Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: No Regard finally gets to go long on turf

Aqueduct | Race 6 | Post Time 4:00 p.m. (ET)

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There’s plenty of guesswork to be done with horses trying turf for the first time in this $40k maiden claimer for New York-breds. Christophe Clement sends out a pair of runners, of which Myles (#9) could attract more support. The 4-year-old gelding didn’t do much running in his career debut, but that was on the dirt and he has much more of a turf pedigree. He’s by good grass influence Creative Cause and is out of a three-time turf winning dam who produced nice turf runner Quiet Out East. I don’t expect him to be any kind of big price, but he’s a contender.

I also think the horse drawn directly to his outside is a little interesting. October Bliss (#10) is by Destin, who hasn’t had any success as a turf sire just yet. However, there’s plenty of pedigree on the dam’s side. Second dam May Night was a multiple Grade 2-placed turf performer, and the dam is a half-sister to Grade 2 Bowling Green winner Red Rifle.

Another horse trying grass for the first time who seems like a candidate to improve on turf is Volcker Rules (#7). David Donk has had success in races like this at Aqueduct over the years, and this colt has some pedigree deep in his female family that suggests turf inclination. His dam is by Data Link and is produced from the same family as good turf horses like Doswell and Secretary At War.

My top pick is a horse who actually has some turf experience, though he didn’t make much of an impression in that lone grass start. No Regard (#1) was a little chilly on the board when he debuted last year and never really got involved after racing sluggishly in the early stages. Yet he gave off the vibes of one who might want more ground that day. He subsequently showed some affinity for going longer at this level on dirt in November before heading to the sidelines. Now he returns in a proper spot, routing on turf, while also going out as a new gelding. I find it encouraging that John Terranova gives the mount to Samy Camacho, with whom he has had success at Tampa.