Omar could be sitting on solid effort in Wednesday sprint feature

Omar looks like the one they will have to catch and beat in a $35,000 optional-claiming race that headlines the eight-race card at Northlands Park on Wednesday evening. The 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up drew a strong group that includes five stakes winners in the six-horse field.
Omar, a stakes winner in Arizona and New Mexico, drew the rail and could be long gone in the sprint if he breaks alertly with Jorge Espitia retaining the mount.

Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Omar made his first start at Northlands in the $53,404 Journal Handicap but couldn’t keep up with Killin Me Smalls, who is the top older horse in Alberta. After winning the Journal on May 18, Killin Me Smalls earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure when he won the one-mile Spangled Jimmy by 9 1/4 lengths June 13.

Omar returned on June 20 to score a front-running win in a $35,000 optional-claiming race over Tiny Giant, a stakes winner with more than $300,000 in earnings.

Omar could be sitting on a peak effort in the third start of his current form cycle. If he runs as well as he did at Turf Paradise and Sunland Park between Oct. 27 and Feb. 14 where he received Beyer Speed Figures in the 90s in five straight races, he’s the winner.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Omar (Last 3 Beyers: 80-68-78)

◗ A 10-time winner from 28 starts, the classy 6-year-old California-bred looked great winning his latest at this level and will be tough to get past if he breaks alertly.

DRF FORMULTOR FACT: Over the past five years, Diordoro has a 27 percent strike rate with horses that won their previous race.

Up Jumps a Monster (Last 3 Beyers: 53-63-70)

◗ The shape of the race could work for him, and he could improve with the blinkers going on in his first start since being claimed by trainer Tim Rycroft.

◗ Rycroft also entered Clear the Runway, who could be dangerous from a stalking position with leading rider Rico Walcott riding.

Tigger Town (Last 3 Beyers: 68-72-59)

◗ He was no match for Omar in his latest, but he held on well to finish third and could move forward in his second start for trainer Ron Grieves, who claimed him out of a winning race for $25,000 June 5.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Grieves has a 19 percent strike rate with claimed horses making their second start for him.