Salsa Express tries to prove she's still got it at age 9

Salsa Express may have lost a step or two this year, but the 9-year-old mare still looks like the one to beat in a $17,500 claiming race at Northlands Park on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares drew six horses and shapes up as a battle between Salsa Express and Quite Contrary.

In her last start, Quite Contrary beat Salsa Express by 3 1/4 lengths in a $12,500 claiming race going six furlongs Sept. 24. Salsa Express, however, came back to romp by 6 1/2 lengths in a one-mile claiming race Oct. 3, and she is more than capable of stringing winning races together. She also won’t mind the move back to a distance at which she has won seven races.

Beginning with her career debut at Les Bois Park in Idaho in 2008, Salsa Express has been a gem of consistency, compiling an enviable record of 22-18-12 from 64 starts. Since arriving at Northlands in June 2010, she has won 14 races. Most of her wins came for trainer Ernie Keller, who claimed her for $15,000 in her final start of 2010.

On seven different occasions, Salsa Express has won at least two races in a row, the last time in 2013, when she reeled off three straight wins between Aug. 16 and Sept. 14. The first two were in one-mile optional-claiming races, and she completed the hat trick going 6 1/2 furlongs in a $35,000 optional claimer. She closed out the 2013 season with a second-place finish in the $56,240 Duchess of York.

Her first win this year came last out, and with her confidence high, she could be tough to handle with Heribert Martinez retaining the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Salsa Express (Last 3 Beyers: 64-55-58)

◗ It is hard not to like a horse with her record, and she has enough tactical speed to stalk what figures to be a moderate pace.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Keller has a 20 percent strike rate with horses going from a route to a sprint.

Quite Contrary (Last 3 Beyers: 63-61-58)

◗ Trained by David Nicholson, she has won 5 of 8 starts at the meet, mostly in $8,000 claimers, and she has enough speed to take advantage of her inside post.

She’s Regal (Last 3 Beyers: 58-66-52)

◗ The Jim Meyaard trainee is coming off a third-place finish in a $10,000 optional claimer at Assiniboia Downs and could be the one they have to catch.