Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Ribot’s Valentine should get better trip from outside draw
Saratoga | Race 3 | Post Time 2:20 p.m. (ET)
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This statebred optional claimer centers around Khali Magic (#3), who would be awfully tough to beat if she repeats her last race. That day she defeated an open-company field which included the talented Cupid’s Heart, though that filly was coming off a layoff. Khali Magic took advantage of a paceless race where she was able to dominate on the front end, but that seems unlikely to happen here with a couple of speeds drawn to her outside. She’s typically best when she can be forwardly placed, and she’s shown farther back on the TimeformUS Pace Projector.
The two fillies shown leading on the Pace Projector, Silver Fist (#4) and Fancy Joke (#5), hooked up last time out on July 7. Silver Fist was aggressively ridden to secure the lead that day, but had to run very fast to do so. Her 144 pace figure for the opening quarter was unreasonably fast and she paid the price late. Even Fancy Joke ended up fading off the board in a race that went to closers. This time I doubt they hook up to quite the same extent, and Silver Fist does have past races that give her a chance at a price.
My top pick is the filly who I think is likely to pull the best trip. Ribot’s Valentine (#6) is perfectly positioned on the Pace Projector, stalking outside those two speeds. This filly ran a few races as a 3-year-old that make her competitive with this field. She obviously tailed off a bit over the winter, and needed that race going a mile when she returned from a layoff in June. Yet she got back on track last time, running deceptively well to be third against a tough rival at this level. She tried to take on the winner Imhavingamoment, who has been in excellent form lately. Yet Ribot’s Valentine was racing on the rail throughout on a day where the inside path was not the place to be. I think she’s better than that performance indicates, and now looks ready to step forward again for Ray Handal.