Serendipity Grove aims for second consecutive win in Wednesday feature

If Serendipity Grove can keep a straight path, he could notch his second straight win in a $12,500 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as Wednesday’s feature at Northlands Park. The six-furlong sprint drew nine horses and goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 6:30 p.m. Mountain.

Trained by Rick Wise, Serendipity Grove paid $28.30 when he won an $8,000 claiming race going 6 1/2 furlongs in his second start at Northlands on June 20. The generous price wasn’t because of his then-overall record of 7-4-2 from 23 starts.

It was his antics in his first start at Northlands in an $8,000 claiming sprint May 17 that had bettors shying away from him. After battling through honest fractions, it looked like he might be home and cooled out when he started to draw away from his pursuers on the stretch turn. However, he took a hard right turn at the top of the stretch and dropped jockey Shannon Beauregard, who was riding him for the first time.

Despite Serendipity Grove’s behavior, Beauregard kept the faith, and she was rewarded when he won from a stalking position June 20. He could get a similar trip Wednesday with Beauregard retaining the mount.

It is a wide-open race with no clear-cut favorite.

Indian Love won’t mind the move back to a sprint after a dull effort in a one-mile race for $17,500 claimers June 11. He will attract attention with leading rider Rico Walcott aboard for the suddenly hot Dale Saunders. Saunders was the leading trainer at Northlands last year.

Cattle Hauler won a $15,000 claiming race for trainer Rod Cone on June 4 and may have bounced when he came back to finish last for $17,500 on June 20.

Ultimate Question, trained by Gerry Marks, came from last when he just missed going six furlongs in a $17,500 claiming race May 30, and he dueled for the lead before tiring to finish fourth when he stretched out to a mile for the same price June 11. He shouldn’t mind the move back to a sprint.

There should be an honest pace that could help Tarue Grit, who rallied to finish third in an $8,000 claimer May 23 but wasn’t much of a factor when he stretched out to a mile in a $17,500 claimer June 11.

Smile N Wave and Cook Kahuna are capable, but neither has raced since October 2012.