Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Roman Goddess cuts back to ideal distance

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 4:06 p.m. (ET)

Grammy Girl (#6) is obviously the horse to beat off her narrow loss at this level last time. Her connections protected her when she returned from a layoff in a $40k conditioned claimer back in December, and she delivered a narrow victory over Spencer Tiara as the two drew well clear of the rest. The final time was almost unbelievably fast for the level, so the TimeformUS figuremaker made the race a breakout – indicated by the “b” notation next to the speed figure – which artificially lowers the final number. However, that might not have been the correct call in retrospect, as this filly and Spencer Tiara validated the fast clocking by coming right back to complete the exacta against a tougher field at this level last time. Grammy Girl’s TimeformUS Speed Figures are going to look a little light due to that breakout decision, but she’s obviously kept good company and is coming into this race in very sharp form. She also has a versatile stalking style that should help her work out a good trip.

I prefer her to main rival Patty Van Twinkle (#8), who achieved the highest TimeformUS Speed Figure in this field when earning a 105 against weaker $25k claimers last time. She got a very good trip, making an early move to take over and hugging the rail on a day when the inside path seemed to be a minor advantage. That was her first start off the claim for Mike Maker, but I still want to see her validate that performance against a better field.

Splashy (#7) should appreciate the slight turnback in distance after she tired going a mile against statebred allowance company last time. She beat a decent field when she broke her maiden two back, and that 96 TimeformUS Speed Figure stacks up well against those who have been competing at this level.

My top pick is Roman Goddess (#5). The obvious knock against her is the lack of recent victories, as she has lost 16 consecutive starts since winning two in a row in 2023. However, she has run well at this level on a number of occasions and appears to be in some of the best form of her career since getting claimed by Rudy Rodriguez. She ran very well at this distance on Oct. 20, making a strong late rally to get up for second behind the superior Princess Becca. Since then she hasn’t been as successful, but she was asked to stretch out to a mile in her last two starts, and she’s never been at her best going that far. Now she turns back slightly and gets a rider switch back to Katie Davis, who piloted her in that encouraging October performance.