If jockey Tony Maragh made the right choice, Pros Or Joes has a good chance of winning Friday’s feature at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds drew eight horses running for a $12,500 claiming price.
Maragh had another option in Easy Whiskey, who is coming off of a win in a $15,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two Aug. 8.
Pros Or Joes, trained by Rod Cone, should appreciate the move back to a sprint and the easier company after setting the pace before fading to fourth in a one-mile race for $20,000 claimers Aug. 15.
He likes to be in front early, and in his lone win he went gate to wire in a maiden special weight sprint June 26. Pros Or Joes wasn’t able to make the lead in two subsequent starts, a first-level allowance race July 7 and a $20,000 claiming race July 21. In his latest race, Pros Or Joes opened up a five-length lead after the first quarter mile before giving way late.
Easy Whiskey also likes to be involved early, and after setting a moderate pace he was able to hold off next-out winner My Lucky Thirteen in his last start. Easy Whiskey earned a 70 Beyer Speed Figure for his win, which is the highest last-race figure in the field. Trained by Red Smith, Easy Whiskey will be carrying seven pounds less than he did in his win, with apprentice Kyle Carter taking over the mount.
There is other speed in the race with Seem’s to Be breaking from the rail. If a duel does develop it could set up nicely for Yankee Colonel, who is coming off of a third-place finish behind Standing High in a $13,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up Aug. 2.
