Tracy trio formidable in Redtail Landing

Leading trainer Greg Tracy is expecting strong efforts from Ruffenuff, C U At Eau Claire, and Raider in the $50,000 Redtail Landing Handicap on Sunday at Century Mile. That isn’t good news for the connections of the four other horses entered in the seven-furlong dash for fillies and mares.

The Redtail Landing goes as race 7 on the eight-race card that begins at 1:45 p.m. Mountain. Sharing the spotlight is the $50,000 Spangled Jimmy Handicap for 3-year-olds and up. Also at seven furlongs, the Spangled Jimmy drew six horses and goes as race 4.

In the order mentioned above, the Tracy trio finished one-two-three in the six-furlong Jet Set on May 20 at Century. C U at Eau Claire set the pace, Ruffenuff chased her before taking over late, and Raider came from a stalking position.

“They are all doing great,” Tracy said. “With Cry Uncle in the field there should be more speed in the race, which may help Raider.”

Raider also will be racing without blinkers for the first time in her 15-race career. Three of her six wins have come going a middle distance, and the only time she went seven furlongs she finished second to Escape Clause, who is the third choice on the morning line at 9-2 in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park on Belmont Day.

“I think the added distance will also help Raider,” Tracy said. “Not sure how much of a difference taking the blinkers off will make, but she trains without them and we just want her to have a better look at what’s going on around her.”

Ruffenuf will likely be favored when she breaks from post 4 with Dane Nelson aboard. C U at Eau Claire will use her good speed leaving from the rail with Quincy Welch riding. Raider breaks from post 2 with Prayven Badrie riding her for the first time.

An honest pace would help the Monica Russell-trained Anstrum, who ships in from Hastings following a third-place finish in a $20,000 claiming race on May 18. Last year, she rallied over a track rated good to win the one-mile John Patrick at Northlands Park.

Trooper John will be a short price to win the Spangled Jimmy.

Trained by Tim Rycroft, he came from a stalking position to win the $50,000 Journal on May 20 and should get a similar trip in the Spangled Jimmy with Wilmer Galviz retaining the mount.

The main threat appears to be the Rycroft-trained Stone Carver, who has improved dramatically in two races at Century Mile. In his last start, he romped by 6 1/2 lengths over Killin Me Smalls going 5 1/2 furlongs in an optional $35,000 claiming race on May 26.

The classy Killin Me Smalls, trained by Ernie Keller, figures to move forward in his second start of the year. Among Killin Me Smalls’s 21 wins are victories in the Grade 3 Premier’s at Hastings in 2015 and 2016.