Trainer Greg Tracy off to hot start

Greg Tracy, the leading trainer at Northlands in 2014 and 2015, is well on his way to a third straight title. Tracy is on fire at the meet, which started last Friday. Through the first two days, the veteran trainer has won with half of his 20 starters. Another horse, Dickie Dunn, was an easy winner but was disqualified back to third for causing interference at the top of the stretch.

Most of Tracy’s winners have been favorites with a mean price of $5.25.

“One of the reasons I am off to a strong start is because of the waver claiming here,” said Tracy. “Some of my horses were running pretty cheaply at the end of last year’s meet, and they get to run back protected. I also had a lot of nice 2-year-olds that I didn’t get to run last year.”

Tracy is hoping to continue his hot streak when he runs four horses Friday night. Two are entered in an optional $25,000 claiming race for fillies and mares. He likes the 4-year-old Macho Babe over the 3-year-old Raise a Dancer in the six-furlong dash that drew six horses.

Macho Babe will be ridden by Dane Nelson. Quincy Welch rides Raise a Dancer.

Macho Babe is undefeated in two starts but hasn’t raced since she won the $50,000 Princess Margaret on July 26, 2014.

“Macho Babe is training well and should be fit enough,” said Tracy. “I might be wrong, though. Quincy had the choice of mounts, and he went with the 3-year-old.”

Raise a Dancer won twice last year and finished second in the $51,000 Bird of Pay. This will be her first start since she finished fifth in her only route attempt in the one-mile Freedom of the City on Oct. 23.

KEY CONTENDERS

Macho Babe, by Macho Uno

Last 2 Beyers: 78-46

◗ She showed tremendous speed in both of her front-running wins as a juvenile, and she may have tipped her hand when she worked a bullet five furlongs out of the gate April 29.

Saint Sassy Sue, by Saint Stephen

Last 3 Beyers: 39-7-5

◗ Trained by Ryan McLean, she tailed off in October, but she runs well fresh. The 2014 Alberta Oaks winner won her first two starts last year and has a solid set of works leading up to her initial start this season.

Holy Force, by Macho Uno

Last 3 Beyers: 48-60-66

◗ Trained by Tim Rycroft, she has speed but can stalk and should get a ground-saving trip from the inside post.