Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Duke of Gloucester set for step forward second off the layoff
Aqueduct | Race 2 | Post Time 1:39 p.m. (ET)
Masmak (#1) figures to go favored in this second-level allowance/optional claiming race after finishing a strong second in a tougher condition last time out. He got a pretty good trip in that spot, stalking along the inside early before closing into second while no match for the talented winner Ouster. This Rick Dutrow trainee has been in excellent form lately, but he still has something to prove stretching out to this two-turn route distance. He didn’t get ideal trips in his only two prior two-turn attempts as a younger horse, but he did seem to blossom when turned back in distance last summer. His pedigree suggests he should be a miler, and I’m skeptical that he’s going to run his best race over this longer distance.
Magical Ways (#5) is another entering this race in some of the best form of his career. He exits a solid fourth-place result against a tougher field than this at the same level last time, where he was picking up pieces at the end. Stretching back out to two turns should suit him since he has plenty of experience going longer. He finished ahead of last-out winner Yo Daddy at this distance two back. He just has to work out a trip in a race that doesn’t appear to feature much pace.
Summer Cause (#3) is the likely frontrunner as he tries this level again after never attaining his preferred forward position last time. He ran better than the result suggests two back when surviving a contested early pace and battling back for third behind a pair of closers who benefited from the race flow. The lack of speed in here should benefit him, as he’s likely to get a more aggressive ride with Romero Maragh hopping back aboard.
My top pick is Duke of Gloucester (#6), who looks like the best price of those I’m considering. He only beat one horse home in his return from the layoff last time, but that was a more encouraging performance than the bare result might indicate. That’s the same race Magical Ways exits, and they were meeting an extremely tough field for the level, the form validated when winner Yo Daddy came back to win impressively on Thursday. Duke of Gloucester was outrun early and lost contact with the main group around the far turn. However, he never stopped trying and was actually finishing with good interest across the wire while beaten less than seven lengths. I prefer him stretching back out to two turns where he can attain better early position. He faced some very tough fields last summer and now finds a realistic spot second off the layoff.