Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Powerfully Built gets appropriate class relief
Saratoga | Race 9 | Post Time 5:34 p.m. (ET)
TimeformUS PPs are now available on drf.com. Go to shop.drf.com and use coupon code NYRATF23 to get one free TimeformUS card.
This $50k claimer looks totally wide open, as no one stands on particularly solid ground and you can build a case for almost every runner in the field. A few of these faced off in a July 14 race at this level last time, won by Thinkaboutit (#6) at 20-1. There was nothing fluky about that win, as he overcome some minor traffic at the half-mile pole, steadying briefly before launching his rally. He’s going to be a much shorter price this time as he goes for a repeat victory, but he does have some back class to support his recent win. Happy Farm (#5) is perhaps the most trustworthy runner from that July 14 affair, since he has a strong body of work at or above this level. He doesn’t win that often, and I didn’t see him have a major excuse last time, only pausing briefly in that same incident where Thinkaboutit was steadied. At a short price, I'm willing to look elsewhere.
Wendell Fong (#9) is another runner with back class who looks to get back on track for a new barn. Ray Handal does well with new acquisitions, and this 7-year-old has plenty of races that fit against this field. He just needs some pace to develop to have his best chance.
I'm not sure what to do with Prisoner (#2) as he ships in from Monmouth. He’s learned to rate in recent starts for Charlton Baker, whereas he had previously been a run-off speedball. However, the TimeformUS Race Ratings suggest he might actually be stepping up in class despite moving back into claiming company, as this race came up pretty salty.
My top pick is a horse who finished ahead of Prisoner two back. Powerfully Built (#3) really blossomed after getting claimed by Jack and Ron Abrams for just $16k last year, improving his speed figures while winning three of his first five starts for the new barn. He regressed last time out when stepped up into a tougher allowance race, but he didn’t get the best trip that day. He broke well, but Paco Lopez elected to rate him from the inside post, and he got shuffled back to last before getting awkwardly shifted to the far outside. He’s better than that, but probably needs the slight class relief he gets this time. He fits at this level and may be a fair price for connections that aren’t as familiar as some others in this race.