Saturday’s TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Unchained Melody can lead all the way in the Mother Goose

Belmont | Race 9 | Post Time 5:50 p.m. (ET) | Go to the FREE TimeformUS PPs
Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

The two fillies coming out of the Kentucky Oaks, Lockdown and Vexatious, each had some things working for and against them that day. Lockdown (#4) did encounter some minor traffic trouble, but she was one of the few horses who saved ground throughout and really took advantage of a rail bias. Vexatious (#6) was never on the rail, but she also didn't get her momentum interrupted at any point while rallying into a collapsing pace. They both can win, but I'm going to try to beat them with Unchained Melody.

UNCHAINED MELODY (#2) is stepping up in class, but this filly showed serious ability in her allowance win here last month. She set a solid pace and gamely held off the talented Jamyson 'n Ginger in the lane. Additionally, there were a number of runners among the also-rans that had previously been competitive at the level, yet were trounced by these two fillies – indicative of an unusually strong race. The Pace Projector is predicting that she will be on the lead in a situation favoring the front-runner, and I think she’s ready to handle this step up in class.

THE PLAY

Win: 2
Exacta Key Box: 2 with 3,4,6
Trifecta: 2 with 4,6 with 1,3,4,6,7