Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Kerry gets back to what she does best

Belmont at the Big A | Race 3 | Post Time 2:05 p.m. (ET)

Beautiful Thief (#2) figures to go favored here on the basis of her two turf victories last season. She earned TimeformUS Speed Figures of 108 and 103 for those efforts, which are two of the highest numbers in this field. However, she is coming off a substantial layoff and stepping into much tougher company after beating a subpar first-level allowance field last time. George Weaver does have very good statistics with returnees like this in turf sprints, but you still have to swallow a short price on a horse coming off an extended layoff.

Miguel Clement sends out a pair of contenders in this spot. Strictly Taboo (#4) actually defeated the favorite when winning a maiden race at Saratoga last year and followed that up with another victory going 5 1/2 furlongs. However, she threw in a clunker when last seen and now returns from a layoff. It's a good sign that Joel Rosario retains the mount, but she has some things to prove.

I prefer Marco T. (#1) between these two Clement entrants. She tried this level a couple of times on turf last season and finished second twice to stakes winner Mz Big Bucks and Golden Rocket. She then wintered in Florida, making just one start down there, staying on belatedly over a distance that may be too short for her. She's better at six furlongs and will benefit from any pace that develops.

My top pick is Kerry (#6), who is getting back to what she does best – sprinting on turf in New York. She's tried various surfaces and distances over her career, but all of her best races have come in turf sprints on this circuit, and she's been especially successful going six furlongs at Aqueduct. Her best form was achieved for Joe Sharp, but I don't want to be too hard on her for a pair of Florida flops since switching into Mike Maker's barn. She faced tougher company down there at the wrong distances. She should be able to get better forward position in this spot, and that's usually when she runs her best races.