Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Luck Money can take step forward with a better trip

Aqueduct | Race 5 | Post Time 1:52 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

Given the scratch of Water White, my original top pick is going to get bet down more than I had originally hoped. That horse, LUCK MONEY (#4), probably should be favored now as she ships up for Arnaud Delacour. This filly stretched out on turf in a pair of races in Kentucky recently, finishing second at Kentucky Downs before rallying for third at Keeneland. It’s that last start that interests me most, since I think she ran much better than her finish would indicate.

She went four wide around the first turn and proceeded to race wide thereafter, again losing ground around the far turn. According to Trakus, she ran 55 feet more than the winner and 63 feet more than the ground-saving runner-up. She arguably could have won that race with a better trip, and her TimeformUS Speed Figures in the mid-90s already make her good enough to contend here. She’s well bred as a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup winner Furthest Land out of a half-sister to millionaire Dynever, so I don’t think we’ve yet seen the best she has to offer.

I also want to include Ylikedis (#9) somewhere underneath. This Laurel shipper didn't get an ideal trip in her debut, as she was tucked down towards the inside in a race that featured an outside flow and had to navigate through traffic when unable to gain momentum in the stretch. In my opinion, she’s the one that you want out of that race.

THE PLAY

Win: 4

Exacta Key Box: 4 with 3,7,8,9

Trifecta: 4 with 7,9 with 1,3,5,7,8,9