Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 5:08 p.m. (ET) Kinetic Sky (#4) may not have won the Queens County going this distance in late December, but you could argue he ran the best race that day. He was contesting an honest early pace and battled back gamely through the stretch in a race won from behind by Crupi. He subsequently disappointed as the favorite cutting back in the Toboggan, but he was wide against a rail bias on that occasion. He bounced back last time in the slop, winning the Stymie narrowly over a couple of today’s rivals. This horse really seems to relish that one-turn mile trip, but he showed three back in that game Queens County performance that he can handle two turns. He is in razor-sharp form right now and can work out his own good trip given his versatile style. Rick Dutrow’s other entrant, Messier (#5), is also intriguing at what is likely to be a better price. He was as talented a 3-year-old as any in his crop early in 2022, producing a massive 128 TimeformUS Speed Figure when winning the Robert B. Lewis by 15 lengths. Yet he disappointed in the Kentucky Derby and subsequently went off form. He hasn’t won a race in over two years, but now he’s with Dutrow. He got back on dirt last time at Laurel for the new barn, and caught a sloppy track. That surface featured a strong rail bias, and this horse did well to make the first move into a fast pace while racing three wide throughout, as the winner snuck up the rail. He might be rounding back into form, and that bullet 46-flat drill on March 19 offers further hope of that. The consistent Olympic Dreams (#6) also merits consideration. You have to respect this gelding’s fortitude. He holds up well to a pretty rigorous racing schedule and, aside from a couple of disappointing efforts last fall, he’s generally been consistent since hitting peak form around this time last year. Those attributes provide some confidence that he can handle wheeling back on short rest, returning just nine days after winning an allowance/optional claimer last week. He was his typical gritty self in victory that day, but he did get a favorable pace setup. My top pick is Quality Chic (#7), who exits that same March 21 event. He was a bit chilly on the board that day, and was mildly disappointing checking in fourth. However, that was race was dominated up front and he never had great position rating behind the speeds. Isaac Castillo tried to angle him out between horses in the stretch but he got shut off, and the horse lost the momentum needed to win. He was at his best two back in the Stymie when allowed to race in an uncharacteristic forward position, leading into deep stretch before getting nailed by Kinetic Sky at the wire. It's not as if that came out of nowhere, as he also produced strong stakes form in the Queens County going this distance. He’s clearly capable on his best day, and he rarely gets the respect he deserves on the tote board.