Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Fire Away should get the right pace setup in the Poker

Belmont Park | Race 9 | Post Time 5:50 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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Oscar Performance (#3) has to be considered the horse to beat following a stellar 3-year-old campaign that saw him win two Grade 1 races. His finest effort last year may have come in the Turf Classic against older horses, when he just missed finishing second behind Beach Patrol in a tough field of older horses. He’s turning back to a mile for his 4-year-old debut, and he has run very well going shorter in the past. However, he’s also been a horse that prefers to be placed up close to the pace, and there is speed outside of him with Black Tide and Voodoo Song in the field. Furthermore, he’s the kind of horse that has needed a start or two to get into form in the past.

Ballagh Rocks (#4), last year’s winner of this race, appears to be his stiffest competition. However, he did get a very good trip last time behind Heart to Heart and this race came up tougher than last year.

I’m trying to beat these horses with FIRE AWAY (#8), who really doesn’t need to improve much on his Danger’s Hour victory to beat this field. He’s been a completely different horse ever since Shug McGaughey turned him back to a flat mile. I don’t care that much about the dirt race last time, but it at least illustrates that he’s maintained very good form. Furthermore, I love his running style for a race that figures to feature an honest early pace.

I’ll also use Made You Look (#5), in addition to the favorites, since he really improved in his first start for Chad Brown.

THE PLAY

Win: 8

Exacta Key Box: 8 with 3,4,5

Trifecta: 8 with 3,4,5 with 1,3,4,5,7