Northlands Park: Brady's Tomboy risks streak in Friday optional claimer

Brady’s Tomboy is taking a substantial step up in class, but she is a very sharp horse right now and might be good enough to win her fourth straight race when she runs in a $35,000 optional claimer at Northlands Park on Friday. The one-mile race for fillies and mares drew eight horses, including the consistent 8-year-old mare Salsa Express, who also is coming off a sharp win.

Brady’s Tomboy began her three-race winning streak when she came from a stalking position to beat Embankment in a $12,500 claiming race going 6 1/2 furlongs July 12. Trained by Dale Saunders, Brady’s Tomboy ran a similar race when she stretched out to a mile and won July 24. In both races, she was ridden by Fernando Perez, who was injured and wasn’t able to ride her when she came back going 1 1/16 miles in a $17,500 claiming race Aug. 10.

With Scott Williams aboard, Brady’s Tomboy went right to the lead and opened up a seven-length lead after six furlongs in 1:13.40. She was in complete control of the race when she turned for home and under steady urging by Williams won by 7 1/2 lengths.

She came back with a bullet five-furlong move in 1:01.40 on Aug. 24 and could be a handful with Perez returning to ride.

It is hard not to like the Idaho-bred Salsa Express, who shows up just about every time and has compiled a 19-14-10 record from 50 starts over a career that began in her home state in 2008. At Northlands, she has finished worse than third only four times in 31 starts, and this year she has 3 wins and 3 seconds from 7 starts.

Trained by Ernie Keller, Salsa Express looked as good as ever winning a one-mile, $25,000 optional claimer with Rico Walcott aboard Aug. 16. She drew the rail for Friday’s race, and Walcott will likely put her into a stalking position off what should be a lively pace.

Regal Tigereyes is coming off a very dull performance in the $50,000 Madamoiselle won by Saturday Nite Ride on Aug. 2, but she will appreciate the easier company, and being a deep closer, she won’t mind the likely shape of the race.

Trained by Kirsy Luft-Nault, Regal Tigereyes is a double stakes winner and rallied to finish second in the $52,000 John Patrick Handicap prior to her disappointing effort in the Madamoiselle.

Lynn’s Foxie Lady has good speed and will likely use it leaving from post 2.