Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Acoustic Ave can build upon impressive debut

Saratoga | Race 7 | Post Time 4:29 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

Andiamo a Firenze (#5), the younger three-quarter-brother to Grade 1 winner Firenze Fire figures to go off as a heavy favorite in this Funny Cide. He was rumored to be a good one on debut and did not disappoint, blasting out of the gate to establish command before sailing clear in the stretch under minimal urging. He got a real class test when thrown in a tough spot in the Grade 3 Sanford and put in another fine effort. He sat just off a solid pace and simply got leg weary in the final furlong. My problem is that I don’t love the stretch-out in distance for him, especially in a race that appears to feature plenty of other speed.

Some may try to pick him up late with the closer Donegal Surges (#4), but that debut winner needs to get significantly faster in his second start.

I’m most interested in ACOUSTIC AVE (#1) as the alternative to the favorite. He’s another who took plenty of money on debut and delivered, setting a fast pace before drawing off through the lane. He earned a 92 TimeformUS Speed Figure for that performance, upgraded a bit due to the fast pace. That’s comparable with what the favorite has accomplished, and I think this guy is more likely to take a step forward. He’s been working that way, besting stablemate Song Parody (Race 1 on Friday) in his recent drills for this. This owner-trainer combination has won this race with the likes of Senbei and City Man in recent years, and I think they may have another Funny Cide winner in the barn after Friday.

THE PLAY

WIN: #1 Acoustic Ave, at 9-5 or greater