Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Second start improvement expected for Ride Up

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 3:55 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

This maiden special weight event is arguably the most interesting race on the card, as you can make a case for many runners and there appear to be some lightly raced horses with potential. Register (#1) might be the horse to beat after finishing second at this level twice in a row. While he ran a faster speed figure last time, I actually thought he ran better in his career debut. He got a pretty rough trip that day, as he was steadied early and then had to awkwardly alter course at the top of the stretch before commencing a rally. Last time he got a much softer trip and wasn’t able to seal the deal. The first-time starter who defeated him may be pretty good, but this horse does have some things to prove as he stretches out in distance.

Power in Numbers (#4) makes sense as he makes his second career start for Chad Brown. He took plenty of money on debut, but ran like a horse who needed the experience. He broke well but then got mildly shuffled on the backstretch before getting back into the bit and running on for second. He has a right to improve, but I actually preferred the horse who finished right behind him.

RIDE UP (#9) didn’t take nearly as much money in that spot and broke slowly from the rail, like many horses from this barn. The pace was fairly slow, so this colt deserves a ton of credit for making up as much ground as he did to run up into third. He also galloped out very strongly, quickly passing both the winner and Power in Numbers after the wire. He didn’t sell for that much at auction, but has a nice pedigree full of quality runners. Furthermore, Linda Rice is 10 for 30 (33 percent, $2.66 ROI) with maiden second-time starters going from sprints to dirt routes over the past five years.

The other horse that I want to use prominently is Egypt (#2). This second-time starter is coming back on short rest, having debuted last Saturday. Yet Horacio De Paz is a strong 11 for 36 (31 percent, $3.04 ROI) with maiden second-time starters on dirt over the last five years. That was a strong race for the level, and he was off slowly before belatedly making up ground through the lane. This son of Tiznow feels like one that is supposed to get better with added ground, and he figures to be a square price.

THE PLAY

WIN: #9 Ride Up, at 3-1 or greater

UPGRADE: #2 Egypt, at 10-1 or greater