Saturday’s TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Sassicaia looks like a live longshot in the Carter

Aqueduct | Race 9 | Post Time 5:15 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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Unified (#8) looks pretty formidable off his return at Gulfstream, where he gamely held off the late rush of next-out Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Mind Your Biscuits. He's drawn well, outside of the other speeds here, but he likely will still have to tangle with Green Gratto and Awesome Banner in the early going. I hope the pace heats up a bit because I'm interested in the horses coming out of the Tom Fool.

Spartiatis put in the best effort that day and is in fantastic form, but SASSICAIA (#3) is the one I want most out of the race. He was never in a comfortable position early, racing in tight quarters between horses on the turn before getting squeezed back at the top of the stretch. He had run so well in his prior start off the layoff when closing into a moderate pace, and I feel that I need to give him one more chance to get back to that effort. He figures to be a generous price.

THE PLAY

Win/Place: 3

Exacta Key Box: 3 with 2,5,6,8

Trifecta: 3,8 with 3,8 with 2,5,6