Northlands Park: It's Good to Be Me looks tough in season debut

It’s Good to Be Me is a dangerous horse coming off of a layoff, and he will be making his first start of the year in a $22,000 claiming race that headlines Northland Park’s Friday evening card.

The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew eight well-matched horses, but if It’s Good to Be Me runs as well as he did in his seasonal debut in 2009 and 2010, he will be tough to handle.

Both of It’s Good to Be Me’s easy wins coming off of long layoffs the past two years were going 3 1/2 furlongs but he has a solid 2-1-2 record from 5 starts going six furlongs. The only time It’s Good to Be Me finished worse than third in any sprint was in his second start as a 2-year-old, when he finished fourth in the $50,000 Birdcatcher won by Robo Willie. The main concern is that he is dropping in price after being claimed by trainer Gordon Amthor for $30,000 in his final start of 2010, where he finished third as the heavy chalk.

Anthony Salgado, who rode It’s Good to Be Me to 4 wins from 6 starts last year, retains the mount.

Bad Medicine, with 9 wins from 13 starts in 2010, will likely be favored. He is dropping in price following a third-place finish in a $30,000 claiming race June 1. He finished third in a $22,000 claiming race going 3 1/2 furlongs in his first start of the year and was claimed by trainer Jim Meyaard. Beginning with an eight-length romp in a $17,500 claiming race last July 3, Bad Medicine won his previous four starts for trainer Joan Petrowski.

There is plenty of potential speed in the field, and if a duel develops it should help the chances of Alarico. Trained by Ron Grieves, Alarico made a strong late run to finish second in a $22,000 claiming race in his first start of the year on May 27.

Grieves has also entered Mootoo, who at the very least ensures an honest pace.

Cool Diablo will try and get untracked with the drop into a claiming race for the first time.