Northlands Park: Hollywood Dreams tries three turns in optional claimer

Hollywood Dreams will try and carry his speed around three turns for the first time when he runs in an optional $32,000 claiming race at Northlands Park on Wednesday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds drew seven horses and goes as race 7 on the 10-race card.

Hollywood Dreams has won two of his three starts at Northlands, and the only time he finished out of the money in four career starts was at Hastings in his initial outing this year. Trained by Dean Martiniuk, Hollywood Dreams scored a front-running win when he debuted in a maiden special weight race last Sept. 24 and then didn’t race again until he resurfaced at Hastings on April 16. After his dull performance in Vancouver, Hollywood Dreams returned to Northlands, where he forced the pace and held on well to lose by a half-length to Points Alert in a first-level allowance race going six furlongs. In his next start, Hollywood Dreams earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure for his sharp front-running win over Big Bad Butch in a similar race. If he can post the same kind of figure Wednesday, he will be tough to handle.

Stephan Heiler rides Hollywood Dreams.

Victor Man shouldn’t have any trouble stretching out for the first time this year for trainer Cody Anderson. He was solid in two starts for trainer Pam McDougall in 2010, romping by 7 1/4 lengths when he debuted in a maiden special weight race for Alberta-breds going six furlongs and was second behind Bond James Bond in the one-mile Alberta Premier’s Futurity. In his only start in 2011, he closed with good speed to finish second behind Big Bad Butch in a first-level allowance race July 31.

Big Son of a Gun has won three races, but they all came on synthetic surfaces at Golden Gate and Hollywood Park. Trainer Robertino Diodoro is looking for Big Son of a Gun to rebound after being eased in the Ky Alta won by Canadian Derby winner Freedoms Traveller. It was Big Son of a Gun’s only race over dirt, and he may not have cared for the sloppy conditions.

◗ Quarter Horse fans will want to arrive early in order to watch the first three races, beginning with the $45,000 Alberta Stallion Stakes Futurity and culminating with the $21,000 Alberta Stallion Derby. The $21,000 Enerpan Bonus Challenge for 3-year-olds and up is the third stakes on the card. All three races are at 330 yards. Erica Rae has been installed as the 8-5 favorite in the futurity, and Poutnokey looks like the one to beat in the derby.