Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: General Banker rounding back into top form
Aqueduct | Race 2 | Post Time 1:09 p.m. (ET)
This allowance drew a small but competitive field where all five runners are in with a strong chance. Linda Rice holds a strong hand, sending out the bookends of this field. El Grande O (#5) has to be considered the horse to beat after he ran down stablemate Acoustic Ave (#1) when they met on Oct. 9, despite the fact that the pace was slow and the winner had to make up ground into a fast closing split. El Grande O disappointed when he stepped back up into stakes company last time, but he was pinned down on the rail for much of his trip and seemed to get discouraged by the time he finally found running room. He can rebound now that he finally draws outside after being stuck with the rail post in each start since returning from a layoff this summer.
Baby Yoda (#2) once would have been a heavy favorite in a spot like this, but he has questions to answer after regressing in two stakes attempts since getting claimed by Rob Falcone. He's getting class relief here, but I'm concerned that he appears to have lost the early speed he once possessed. Former stablemate Bold Journey (#3) ran well to beat a couple of these rivals at the same level on Dec. 27, but he is a confirmed closer who may not get the pace setup he requires.
My top pick is General Banker (#4), who finished third in that Dec. 27 race that a couple of others exit. It was a significant improvement upon his return against stakes company, a race that he obviously needed coming off a layoff. This horse hasn't sprinted as short as six furlongs very often during his career, but he did respond well to a turnback in distance last time. He arguably could have won that race if he had been able to find a clear running lane in the stretch. He was locked in the pocket behind runners into the lane and had to alter course in traffic in the final furlong. He galloped out in front of the whole field after the wire, suggesting he had more to give. I think he can put it all together third off the layoff.