Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Shippy deserves another chance on turf in Coronation Cup
Saratoga | Race 9 | Post Time 5:46 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up
There are many viable contenders in this wide-open Coronation Cup. A few of these exit the Lady Shipman from last month at Belmont Park, in which She’s My Type (#9) arguably ran the best race. She was very wide on the far turn and did well to close for second. Yet she could go favored here as it seems Christophe Clement’s runners have been getting overbet, and I’m not totally convinced less distance will suit her.
Miss J McKay (#4) finished behind She’s My Type and winner Bredenbury (#6) in the Lady Shipman, but I won’t be surprised if she’s able to turn the tables here. This filly showed a lot of ability sprinting on turf last year and ran deceptively well to just miss in the Stewart Manor at Aqueduct. She was a little flat in her return, but she certainly has a right to take a step forward.
Wesley Ward sends out Artie’s Princess and Karak, both of whom are legitimate contenders. Artie’s Princess (#8) figures to attract some attention, having won 3 of 4 starts in Canada. She ran a legitimately fast speed figure to win her return race on Woodbine’s synthetic course. Yet it’s rarely a good gamble to bet horses trying a new surface for the first time at short prices.
I want to go in a different direction with longshot SHIPPY (#5). This filly showed true sprint ability right from the start last year in her Laurel Park debut, prompting her to go favored in the Schuylerville. She’s primarily raced on dirt during her career, but her lone turf try at Gulfstream over the winter is better than it seems. She lost some momentum following a longshot into the stretch and hit her best stride late before galloping out impressively. I think it’s interesting that George Weaver has been intent on switching her to grass and she could fly under the radar in this competitive field.
THE PLAY
Win/Place: 5
Exacta Key Box: 5 with 4,6,8,9
Trifecta: 5 with 4,9 with 4,6,8,9