Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Kaling looks ready to step up in Spinaway

Saratoga | Race 11 | Post Time 6:11 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

This Spinaway has drawn a talented and competitive field of 10 juvenile fillies. The horse to beat is arguably Wonder Wheel (#9), who is seeking her third victory in a row after romping in the Debutante late in the Churchill Downs meet. She doesn’t have a significant speed figure edge this time, but she has trained well over the main track at Saratoga, registering an impressive series of drills leading up to this Grade 1 test.

Also in the field are recent Saratoga stakes winner Just Cindy (#5) and Naughty Gal (#4). The former wasn’t beating the strongest field in the Schuylerville, but seems like one that should have no trouble with the added ground. Naughty Gal is a little tough to endorse after she blew the turn and raced so greenly through the stretch of the Adirondack, though she obviously has some talent. However, I’m most interested in a couple of local debut winners.

My top pick is KALING (#1), who was so professional in her debut score early in the meet. She had trained aggressively into that race, but showed no keenness in the afternoon, kindly rating off two horses before passing them at the quarter pole. She strikes me as one that should love this 7-furlong distance, and I’m very encouraged by the way she’s trained out of that victory.

The other filly that I want is Leave No Trace (#6), who figures to be a better price. She won a weaker auction-restricted race on debut, but she traveled strongly into a fast pace to break the race open that day. The pacesetter returned to win with a much faster speed figure in her second start, and I won’t be surprised when this one has a step forward in her.

THE PLAY

WIN: #1 Kaling, at 2-1 or greater

USE: 6