Saturday’s TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Eighth Commandment gets a better setup today

Aqueduct | Race 6 | Post Time 3:23 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs [link: https://timeformus.com/basicpps/202953 ]

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I don’t want to bet Awsum Roar (#8) as one of the favorites in this race. She’s run well in all three starts, but those were turf races back in 2016. Wesley Ward has solid numbers with sprinters coming off layoffs, but most of those were turf and synthetic runners. I’m skeptical of her making the surface switch in a race that features other speed.

The most interesting runners in this race are those exiting the seventh race on Jan. 21. Strawberry Tequila (#5) ran the best race that day, but she got a very good trip, racing three wide on a day when you wanted to avoid the rail.

That was not the case for EIGHTH COMMANDMENT (#1), whose rider hugged the rail all the way as she attempted to rally from well back in the pack. Despite racing on the worst part of the track, she was making up a ton of ground at the end and galloped out well in front just past the wire. I think this mare has really improved for David Donk, and the 6 1/2-furlong distance should be a better fit for her. I'll use her with Satin Sheets, who was about 1 or 2 paths off the rail for much of that Jan. 21 race but nevertheless put in a better performance than she had in her prior starts.

If putting together exotics tickets, Ribbonite (#6) should not be completely dismissed at a big price, since she, too, was right on the rail while setting the pace in that Jan. 21 race.

THE PLAY

Win: 1

Exacta key box: 1 with 2, 3, 5, 6