Northlands: Where's the Remote reaches level where he can win

It has been a long time since Where’s the Remote won a race but he may have found the right spot to break his losing streak when he runs in a $17,500 claiming race that will serve as Friday’s feature at Northlands Park. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and goes as the seventh race.

The last time Where’s the Remote won a race was on Aug. 28, 2010 at Del Mar going 1 1/16 miles on turf. It was his third win in just his fifth start and he followed up his sharp performance with a huge race, finishing second behind Champ Pegasus in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch, which was held at Hollywood Park during the Oak Tree meet.

He has been competitive in a lot of his races since but just hasn’t been able to get over the top. In his first start at Northlands in a $25,000 claiming race June 28, Where’s the Remote dueled early and held on well to finish third for trainer Robertino Diodoro. Acting on behalf of Rick Wiest, Diodoro claimed the 7-year-old Cal-bred Where’s the Remote for $32,000 at Santa Anita last October. In his best race for his new connections Where’s the Remote finished third going one mile in the $35,000 Hank Mills Sr. at Turf Paradise on Dec. 22.

Prior to his solid June 28 effort, Where’s the Remote finished fifth in an optional $25,000 claiming race at Turf Paradise on March 3. If he takes the expected move forward in his second start back he could be tough to handle Friday. He drew post 2 and jockey Nate Smith will likely put him into the race right from the start.

Rico Walcott abandons Where’s the Remote to ride Wild Crush, who is coming off a win in a one-mile $25,000 claiming race July 13. Trained by Dale Saunders, Wild Crush won just a single race last year, but he picked a good time to run the best race of his 22-race career by taking the $50,000 Alberta Breeders Handicap on Sept. 15. He does his best running late and if Aces Again hooks up with Where’s the Remote early it could set up nicely for him.

Real Dingo will appreciate the easier company after finishing seventh in the $50,000 Spangled Jimmy, won by Commander, on June 29.

Northern Magic has won his last two and steps up in price after being claimed for $8,000 by trainer Cody Anderson on July 5.

Aces Again showed more speed than usual in his second-place finish in a similar race July 8 and figures to make his presence known early if he breaks alertly from the inside post.