Ready Racer looks to regain form in Wednesday sprint feature

Ready Racer will try to get untracked when he runs in a $25,000 optional-claiming race Wednesday at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew 10 horses and goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 6:30 p.m. Mountain.

Ready Racer was voted the champion sprinter in Alberta in 2012 and 2013, but he hasn’t fired in his first two starts this year. Trained by Dale Saunders, Ready Racer didn’t pick up his feet when he made his seasonal debut in a $35,000 optional-claiming race that Tigger Town won by 11 1/2 lengths May 19. Ready Racer came back with another dull effort in a similar race May 30.

It took Ready Racer a few starts to get rolling last year, so he could be coming up to a big effort in the third start of his current form cycle. He also will be getting a significant jockey change, with leading rider Rico Walcott taking over from apprentice Damario Bynoe.

Despite Ready Racer’s dull form, he has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

Red Red Rose looks like an overlay at 8-1. He set the pace and held on well to finish second in the same race that Ready Racer exits and could be dangerous if he can get clear early. The Tim Rycroft trainee drew the outside post, though, and there is other potential speed drawn inside of him.

High Test will appreciate the easier company after finishing fourth in the $51,140 Spangled Jimmy, won by Commander, who has been just about unbeatable at Northlands, winning nine of his 10 starts at the Edmonton oval.

Trained by Rod Cone, High Test is looking for his first win on dirt. He won back-to-back $20,000 and $25,000 claiming races on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields in February and March. His other two wins came on turf and on Cushion Track at Hollywood Park. A deep closer, there should be an honest pace to set him up.

The Great Caper is the mystery horse in the field. He hasn’t raced since June 23, 2012, when he forced the pace before fading in a six-furlong turf sprint for $32,000 claimers at Hollywood Park. He has been working well leading up to his return, and over the past five years, his trainer, Robertino Diodoro, has a 33 percent strike rate with horses coming back from a layoff of one year or more.