Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Khaleesi Kat looks dangerous off the claim

Belmont Park | Race 4 | Post Time 2:34 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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The Pace Projector is predicting a situation that favors runners on or near the lead, which should work to the advantage of Flattermefabulous (#2) and Zeven (#4). Of those two, I prefer Flattermefabulous, who ran well to win three back at Saratoga, and may have not cared for the rain-softened turf course last time. She doesn’t need the lead to win, and has run plenty of races that would make her formidable here. Zeven is a little harder for me to trust, given that she worked out an absolutely perfect trip when she won two back.

I'm a little concerned that she's not going to get enough pace to close into in this spot, but I have to bet KHALEESI KAT (#8) off her last trip. That day, she broke a step slowly from the outside post position, and was hung out wide for her entire trip. Rather than attempting to save ground at the back of the pack, Jose Lezcano, sensing a slow pace developing ahead of him, made a premature move down the backstretch to get Khaleesi Kat into a contending position. However, in doing so she had to race three-wide around the turn in a race that was won by a horse that came up the rail. Now she's getting some class relief off that effort and returns to Belmont Park, where she's been successful in the past. She’s also making her first start for Linda Rice, who gets a 100 Trainer Rating first off the claim.

At a big price, I also want to throw in Free N Clear (#1). She’s difficult to trust after running off with her rider in her last two starts, but if she can stay covered up and wait to produce her run, she could be a player here.

THE PLAY

Win: 8

Exacta Key Box: 8 with 1,2,4

Trifecta: 8 with 1,2 with 1,2,4