Northlands Park: Give Me Five targets third win at meet

Give Me Five should be favored when she tries for her third win at the meet in a $20,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies that will serve as the feature race at Northlands Park on Wednesday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses and goes as race 3 on the 10-race card.

Trained by Jim Meyaard, Give Me Five came from off the pace to win a first-level allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs over Kennedy’s Halo on July 3 and once again should have an honest pace to work with.

A Maryland-bred daughter of Lion Heart, Give Me Five was coming off of a fourth-place finish at Prairie Meadows when she romped in a maiden special weight race in her first start at Northlands this year on May 23. She came back with a solid effort when she finished second to Maegans Princesses in a first-level allowance race June 3 prior to her latest win. Maegans Princesses subsequently finished second to divisional leader Embellished in the $50,000 Chariot Chaser and the $50,000 Northlands Park Oaks.

Rico Walcott retains the mount.

Miss Buxley is looking for her first win since she won the $25,000 Arizona Oaks by four lengths in February. Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Miss Buxley is coming off two solid efforts at Northlands. She lost by a neck to Dakota Warrior in a $20,000 claiming sprint June 29 and she made a threatening move before tiring late to finish fourth going one mile in a $32,000 optional claimer July 11.

Red Anzille has the most wins in the field with four. The Tim Rycroft-trainee is coming off a front-running score in a $12,000 claiming race July 30, when she earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 56. She started the meet with wins for $7,500 and $12,000, and she also finished second twice for $12,000 in back-to-back races July 3 and July 16.

Alpha Aire easily handled Red Anzille by 6 3/4 lengths July 3, and this will be her first race since then. Trained by Joan Petrowski, Alpha Aire won her debut going 3 1/2 furlongs in a $12,500 claiming race May 8 and then went unplaced in the same race that Give Me Five finished second in June 3. Her saddle slipped when she tried $20,000 claimers June 17, prior to her latest win. She is coupled with Kimberly Ann who will need to improve to contend.

Kennedy’s Halo should be heard from early.