Rapid ’n Ready facing easier

Rapid ’n Ready figures to be tough to handle in a $22,000 claiming race that will serve as Wednesday’s feature race at Northlands Park. The six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew five horses and goes as race 5.

Trained by Jim Meyaard, Rapid ’n Ready is coming off of a second-place finish behind It’s Good be Me in a $40,000 claiming race and should appreciate the easier company he is facing with the drop in class. Rapid ’n Ready was also no match for Mr. Shadar in the Sun Sprint Championship Sept. 6, finishing fourth. A 7-year-old Kentucky-bred son of More Than Ready, Rapid ’n Ready likes to be involved early, and he used his good speed to win a $30,000 claiming race going six-furlongs Aug. 7. He will have to deal with other speed, but they aren’t as fast as the horses Rapid ’n Ready faced in his last two starts and he doesn’t need to have the lead to himself to win.

Reggie Dunlop and Mottoo appear to be the main threats and are both coming off of front-running wins where they won by wide margins.

Reggie Dunlop, the lone 3-year-old in the field, ran off and hid by 6 1/2 lengths in a six-furlong $20,000 claiming race for trainer Rod Cone Aug. 18. He was claimed out of the race by Doug MacDonald, who was acting on behalf of Eagle Rock Racing Stable. Reggie Dunlop runs well fresh and he has had a couple of solid works since he ran.

Trained by Ron Grieves, Mootoo came off of a short break to score a 4 1/2-length win over Notsosweet in a $17,500 claiming race Aug. 18. A lightly raced 5-year-old, Mootoo has a compiled a 3-3-0 record from 8 starts.