Northlands: Ready Racer nearing top form

Ready Racer appears to be rounding into the form that saw him win the $50,000 Sun Sprint Championship last year and ultimately be named the 2012 sprinter of the year in Alberta. He was a sharp winner of a $25,000 claiming race July 5 and figures to be a solid favorite when he runs in an optional $35,000 claiming race that will serve as Monday’s feature at Northlands Park.

The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and goes as race 7 on an eight race card that begins at 1 p.m. Mountain.

Trained by Dale Saunders, Ready Racer needs an honest pace to work with and there should be plenty of speed provided by Danzip and Boomtown Brat. Ready Racer took advantage of a fast and contested pace to win his last race and it was about this time last year when he started peaking. Beginning July 28, he won three races in a row, including the Sun Sprint, where he romped by 9 1/4 lengths and earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

He tuned up for Monday’s race with a sharp five-furlong move July 29 and figures to be tough to handle with leading rider Rico Walcott retaining the mount.

Boomtown Brat will try to make amends after forcing a quick pace before finishing fourth as the heavy chalk in an optional $35,000 race going 6 1/2 furlongs July 27. He came from a stalking position when he won a similar race June 15 and if apprentice Amie Pooli can get him to sit just off Danzip he could win at what will be a more-reasonable price.

Danzip won three of his last four races at Turf Paradise before finishing fourth in an optional $35,000 race going six furlongs at Northlands on July 6 and could move forward in his second start following a five-month layoff.

Call Me Lou won three in a row before finishing a distant fourth behind Grade 3 winner Senor Rojo in a one-mile, optional $35,000 race July 20.