Tracy has two for Northlands claiming sprint

Leading trainer Greg Tracy has two solid shots at winning the eighth race at Northlands Park on Wednesday with Montana Skies and Gonebeyond. The $15,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up who have never won two races headlines the first midweek card of the year at Northlands. Post time for the first of nine races is 6:30 p.m. Mountain.

Gonebeyond likely will be favored in the six-furlong sprint due to the presence of leading rider Rico Walcott. The Louisiana-bred son of Forefathers opened up a clear lead in his first start of the year in a similar race, and after taking a five-length advantage into the stretch, he tired to finish second. He could be tough to catch with a race behind him, and over the past five years, Tracy has a 30 percent strike rate with horses making their second start following a layoff.

There is other speed in the field, however, and if a duel develops, the race could set up nicely for Montana Skies and jockey Scott Williams. Williams is having a strong meet as the second-leading rider with 17 wins, five behind Walcott and seven in front of Jorge Espitia and Shannon Beauregard.

Montana Skies came from a stalking position to win a $20,000 maiden-claiming race April 13 at Turf Paradise, then couldn’t keep up with Gross Misconduct when finishing third in a first-level allowance race May 3 at Northlands. Abeel, who finished 13 lengths behind Gross Misconduct while checking in second, came back to win a first-level allowance race May 17.

The 4-year-old Lucky Ed rallied to finish third in the same race that Gonebeyond exits and could be dangerous if they get carried away early. Trained by Ernie Keller, Lucky Ed’s lone win came in a maiden special weight race last Aug. 23 at Northlands. He could be ready for a peak effort in the third start of his current form cycle.

Taxi Joe and Big Gun Touch have speed and could soften up Gonebeyond.

Sunny Creek came from a stalking position to win an $8,000 maiden-claiming race April 12 at Golden Gate Fields. He ran well when he debuted on dirt at Sacramento last year, so he shouldn’t mind the surface switch following three straight races on Tapeta.

◗ According to officials at Northlands, apprentice jockey Ryan Husbands is out indefinitely after seriously breaking a leg when the horse he was riding, Frosty Legend, hit the rail in the eighth race Saturday.