Northlands Park: Chandlers Heart goes for fifth win at meet

Chandlers Heart will be shooting for her fifth win at the Northlands Park meet when she runs in an $8,000 claiming race that will serve as Friday’s feature. The one-mile race for fillies and mares drew eight horses and goes as the seventh race.

A 6-year-old mare, Chandlers Heart has never won going around three turns in her 34-race career, but she owns the best Beyer Speed Figure at the distance, 85, and she has finished second in five tries going a mile. Plus, she won going 1 1/4 miles at Prairie Meadows prior to arriving at Northlands in 2011, so stretching out to a middle distance for the first time this year shouldn’t be an issue.

Chandlers Heart won her first four starts at the meet for trainer Garry Marks, but she was claimed out of her last race for $5,000 by trainer Rod Cone, who was acting on behalf of Brian Weatherill.

Chandlers Heart, who drew post 2, set the pace in her last three wins but she is versatile. Nate Smith retains the mount, and he will have to make an early decision on whether he wants to put her on the lead or stalk Embankment, who has good speed and will likely use it breaking from the rail.

Trained by Amber Buniak, Embankment is dropping to a new low this year after forcing the pace before tiring to finish fourth in a one-mile $12,500 claimer July 24.

Last year, Embankment won four straight races, culminating in a 10 3/4-length romp in a one-mile $10,000 claiming race Aug. 12. She hasn’t won since, though.

Majakat hasn’t been able to keep up with Chandlers Heart in her last three sprints, but she should appreciate the added distance and could pick up the pieces if an all-out duel between Embankment and Chandlers Heart develops in front of her.

Trained by Dale Saunders, Majakat came from well back to win a couple of races on turf at Turf Paradise last winter. The latest came via disqualification in a $6,250 claiming race going 7 1/2 furlongs Feb. 23. She lost the nod at the wire but was moved up to first when Devine Sage was disqualified for causing interference on the first turn and in the stretch.

Wind Speaker is coming off a 7 3/4-length romp in a one-mile $7,000 conditional claiming race and will get tested for class in her first try in open company.