Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Byself has a class edge over her rivals

Belmont Park | Race 7 | Post Time 4:46 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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Byself and Fair Regis figure to vie for favoritism in this spot. At first glance, it appears that Fair Regis is faster, but I actually prefer Byself in this race if they are indeed similar prices.

BYSELF (#1) ran deceptively well last time. She broke with the field, but Jose Ortiz did not ride her for position and she ended up getting shuffled back to last in the first quarter-mile. Considering that she had never run from that position before, I thought she actually ran well to make a midrace move and reach contention at the top of the stretch. From there she just couldn’t quite get to Satisfy, who had worked out a perfect trip, but she nevertheless gamely chased her all the way to the wire while creating plenty of separation behind her.

This time Byself figures to slot into a better trip just in behind Noble Freud, as there is less speed in this field. She’s been unfortunate to face horses as talented as Hay Field and Satisfy in her two prior starts at this level and I think she’s ready to break through here.

Fair Regis (#2) is as consistent as they come, but she’s been facing slightly weaker company in her recent starts. Her last race earned a fast speed figure, but horses such as Out of Orbit and Starlite Mission would not be very formidable in this race. Noble Freud is also a danger on the front end, but I worry about her getting the 7-furlong distance.

THE PLAY

Win: 1

Exacta: 1 with 2,3,5

Trifecta: 1 with 2 with 3,4,5,7