Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Dr. Sinatra should appreciate outside draw in second start

Aqueduct | Race 6 | Post Time 2:40 p.m. (ET)

There appears to be some quality among this group of 7 new 3-year-olds vying to win a maiden race on Saturday. Right to Party (#5) may go favored as he exits a very fast race for the level when chasing home the talented duo of Iron Honor and Crossingthechannel. The latter runner returned to break through last week with a solid speed figure. Right to Party ran like one who probably needed the race, lacking early speed before staying on well for third. He's bred to stretch out for a barn that has had great success with its youngsters over the last year.

I'm not as optimistic about Felonious (#3), who figures to also attract support. He did improve getting on dirt for Todd Pletcher last time, but I wonder how much further improvement there could be with this third-time starter. He was facing a bunch of first-time starters last time, and his experience won't be as much of an advantage here.

Good Illusion (#1) is another making the third start of his career, but I think he has a little more upside as he makes his second start off a layoff. He clearly needed his debut at Saratoga in that fast race won by It's Our Time. He failed to make much of an impact in his return last time, but the slow pace of that affair did him no favors, and that was a fairly strong field. I would expect him to show a bit more speed this time.

My top pick is second-time starter Dr. Sinatra (#7), who just missed second on debut behind the experienced Hedge Ratio. Dr. Sinatra broke from an inside post and didn't get the most comfortable trip. He tried to run up on heels early and had to be taken under a hard hold while rating behind the moderate pace. I liked the way he never backed out of that position and found an extra gear once he found room along the rail in upper stretch. This son of Speightstown has plenty of route pedigree on his dam's side and looks like one who should appreciate stretching out. I also expect him to get into a better early rhythm from this outside post. John Terranova is 8 for 48 (17%, $2.02 ROI) with maiden second-time starters on dirt over 5 years.