Bootless may have come up a little short when she made her Northlands Park debut in a $20,000 claiming race July 28. If that is the case, she could be hard to run down when she returns for the same price in Friday’s feature, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies that drew eight horses and goes as race 5.
Bootless set very fast fractions before tiring to finish fourth July 28 in her first start for trainer Robertino Diodoro, and it was her first race since she finished seventh in the $60,000 Goldfinch Stakes over a sloppy track at Prairie Meadows April 23. Bootless appears to have just one way of running in order to be successful. She led from start to finish when she won a $25,000 maiden race going a mile and 40 yards at the Fairgrounds last December and she broke on top and never looked back in her only other win, which came in a $30,000 nonwinners-of-two sprint at Oaklawn Park March 19.
Bootless drew inside the other speed in post 3, and with a clean break she figures to clear early with Jorge Carreno aboard.
Saint’s Echo, trained by Ronald Scott, has good speed but she is also versatile and could get a perfect stalking trip behind Bootless and possibly Nashville Nuggett. In her last start, Saint’s Echo sat just off of Bootless for the first half-mile, took the lead at the top of the stretch, and then was caught late by Oneforthecrew. She earned a 68 Beyer Speed Figure, which is by far the best last-race figure in the field.
Maria Fortunata will appreciate the easier company after finishing seventh in the $50,000 Northland Parks Oaks Aug. 2 for trainer Red Smith.
