Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: I’m Buzzy brings consistency to optional claimer

Belmont at the Big A | Race 2 | Post Time 1:34 p.m. (ET)

This first-level allowance optional claimer didn’t draw the toughest field. I’m just not thrilled with any of the likely favorites. Sedona (#3) figures to take money once again, but she’s lost at short prices in each of her last two starts without a major excuse. She didn’t get much pace to close into two back, but she was still supposed to beat Ichiban. Then last time multiple runners to her inside were affected by an incident at the start. Yet this filly had a relatively clean trip and still could barely even get up for third. Perhaps turning back to a mile will suit her, since her only victory came around one turn on debut. I’m just skeptical of her ability to close in a race that doesn’t feature an abundance of pace.

Smokin’ Hot Kitty (#2) will look to control from the rail but she is coming off a pretty disappointing effort in the Johnstone Mile, where she was unable to make the early lead and couldn’t even hold on for second. She had been in great form prior to that, winning 4 consecutive dirt races. However, now she’s stepping up against tougher open company rivals and I’m skeptical that she can rebound.

Fade to Grey (#6) figures to apply some early pressure after leading from gate to wire in a 9-furlong maiden event at Saratoga. Her 111 TimeformUS Speed Figure is the highest number in this field, but she did take advantage of a paceless race over a track that seemed to be tilted toward rail runners. She’s a one-paced galloping type, so it remains to be seen if she can be as effective in a one-turn race. I’m also slightly bothered that she seemed to have trouble getting back on the worktab consistently after that last victory.

My top pick is I’m Buzzy (#5), who is entered for the optional $50k tag, having already won this allowance condition. She looks a bit slower than some of her main rivals, but I can make excuses for her last couple of races at Saratoga. She never had good position on July 17, the same day that Fade to Grey rode the rail to victory. This mare raced wide against a slight inside bias and closed gamely for second behind the talented Deck of Cards. She then caught that same tough rival in her next start in the slop and had little chance to close in a paceless race. I like her getting back to a true one-turn configuration here, and she has handled this distance in the past. She seems to run her best races at Aqueduct and may get somewhat overlooked in light of those recent results.