Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: King’s Honor should appreciate the turn-back in distance

Belmont | Race 5 | Post Time 3:07 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

Turned Aside’s (#5) debut was very encouraging, as he showed good early speed while chasing a fast pace. He looked loaded when in behind the leaders at the quarter pole, but he flattened out slightly once clear as the race fell apart late. Linda Rice is justifiably renowned for her excellent work with second-time starters, and she is 8 for 42 (19%, $2.09 ROI) with maidens making their second start in turf sprints. This colt has a right to be any kind, being by American Pharoah out of a dam who was graded stakes-placed on turf. I won’t be at all surprised when he takes a big step forward in his second start, but the same is true for the colt drawn just to his outside.

KING’S HONOR (#6) was quite keen through the early stages of his debut, but came under pressure around the far turn and could offer up no punch in the lane. Now he cuts back and gets blinkers for his second attempt, and there are some reasons to like this turn-back. European sire Kingman was best as a miler and a number of his progeny have excelled over sprint distances. His dam was unraced, but she is a half-sister to some decent runners, including a stakes-winning turf sprinter in Europe. Jonathan Thomas is a remarkable 12 for 24 (50%, $3.90 ROI) with second-time-starting maidens on turf over five years. Furthermore, the race he’s exiting may be stronger than some speed figures indicate due to the unusually slow pace that held back the final time. He adds blinkers for his second start and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him show improved speed going this distance.

The other runners to use are first-time starters. Jack and Noah (#4) is bred to be a turf sprinter and has been working well for Mark Casse, and Leading Factor (#9) has plenty of turf pedigree and goes out for a barn that has been sending some live runners to New York lately.

THE PLAY

Win: 6
Exacta Key Box: 6 with 4,5,9
Trifecta: 5,6 with 5,6 with 1,3,4,8,9