Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Call Me Fast turns back in distance for dangerous barn

Saratoga | Race 3 | Post Time 2:18 p.m. (ET)

This $50,000 conditioned claimer is one of the most competitive races on the Sunday card. Ten Cent Town (#3) figures to attract some support as he drops in for a tag for the first time since he was claimed by these connections for $40,000 at the end of 2023. He had some initial success but hasn't visited the winner's circle since January of last year. His recent efforts have been a little inconsistent, and the fact that they experimented on turf last time doesn't exactly inspire confidence. While he's dropping for a tag, he isn't catching an easy field for the level, so he still has to show up with his top race.

I actually prefer the other Rick Dutrow trainee, Celestial Glaze (#1), who is part of a coupled entry. He's making his first start off the claim for this barn after having gone off form for prior connections last winter. He's gotten a freshening since then, and it wasn't that long ago that he was running races at around this level that would make him highly competitive against this field. His entrymate, Notah (#1A) goes out for John Terranova and ran a nice race at this level last time. He was meeting a small field at Aqueduct, but he finised between a couple of talented rivals and may be capable of better second off the layoff. Confabulation (#5) is another coming off the sidelines who merits consideration. He was claimed and given a rest by Linda Rice after failing to handle the stretch-out to nine furlongs when last seen. He's returning with the claiming tag waived, so it's fair to wonder if he'll need this start.

My top pick is Call Me Fast (#4), who makes his first start off the claim for Ilkay Kantarmaci. This barn has had plenty of recent success with this move, especially claiming horses for this owner. Teaming up, they are 6 for 21 (29%, $3.44 ROI) first off the claim since late last year. Call Me Fast is obviously coming off a disappointing performance, but the margin of defeat was exaggerated when Jose Ortiz elected to essentially ease her from the quarter pole to the wire. I know his prior connections had focused on dirt routes with him, but I have always preferred this horse going shorter. Even when he was in top form, he had a tendency to travel well to mid-stretch before flattening out in his two-turn races. He's now spotted appropriately and gets a live rider in Flavien Prat aboard.