Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Sky Full of Stars is an intriguing new face in River Memories

Belmont Park | Race 7 | Post Time 4:45 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up now

Following the scratch of Gaining, as well as a number of others who will instead compete in the Robert Dick Memorial at Delaware, this race has changed considerably.

Sempter Sententiae (#4) should now go off as one of the favorites, and she is as solid as they come. She always seems to show up with a top effort, but she’s starting to collect a few too many minor awards. She was obviously no match for that formidable Chad Brown duo last time, and the stretch-out will help her, but I’m just not sure I trust her to win.

Scottish Jig (#10) also figures to get some attention in her second U.S. start for Bill Mott. She was visually impressive last time, but that was a significantly weaker field. She also had everything her own way up front, and I’m not totally convinced this daughter of Speightstown will relish 1 1/2 miles.

I’m using both of these, but my top pick is SKY FULL OF STARS (#12). This 5-year-old mare had gotten quite good last summer in Germany, taking down a Group 2 event in her final start over there. She seemed to improve on the stretch-out to 12 furlongs, and she ran an enterprising race that day, leading throughout while turning away multiple challenges. She never had a chance to use her tactical speed when taken back behind a slow pace in the E.P. Taylor last time, and now she’s been off for a long time since. She appears to be training well for this return, and I could see Jose Ortiz getting aggressive from this outside draw.

THE PLAY

Win: 12

Exacta Key Box: 12 with 2,4,5,10

Trifecta: 12 with 4,10 with 2,4,5,10