due to unsafe track conditions. The repairs to the track have been completed and Kool Atlantic will get his chance to win his third race in a row.

Kool Atlantic was an impressive 6 1/2-length winner of a $5,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two June 27 and came right back to beat next-out winner Turnagain Taylor for $7,500 July 8. Trainer Robert MacDonald led him over for his first win. He was claimed out of the race by trainer Tim Rycroft, who was acting on behalf of owner Cliff Strandquist. Both races were at six furlongs, and he came from off the pace both times. There is plenty of speed to set up his good late move and leading rider Scott Williams should have him rolling late.

Indian Love is the only horse in the field that wasn’t entered in the race that was canceled Wednesday, and while he may want more distance, he should be part of any exotics ticket. Trained by Dale Saunders, Indian Love has finished third in four of his five starts going six furlongs. He is coming off a third-place finish in a one-mile $15,000 claiming race July 18. His last win came at Hastings in a 1 1/16-mile $12,500 nonwinners of two last year. In his only other win, Indian Love romped by over seven lengths going 6 1/2 furlongs in a $20,000 maiden-claiming race at Hastings in May 2011.

Montellano drew the rail and will be one of the several horses vying for the early lead. Montellano scored a front-running win in a $10,000 claiming race for trainer Kirsty Luft-Nault on June 3 and was claimed out of the race by trainer Cody Anderson. In his first start for Anderson he set quick interior fractions before fading to sixth in a $22,000 claiming sprint June 15. He was also involved during the early stages before finishing third for $15,000 in his latest race, July 6.