Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Ocean Ripple better than prior turf results suggest

Belmont at the Big A | Race 5 | Post Time 3:34 p.m. (ET)

I have some doubts about the horse I pegged as the morning-line favorite in this maiden claimer on turf. Fraudster (#3) is making her first start for a tag after racing in a series of maiden special weight events for Todd Pletcher, and horses with this profile generally attract support. However, I don't like the steady decline in her form, and the fact she totally lost her early speed when trying to sprint last time. I'm more interested in others with turf form.

Key Actress (#6) and Magnum's Microbrst (#5) faced off a trio of times last summer at Saratoga, and Key Actress finished just ahead of Magnum’s Microbrst on all each occasion. Both went off form at the end of their seasons, but Magnum's Microbrst did get things back on track when she returned from a layoff earlier this month. She can improve again second off the layoff, but I do still prefer Key Actress. She tried sprinting on synthetic late last season, but now she's returning to what she does best following a freshening. She might just be the best horse in this field.

The filly I want to bet is Ocean Ripple (#2), who looks slower than her main rivals at first glance. However, she has had a series of excuses in her turf races. She faced some tough fields early on in her career, and ran better than it looks when closing into a slow pace at Gulfstream in March of 2025. She subsequently missed time and didn't get back on turf until last month at Churchill. She only finished sixth, but she ran a lot better than that result would suggest. She was keen early in traffic and had to alter course while never really in position to stride until it was too late. She's dangerous shipping to New York for David Jacobson.