Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 4:18 p.m. (ET)   This allowance/optional claiming race appears to be particularly wide open. Cascais (#7) could go favored again despite disappointing as the public choice when he returned from a layoff at this level in February. This runner posted some impressive speed figures when competing in early 2024, but he lacked his typical early speed and backed up through the pack when he resurfaced following a nine-month layoff last time. The good news for him is that there doesn’t appear to be as much speed signed on in this spot, and the TimeformUS Pace Projector is predicting that he should be quick enough to make the lead in a neutral pace scenario. He does figure to have some company up front, however, and I’m not keen to swallow a short price on a horse who still has to prove he can get back to top form.   The other Chad Brown runner, Expected Value (#1), was a much bigger price than Cascais when they met in that Feb. 8 affair, but he outran his 15-1 odds to get up for fifth, only beaten 2 lengths. A relatively slow pace did him no favors, but he still closed powerfully from last to pass over half the field. He was much more effective in that spot than he had been in his first start off a layoff, so perhaps he can continue on his upward trajectory here. He will just have to do so in a race that may not set up perfectly for him once again.   The hard-knocking General Banker (#3) is always a solid contender in races like this. He doesn’t visit the winner’s circle very often, but he typically outruns his odds at this level, such as when he finished a close second at 17-1 behind the talented Yo Daddy going this distance two back. He doesn’t have to rally from as far back as Expected Value and actually finished ahead of that foe last time despite racing in some traffic. My top pick is Doc Sullivan (#8), who is stepping back into open company after facing New York-breds in most of his recent starts. He ran into a very nice foe in Bank Frenzy two back and was flattered when that rival returned to beat open company in the Stymie last week. Doc Sullivan almost held off that heavy favorite after carving out the fractions in the slop, earning a career-best 116 TimeformUS Speed Figure going this distance. A repeat of that performance would make him awfully tough against this group. Doc Sullivan wasn’t as effective last time in the Say Florida Sandy, but the trip didn’t work out for him. He was rated in the pocket along an inside path that was not the place to be on Feb. 15, and he lost position on the rail around the turn. However, he never threw in the towel and was staying on well for third when steered outside late. I like the outside draw, and Romero Maragh should be a good fit for a horse who benefits from an aggressive rider.