Northlands: Ten Thirty invades from Hastings for Bird of Pay

If the recent dominance of Hastings-based horses running in stakes races at Northlands Park is any indication, Ten Thirty is going to be a handful when she runs in the $50,000 Bird of Pay for 2-year-old fillies Friday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew six horses and there isn’t much doubt Ten Thirty is going to be a solid favorite.

Another arrow pointing at Ten Thirty is her trainer, Greg Tracy. The leading trainer at Northlands, Tracy is having a lot of success with his babies this year, having won 17 races from 53 starts, or 32 percent, with 2-year-olds.

Ten Thirty is coming off a win over the colt Tracker in a $40,000 optional maiden claiming race at Hastings on July 28. She dueled with Tracker right from the start and held on to win by a half-length. Tracker came back to finish third in the B.C. Cup Nursery on Aug. 6. Prior to her win, Ten Thirty finished second to Marketway when she debuted in a $40,000 optional maiden race June 15 and was second to Marketway again in the $50,000 Boulevard Casino on July 8.

She has had a couple of solid works at Northlands, and Tracy is expecting another strong performance with Rico Walcott riding her for the first time.

“Rico worked her the other day and usually he doesn’t say much, but he was pretty impressed with her,” said Tracy.

Tracy also entered Silver City Sizzle, who hasn’t lived up to his expectations. She has run well in both of her starts, though, and she was very game in her latest. She dueled with Risky City right from the start and she never quit trying when Risky City drifted out and bumped her at the top of the stretch and again in midstretch. She never got past Risky City but was awarded the win by the stewards.

“If she can bring what she has shown us in the mornings she could be the winner,” said Tracy.

Canaveral Leader looks like the main threat to the Tracy pair. Trained by Ron Grieves, Canaveral Leader was an easy winner when she debuted in a maiden special weight for Alberta-breds going 3 1/2 furlongs July 15 and then finished a distant second to the Tracy-trained Tell Me Lies in the 6 1/2-furlong Filly Sales Stakes on Aug. 18.

Cafe’ Diva, Quinnz Away, and Rapid Mizz complete the field.