Saturday’s TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Isotope’s tactical speed makes her dangerous in Sis City

Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 4:51 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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Rudy Rodriguez holds a very strong hand in this race, as both of his runners, Frostie Anne (#3) and Cotton Candy Cutie (#7), are major contenders. I prefer Frostie Anne, who put in a pretty game effort behind Andesine when last seen two weeks ago. The main track was favoring speed that day, but Frostie Anne has been in good form all winter. I’m using both of these runners, but there are two others who merit consideration.

Spring for More (#2) makes plenty of sense off her last race. That day, she beat two of today’s rivals with ease and ran a speed figure that puts her in the mix. Many of her prior efforts came against tougher allowance foes, and she may also appreciate getting back on a fast track. I’m using her, but my top pick is Isotope, who may go off at an even higher price.

If ISOTOPE (#5) can run back to her September win at Belmont, she’ll have a major say in the outcome of this race. Her two performances since then seem disappointing at first glance, but I don’t think circumstances were in her favor. Both of those races featured relatively slow early paces and were dominated by the early leaders. She’s now stretching out in distance, and I believe she can handle it. Successful Appeal is a strong 20 percent dirt-route sire, and Isotope’s tactical speed should allow her to work out a good trip in a race that doesn’t feature that much early speed.

THE PLAY

Win/Place: 5

Exacta Key Box: 5 with 2,3,6,7,10