Smile Again Theta will try to get back on track
Smile Again Theta will appreciate not having to face Rock and Glory when she runs in a $35,000 optional-claiming race at Northlands Park on Friday night. Also on the seven-race card that begins at 6:30 p.m. Mountain is a $35,000 optional-claiming race for 3-year-old fillies going 6 1/2 furlongs in which Queenoftheforest figures to be heavily favored to win her fourth straight race.
Trained by Jerri Robertson, Smile Again Theta will try to get back on track in the sixth race, a 1 1/16-mile contest that drew seven horses. She was a romping 19 1/4-length winner of the $60,878 Madamoiselle Handicap going 1 1/16 miles on July 17 but faded after chasing Rock and Glory for a half-mile in the $75,000 City of Edmonton Distaff Handicap, also at 1 1/16 miles.
She certainly benefited when Rock and Glory got off to a poor start in the Madamoiselle, and she thrived running over a track that had a lot of moisture in it.
Smile Again Theta drew the outside post in the seven-horse field and could be tough to get past if she can clear early with Tony Maragh retaining the mount.
Saint Sassy Sue also has speed and likely will show it in her first route attempt this year.
KEY CONTENDERS
OPTIONAL CLAIMER (RACE 4)
Queenoftheforest (Last 3 Beyers: 65-70-52)
◗ Trained by Greg Tracy, she used her good speed to win her last three races by a combined 18 3/4 lengths.
◗ She will be making her first start since she romped in the $49,000 Sales Stakes on July 1.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years at Northlands, Tracy has a 30 percent strike rate with horses coming back from a layoff of 31 to 60 days.
Shanali (Last 3 Beyers: 38-32-47)
◗ Trained by Tim Rycroft, this will be her first start since she won the $49,000 Sales Stakes for 2-year-old fillies more than a year ago, so she might need a race before she’s ready for her best.
◗ Rycroft scratched her out of a tougher spot on Wednesday to run here.
OPTIONAL CLAIMER (RACE 6)
Smile Again Theta (Last 3 Beyers: 51-78-53)
◗ She will either be the one they have to catch or she could get a nice trip sitting just off Saint Sassy Sue.
Brady’s Tomboy (Last 3 Beyers: 59-56-55)
◗ She is trending in the right direction for trainer Dale Saunders and could pick up the pieces if Smile Again Theta and Saint Sassy Sue get carried away up front.