Beer: Aqueduct horses to watch for week of Feb. 5, 2018
Beer: Aqueduct horses to watch for week of Feb. 5, 2018
Mike BeerFeb 07, 2018
Beer: Aqueduct horses to watch for week of Feb. 5, 2018
Free: Santa Anita horses to watch for week of Feb. 5, 2018
Each week, TimeformUS Chief Figure Maker Craig Milkowski takes a look back at the weekend’s graded stakes and releases the TimeformUS Speed Figures for these races.
Trip notes by Michael Hammersly for stakes races run on February 3-4.
In his first start around two turns, first start outside of New York, and in his stakes debut, Audible stepped up his game with a runaway victory while producing a strong 99 Beyer Speed Figure three months out from the Derby.
AVERY ISLAND made his 3-year-old debut a winning one and now has won three times in his last four starts, but for me, this race confirmed two opinions held dear for months – Catholic Boy is one of the best Derby prospects, and FIRENZE FIRE is not cut out for the Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles.
On paper, this looked like a subpar Derby prep – seven of the nine runners were eligible for a first-level allowance race, and the other two were maidens – and it played out that way, with the race receiving a figure suitable to a first-level allowance as LOMBO, making his first try around two turns after three sprints, led from start to finish.
What you think of Saturday’s developments on the road to the Kentucky Derby probably depends on what you make of Audible’s big score in the Holy Bull Stakes.
TimeformUS handicapper David Aragona provides his Highlight Horse for Sunday's card at Aqueduct.
Selections for Sunday's card at Sha Tin.