Raider favored for good reason in Sonoma Handicap

Raider looks awful tough in the $60,000 Sonoma Handicap at Northlands Park Saturday. The1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies drew eight horses and there isn’t much doubt Raider will be a short price.

Trained by Greg Tracy, Raider is perfect in four starts at Northlands and she paid $3.70 for her half-length victory over I Miss Back When in the $50,000 Northlands Park Oaks July 13. With leading rider Rico Walcott aboard, she came from a stalking position to win the 1 1/16-mile race.

With a fast and contested pace expected Saturday, she should get a similar trip in the Sonoma. She has an overall record of 5-2-1 from nine starts, and four of her wins came at Northlands.

“She’s never run a bad race but she really likes the track here,” said Tracy. “She never blows anybody away or runs crazy-fast times, but she just runs good enough to win. She’s training really good right now and there is a lot of speed to set her up.”

She will break from post 2 with Walcott riding.

Some of the speed Tracy was referring to will come from Suzette, whom he also trains. She set the pace in the Oaks before tiring to finish fourth.

“I would have preferred to run her in an allowance race but they haven’t been filling,” said Tracy.

KEY CONTENDERS

Raider, by Stephanotis

Last 3 Beyers: 54-51-60

◗ She has never run a bad race and she might have been perfect this year with a better trip in the $50,000 Ross McLeod at Hastings in her first start this year.

I Miss Back When, by Alydeed

Last 3 Beyers: 53-51-42

◗ Trained by Tim Rycroft, she was close to the pace before giving way late to Raider in her last two races, and if Rigo Sarmiento can get her to settle early she might have a bit more left to fend off the expected late charge from the favorite.

Gigi Jean, by Temple City

Last 3 Beyers: 53-63-55

◗ The Craig MacPherson-trained Kentucky-bred ran into a couple of tough ones in her last two starts in the $50,000 Supernaturel and $50,000 Emerald Downs at Hastings, but she did finish in front of Raider in her first start in the West in the Ross McLeod.

◗ Her lone win came in Kentucky at Turfway Park, where she came from a stalking position in a one-mile maiden special weight race on Jan. 26 for trainer Helen Pitts.