Portofappeal tries to get back on track in Friday feature

In four starts at the current Northlands Park meet, Portofappeal has won twice and lost twice. Her two wins came when she wasn’t running in stakes races. Following a dull effort in the $49,900 Madamoiselle on July 18, she looks like the one to beat in a $25,000 optional-claiming race that headlines Friday’s card.

The one-mile race for fillies and mares drew nine horses and goes as race 7. Post time for the first of eight races is 6:30 p.m. Mountain.

Trained by James McCullough, Portofappeal is coming off her worst performance since she finished last in the $50,240 Alberta Oaks last September. It is easy to toss her latest race, though. She chased a fast pace before fading late, and she is going to appreciate the substantially easier company she is facing Friday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Portofappeal (Last 3 Beyers: 48-77-70)

◗ A gem of consistency, Portofappeal finished in the top three in nine straight races prior to her disappointing effort in the Madamoiselle, where she was in the race early but finished last in the four-horse field.

◗ She earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure for her win going six furlongs in a $25,000 optional-claiming race in her previous race, and a similar figure likely would be good enough to win here. Rafael Zenteno Jr. retains the mount.

Smile Again Theta (Last 3 Beyers: 58-66-69)

◗ Trained by Jerri Robertson, she won back-to-back races going one mile prior to her narrow loss to Mia Isabel in a 1 1/16-mile race at this level July 19. She also has compiled an impressive 6-3-1 record from 12 starts at the one-mile distance.

Mia Isabel (Last 3 Beyers: 59-61-69)

◗ She is coming off a front-running win over Smile Again Theta, and the Rod Cone trainee will be the one they have to catch if she breaks alertly from post 3.

FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years at Northlands, Cone has won with 20 percent of his starters who won their previous race.

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◗ Trainer Joan Petrowski said that Tiny Giant came out of his win in the $56,420 Sun Sprint Championship last Monday in good shape, but she didn’t know where she was going to run him next. Ridden by Ruben Lara, Tiny Giant paid $23.30 for his 1 1/4-length score over Tigger Town, who went off as the 2.25-1 favorite in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up.