Northlands Park: Sharp Act just needs a decent start on Monday

Sharp Act didn’t break as sharply as usual and ended up being stuck behind a slow pace when she finished fourth as the favorite in a $12,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies going 6 1/2 furlongs at Northlands Park on Aug. 12. She could make amends when she returns in a similar spot in the first race at Northlands Monday.

Post time for the first of seven races is 1 p.m. Mountain.

Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Sharp Act will likely be favored again despite the loss to Take a Hit, who dead-heated for first with Cinderella Brite. She is picking up the services of leading rider Rico Walcott, and Walcott and Diodoro have won at a 44-percent clip when they have teamed up in the last two seasons at Northlands. Also, Diodoro has a 35-percent strike rate the past five years with horses coming back in a week or less.

Beginning with a 5 1/2-length romp when she debuted in a $30,000 optional maiden-claiming race at Turf Paradise in March, Sharp Act has used her tactical speed to win three of her seven starts this year. If she breaks with the field she should get a nice trip from just off what figures to be an honest and contested pace.

Take a Hit is going for her third-straight win, all for trainer Red Smith. She scored an easy 5 1/4-length win in a $7,000 maiden claiming race for 3-year-olds and up July 22 and was very game in her win over Sharp Act last Monday.

She was involved right from the start in both of her wins and she is going to be under pressure right away with the speedy Foxy Rocket in the field.

Silver Wabbit is cutting back to a sprint after dominating her rivals going one mile in a $7,000 claiming race for nonwinners-of-two Aug. 2. With Walcott aboard, she forced the early pace before running off to win by 14 1/4 lengths. She came back with a bullet four-furlong move in 49 seconds with the dogs up Aug. 16 and appears on top of her game heading into the race.

Trainer Joan Petrowski has named Jorge Espitia to replace Walcott.

Zippy Request will appreciate the easier company after forcing a fast pace before finishing last in a $17,500 claiming sprint for fillies and mares won by Hastings invader Clarisse B.

Fordy Eight Cash completes the field.