Northlands Park: Tigger Town the clear speed in Saturday sprint feature

Tigger Town looks like the one to catch and beat in a second-level allowance race that headlines a 10-race card Saturday at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up attracted eight horses, but it could be a one-horse show if Tigger Town breaks alertly leaving from the inside post with leading rider Rico Walcott aboard.

Trained by Greg Tracy, Tigger Town dueled with the winner, Swiss Idol, through quick fractions and then held on well to finish a clear second in his last start in a $25,000 optional claimer Sept. 18. It was his first race with older horses and his second start back following a short layoff after going unplaced in his only route attempt in the $50,000 Chris Loseth at Hastings on July 1. He could be coming up to a peak effort in the third start of his current form cycle, and the last time he opened up a clear lead early he went on to win a first-level allowance race at Northlands by 10 lengths. The other speed in the field, Sports Report, isn’t nearly as fast, and Tigger Town should have an easy time getting to the front.

If Tigger Town runs as expected, it appears to be wide open for second.

Catchtheconnection won’t mind the move back to 6 1/2 furlongs, at which he has compiled a 2-1-1 record in 4 starts. In his latest race, he set a moderate pace before tiring to finish fourth in the $50,000 Alberta Breeders’ Handicap for Alberta-bred 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles Sept. 21. Trained by Jennifer Shafer, Catchtheconnection is looking for his first win this year, but he has been coming close and was sent off as the favorite when he finished fourth at this level going six furlongs in his previous start. He earned career-best 74 Beyer Speed Figure in the Breeders’ and could be ready for a big effort with the move back to his best distance.

The Amanda Gregory-trained Aces Again is another exacta possibility, and he’ll probably be a decent price. He was sent off at 7-2 in Tigger Town’s last race but was squeezed back at the start and never really got involved. He went into the race off of two straight wins at generous prices. He paid $55.60 when he got away with slow fractions in his win going one mile at this level Sept. 6, and he also paid a healthy $20.90 when he rallied to win a $17,500 claiming race going 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 23.