Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Corvus rounding into top form

Belmont at the Big A | Race 7 | Post Time 4:10 p.m. (ET)

Toscano (#3) figures to go favored here as he switches back to dirt after a turf experiment at Saratoga just 17 days ago. He actually put in a decent effort in that grass race, confirming that he's maintained strong form since the Mike Maker claim. He won convincingly going this distance on the dirt two back, but he was beating a weaker field on that occasion. He obviously makes sense in this spot, but he's pretty exposed and I didn't think he necessarily has to win this race at a short price.

I'm not a fan of the entry, especially if Jaa Mode (#1) is the one who pulls in most of the support. This feels like it's just a tightener to get this horse ready to stretch back out around two turns where he's had most of his success. I'm concerned that he will get outrun to the lead going this distance, and he's not one that really wants to pass horses. Three Captains (#1A) ran well stretching out at Monmouth last time in a race that came up about as tough as this one. He's just a little hard to trust based on his prior form.

Among the short prices, the horse I prefer is Dear Chairman (#6). He would clearly be a handful if able to reproduce his 12-length maiden victory over the same course and distance at which he earned a 102 TimeformUS Speed Figure. He was in over his head last time against open company in the Long Branch, but is now drawn well on the outside and is getting back to one turn. He's not the most trustworthy sort, but he's dangerous when he gets the right trip.

I don't think this is a particularly strong race for the level, so I want to give special consideration to Corvus (#5). He may finally be finding a field he can handle after going off at big prices against some pretty tough competition dating back to last year. He chased home stakes winners Sand Devil, Captain Cook, and Soontobeking as well as other talented rivals who are stronger than what he meets here. Corvus wasn't competitive in all of those races, but he usually finishes well and it feels like he's been rounding back into form over his last couple of starts. He placed himself closer to the early pace than usual last time out and stayed on gamely for second going a distance that may be too far for him. He now cuts back to a mile and adds Lasix for the first time for a barn that has had success with that move.