Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Commerce Comet better than last effort suggests
Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 3:10 p.m. (ET)
This $32k claimer is one of the most competitive races on the card, lacking a clear favorite. Perhaps the public will go for Natural Harbor (#4) as he seeks to win his second in a row for the Brad Cox barn. This colt has prior races that make him a strong fit at this level, but he went off form earlier this year and then failed to show up when claimed by Fernando Abreu at Saratoga. Brad Cox claimed him at this level and dropped him in for $20k last time, which seemed to restore his confidence as he dominated that field on the front end. He’s best when he can be forwardly placed, but he doesn’t figure to get an easy lead here with other speed signed on.
Squire Creek (#6) might be the quickest of them all early, but he’s exiting a disappointing performance as the favorite where he got to set a moderate pace over a track that was favoring inside speed. Even with those advantages, he still lost to today’s rival Secret Rules (#8). That 7-year-old gelding makes his first start off the claim for Rudy Rodriguez after getting back into form for the Michelle Giangiulio barn. He won at this level over the summer, and was compromised by a wide trip last time. Rudy Rodriguez has gotten off to a strong start at this meet, and the outside draw should work for this horse’s style.
Chief Ron (#1) is an interesting new face on this circuit after facing starter allowance and optional claiming fields at Delaware. He won three in a row this spring, but has settled for minor awards in his last few starts. However, he has kept good company in those races, beaten twice by the talented Spikezone this summer. Michelle Nevin doesn’t have particularly compelling statistics off the claim, but this horse should benefit from any pace that develops.
My top pick is Commerce Comet (#7). He was defeated by a couple of today’s rivals at this level last time, but the trip just didn’t work out for him. He wasn’t aggressively handled away from the gate and got shuffled out of position in the first furlong. He’s a horse who generally does his best running up towards the front end, but he was forced to adapt to a closing trip last time. He raced in traffic for much of his journey, but was finishing with good interest when angled to the far outside in the stretch. That effort suggests he’s maintaining the good form that he displayed against weaker company two back. Now he makes his first start off the claim for Rick Dutrow, who has had success with this move. Drawing towards the outside should help him get a better trip this time.