Saturday’s TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Maiden Trinni Ninja can take advantage of early duel

Aqueduct | Race 3 | Post Time 1:50 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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The key players in this event are exiting the third race on Jan. 19, won by She’s Delightful. That day, Beautiful Buzz (#4) dueled for the early lead with Pauseforthecause (#2) before impeding that foe at the eighth pole when both were tiring. Beautiful Buzz was disqualified and placed fourth for that interference. This time, they may both find themselves chasing the very quick Velvet Trinni, who breaks from the inside under Paco Lopez.

That could set things up for My Roxy Girl (#6), who was fifth behind the two favorites on Jan. 19 but returned to win a softer starter-allowance race last time. However, if I’m going to select a closer in this race, the one I want to bet is the maiden Trinni Ninja.

TRINNI NINJA (#3) has run better than it appears in both of her starts. While she was riding a good rail in her debut, she did not have an easy trip. She broke a bit awkwardly and had to rush up through traffic during the middle portion of the race. Last time, she stretched out to a mile and again had to compensate for a slow break. All things considered, she did well to hang on for fourth while going a distance that may be too far for her. I like this turnback to six furlongs, and the rider switch to Victor Lebron is definitely a positive. The early pace figures to be honest, and Trinni Ninja owns the highest TimeformUS Late Pace Rating (88), which is more than 20 points higher than the next fastest.

THE PLAY

Win: 3
Exacta Key Box: 3 with 2,4,6