Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Dark Vector capable of better second off the claim
Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 3:40 p.m. (ET)
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This allowance event is easily the most competitive race on the card as you can make a case for multiple runners, and it’s hard to peg a deserving favorite. Perhaps the public will go back to Maker’s Candy (#1) after making him a very short price last time when he broke through his final New York-bred allowance condition. He won that race impressively, but did get a pretty good trip, sitting on top of a moderate pace while always in the clear. He figures to get a different sort of journey here from the inside post, though I respect the talent he’s displayed in his one-turn races.
Drake’s Passage (#7) easily defeated Maker’s Candy when they met in the Albany at Saratoga, but the nine-furlong distance of that race played to the strengths of this Christophe Clement runner. He’s been a little disappointing since then, losing as a heavy favorite at this level two back before failing to make an impact as the favorite in the Empire Classic last time. He now turns back in distance in an attempt to get back to that strong effort he put forth going a one-turn mile off the layoff this summer. I’m just a little skeptial of his current form.
Two older horses who appear to be in great form coming into this race are Rocco Strong (#3) and Daddy Knows (#9). Neither one is the most interesting option since their best races are fairly exposed. However, Rocco Strong is proven at this level, coming off some of the best efforts of his career. He ran particularly well last time when never inside over a rail-biased surface. He did catch wet, sealed tracks in his last two starts, but he’s never been some kind of wet-track specialist. Daddy Knows also was against a rail bias on a different occasion when he returned from a layoff last time. That race was dominated by inside runners, and he stayed on gamely after chasing outside. I like the outside draw for a horse who can sometimes want to get out around the turns.
My top pick is Dark Vector (#2) as he makes his second start off the claim for Linda Rice. His form for the George Weaver barn had been a mixed bag. Even his blowout maiden victory didn’t earn a fast number, and he subsequently tailed off in tough spots. However, he appreciated the drop into claiming company before getting claimed by Rice two starts ago at Keeneland. He moved up to this level in his first start for the new barn on the Cigar Mile undercard, but just got the wrong trip over that sloppy track, which was favoring speed and the rail. He hopped at the start and was far back and wide thereafter, not appearing to appreciate the sloppy kickback. He has to prove he can get a mile, but Rice has excellent statistics with stretch-outs. I expect him to be more forwardly placed from the inside post this time, and he may be better than his recent efforts suggest.