Northlands sprint matches Inuit Fisher, Footprint, Tiny Giant

It is tough to separate the 10 classy older horses running in a $40,000 optional race that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Northlands Park. Inuit Fisher has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite over the Joan Petrowski-trained entry of Tiny Giant and 2007 Canadian Derby winner Footprint at 3-1, but the six-furlong sprint appears to be anyone’s race.

Inuit Fisher, trained by Dale Saunders, is coming off of a third-place finish in a 3 1/2-furlong $40,000 behind Grat Substitution and Tiny Giant May 15. It was Inuit Fisher’s first start of the year, and the multiple sprint stakes winner figures to move forward with a race under his belt. He also has good speed but doesn’t need the lead and he should get a nice trip behind possibly Tiny Giant and Zuri Mwana. His last win came in a $40,000 optional race last July 28.

Stephan Heiler retains the mount on Inuit Fisher.

Saunders has also entered Ready Racer, who won three sprints last year and should improve after getting away slowly in the same race Inuit Fisher exits. They will run uncoupled.

Tiny Giant has good speed and should be part of a contested pace. On the other hand, Footprint figures to make a late move. They form a solid one-two punch for Petrowski.

Paseo Alegro is going to need an honest pace to work with, and there is enough potential speed to set him up. Trained by Jim Meyaard, Paseo Alegro comes into the race off of two solid performances at Fonner Park. He came from well back to win a $20,000 optional sprint April 16 and then closed with a rush to finish second when he stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in the $75,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes, won by his stablemate Andiotis on April 30.

Zuri Mwan is a multiple stakes winner, so he should be able to handle the jump in class after winning a $22,000 claiming race going 3 1/2 furlongs for trainer Gordon Amthor May 14.