Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Mom’s a Cougar should love the switch to turf

Belmont | Race 2 | Post Time 2:01 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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I'm just not enamored with any of the runners coming out of the Aug. 30 turf sprint at this level. May Flowers (#3) probably put in the best performance given the dynamics of that race. She always shows up with her reliable late run, but she so rarely seems to make it to the winner’s circle. The other horse that ran reasonably well in that race was R Lucky Charm (#1), who was one or two paths off the rail throughout, and did well to hang on for third while never really threatening for a higher placing. I don’t know what to do with Avery Maeve (#10), who was a major disappointment last time. She did have some minor trouble on the far turn, but she could just be tailing off after running well earlier in the summer.

I want a new face, so I'm taking a shot with MOM’S A COUGAR (#9).

This mare handled a sloppy, sealed track last time in her first start for new trainer Abel Castellano, and proficiency on that kind of surface is sometimes indicative of turf ability. There is also pedigree evidence to suggest she'll appreciate this surface switch. Her dam never won on grass but may have been best on that surface, and this mare is a half-sister to Mom's On Strike, who is stakes-placed on turf. Furthermore, Mom's On Strike is by the relatively poor turf sire First Dude, whereas Mom's a Cougar is by 15 percent turf sire Kantharos.

THE PLAY

Win: 9

Exacta Key Box: 9 with 1,3,10,11

Trifecta: 9 with 1,3 with 1,3,10,11