Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Quality Chic can rebound at price in Stymie
Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 4:34 p.m. (ET)
There are many runners to consider in this intriguing renewal of the Stymie. Castle Chaos (#6) is probably the horse to beat as he opts for this spot instead of the Gulfstream Park Mile. He’s been in fantastic form over the course of his past three starts, including a strong third-place effort against a tough group in the Cigar Mile and a narrow loss last time in the Fred Hooper. I didn’t think he had any major excuse to lose the Hooper photo finish, but it was encouraging to see him maintain his form. I’m slightly bothered by the fact he only has registered one workout since then, a slow drill on Feb. 24, since he appeared to be on such a steady work pattern into that last start.
His main rival appears to be Petulante (#8), who returns from a layoff for new trainer Rick Dutrow. This horse had some issues following his victory in the Salvator Mile last summer at Monmouth. He’s been on a consistent work pattern recently, but it is worth noting that he was a vet scratch when entered in an allowance race last week. I wouldn’t make too much of that since he had a workout just two days later, so perhaps the connections just prefer this spot. He’s shown the ability to win here, and the one-turn mile suits him.
I also think Dutrow’s other runner Kinetic Sky (#1) is dangerous at what figures to be a better price than his stablemate. He didn’t have a fair chance in the Toboggan last time, since he was rated off the pace while traveling four wide on a day that the rail path was an advantage. He did angle inside in the stretch and closed well for third while no match for the gate-to-wire winner. He had previously finished a very game third in the Queens County two back, and this one-turn mile distance seems ideal for him.
My top pick is another horse coming out of the Queens County. Quality Chic (#7) actually finished just ahead of Kinetic Sky in that race as they were both defeated by Crupi, who returned to flatter that form when finishing third in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup. I thought this horse put in a strong effort that day, since he made a wide move on the far turn and did well to stay on late while making his first attempt against stakes company on dirt. That was two starts back, and he returned with a disappointing effort last time when dropping back into optional-claiming company. Yet I don’t want to hold that recent loss against him since he was always in a bad position that day. He got shuffled back and steadied into the clubhouse turn and was also inside over a sloppy track, which probably wasn’t the best place to be. I don’t mind him turning back in a race that is supposed to feature some pace, potentially helped by his speedy uncoupled stablemate.