Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Ghostghostghost can rebound with clean break

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 3:20 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

Funny Bones Flag (#8) figures to go off as the slight favorite after finishing second at this level last time when she returned from a 7-month layoff. Considering the long break and the fact that it was her first dirt start, she ran fine to be second. I prefer her to Dancing Kiki, who finished right behind her that day.

Dancing Kiki (#4) was curiously bet down to 6-5 favoritism last time but just ran her typical race, never threatening to win while picking up a minor award. Both of these fillies got pretty good trips that day and had no answer late.

The horse that is most interesting coming out of that Jan. 1 affair is GHOSTGHOSTGHOST (#5), who checked in fourth behind the aforementioned pair. This filly was supposed to be in front in a seemingly paceless race, but was never able to attain a forward position after steadying at the start. She found herself at the back of the pack after that rough beginning, and her poor trip was compounded by the fact that the surface at Aqueduct was favoring speed on Jan. 1. She’s better than that last performance, which she proved three back on Oct. 12 when she nearly survived a quick pace in a race that fell apart late. I like the 7-furlong distance for her, and she should be able to get the right kind of trip this time as long as she breaks cleanly.

I’ll primarily use her with the two favorites, as well as longshot Calidad (#3), who drops in for a tag for the first time.

THE PLAY

Win: 5

Exacta Key Box: 5 with 1,3,4,8

Trifecta: 5 with 4,8 with 1,3,4,6,8