Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Funny Kid heading into Belmont Gold Cup in career form

Belmont Park | Race 10 | Post Time 5:46 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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We’ll see who ends up taking money in this perplexing race. Generally, I’m somewhat against the Americans and want the new faces shipping in from Europe.

Call to Mind (#1) is the horse with obviously strong European form, having twice finished in the money at the Group 2 level going marathon distances. Stradivarius, who defeated him in the Yorkshire Cup last time, is one of the best stayers in Europe, so it’s no disgrace that Call to Mind lost to him by three lengths. This lightly raced, royally owned colt seems to be heading in the right direction.

At a slightly better price, I prefer FUNNY KID (#4), who has turned into a new horse this year. Despite not distinguishing himself through more than a dozen starts in his first two seasons of racing, Funny Kid has come alive since he’s been stretched out to true marathon distances. He had been doing it over synthetic surfaces, but he proved himself on turf last time, defeating the talented Ice Breeze, who had won against Group 1 company going this distance last season.

The only horse with American form whom I want to throw into the mix is Canessar (#5). His last race at Keeneland is better than it seems given the lack of pace, and he had previously run well in marathons in France. Beyond these, it looks wide open. I could even make a mild case for a third European, Prince of Arran (#3), who had been keeping much stronger company throughout much of last season.

THE PLAY

Win: 4

Exacta Box: 1,4,5

Trifecta: 4 with 1,3,5 with 1,3,5,6,8,10