Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Shore War back in top form for new barn

Belmont at the Big A | Race 4 | Post Time 2:40 p.m. (ET)

I acknowledge that Sadie Earp (#1) could be dangerous returning from a layoff for Wesley Ward. She showed some promise during her 2-year-old season before just failing to see out the distance when they stretched her out last time. If she builds on that early form, she's a major player in this field. However, she does have to improve significantly coming off this layoff, and she's probably going to get bet as if that's a given primarily due to her conditioner.

Between the two likely favorite, Soloshot (#4) seems like a more reliable option after she ran a race last month that makes her competitive against this field. She is stepping up in class, but obviously improved first off the claim for Amelia Green.

I actually prefer the other Green runner at a bigger price. Shore War (#5) had hinted at turf sprint ability early in her career for different connections, but she could never build consistent form due to layoffs or poor trips. She was acquired by new ownership last fall and turned over to Green, who appears to have turned her form around. She got very little pace to close into when she returned to turf sprinting last month, and she put in a strong finish to get up for third behind a pair of talented Ward runners. I don't think this field is quite as tough as that one, and she figures to outrun her odds against with a similar effort.

The wild card that I want to include somewhere is Coach Albert Lady (#2). It's hard to know what to expect from this dark horse as she makes her first start outside of Puerto Rico. However, she did show some talent down there, and training video I've seen of her at Keeneland suggests that she has ability. Her pedigree also indicates that sprinting on turf may be right up her alley, so this placement intrigues me as she ships in to New York. I'm primarily using her with top pick Shore War.