Northlands: Surfin’ Sydney primed to start her year

Surfin’ Sydney could be ready for a big effort when she makes her seasonal debut in a first-level allowance race for fillies and mares that drew six horses and headlines Wednesday’s eight-race card at Northlands Park.

Trained by Cody Anderson, Surfin’ Sydney started off her career with a sharp win over Squiggly Gets Even in a six-furlong maiden special weight race for 3-year-old fillies last July. She also ran well in her next two sprints, finishing second in back-to-back first-level allowance races. In all three of her sprints she was involved right from the start. Anderson tried to stretch Surfin’ Sydney out to a mile in the $50,000 Alberta Oaks in her final start of 2011, but after dueling for six furlongs she faded to finish ninth in the 10-horse field.

Surfin’ Sydney figures to be on her toes in her first start since September, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see jockey Rico Walcott put her right on the lead leaving from post position five.

Jazz Time Girl is a maiden, but she doesn’t look out of line. Trained by Ron Grieves, Jazz Time Girl is taking a drop in class following a solid effort in her first start of the year. The 4-year-old filly has started only twice and both times has shown plenty of potential. She forced the pace before tiring to finish second when she debuted in a maiden special weight race last year, and she came from off the pace to finish third in a second-level allowance race for fillies and mares May 19.

Sweet Esteem and Lynx Lake both have speed, and if a duel develops it could set up nicely for Plethora, who will be making her first start outside of Florida.

A 3-year-old filly trained by Craig Smith, Plethora is coming off a fourth-place finish in a $75,000 optional claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs on March 23. In her previous race she came from a stalking position to win a $25,000 maiden claiming race at Tampa Bay on Feb. 26. With her tactical speed, she figures to be in a striking position throughout the race and could be dangerous if the speed backs up.

Brady’s Tomboy is stepping up in class but looks playable in what appears to be a wide-open event. She rallied three wide to finish second in her first start of the year in a $15,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two, and she gets five-pounds off with the hot apprentice Scott Williams riding. Despite missing the first week of racing, Williams is second in the jockey standings behind Stephan Heiler with 14 wins.