Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Ocean Vision brings solid French form to Hall of Fame
Saratoga | Race 8 | Post Time 5:08 p.m. (ET)
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This Hall of Fame has been brought back from last Friday’s canceled races and still features the same likely favorite, More Than Looks (#1), who exits a victory in the Grade 3 Manila. He got the setup that he needs that day, as they went quickly up front and he was able to settle at the back after his typical tardy start. More Than Looks deserves credit for producing such a strong finish through the stretch, but the leaders were starting to come back to him in that last furlong. I’m a fan of this improving colt, but I think last time was the time to have him.
With this race being redrawn, his main rival, Chad Brown-trained Carl Spackler (#2), benefits significantly from his new post position. He disappointed as the favorite in the American Turf last time, but he did get a three-wide trip without cover in a race that went to closers. I expect him to run better here, but I still don’t fully trust him at a short price. Behind Enemy Lines (#3) didn’t run as well that day, but I thought he showed some improvement last time in the Penn Mile, making an early wide move on the far turn before getting overhauled by the favored winner who got a better trip. However, that race hasn’t come back as strong as the speed figure assigned to it.
Brown’s other horse Appraise (#5) merits consideration in a race that features a murky pace scenario. He ran well to beat older runners off the layoff last time and may be able to handle this distance now that he’s had some time to mature.
My top pick is Ocean Vision (#4). This colt has the kind of European running lines that may get overlooked, especially since he’s already had plenty of chances and isn’t going out for a household name trainer. However, he seemed to really improve with the switch to France last year and then again with added distance this season. I liked the way he finished off that stakes at Longchamp in May, albeit after getting a very good trip. Then last time, he was always outrun in a Group 3 event. Yet that’s proven to be a strong race, as runner-up Good Guess came back to win the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat in his next start, and winner Breizh Sky was third in that same Group 1. He figures to fly under the radar with Trevor McCarthy now taking the mount, but I think he can get the right trip here at a fair price.