Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Last Chant deserves another chance on turf

Belmont Park | Race 4 | Post Time 3:09 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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Catch a Cab (#2) is clearly the horse to beat as he returns to turf following a disappointing series of results racing on dirt this winter. He’s obviously getting back to the right surface, as all of his prior turf races would make him awfully tough to beat in this spot. While he’s run for a tag on dirt, he’s faced only maiden special weight company in his grass races, so he is getting significant class relief.

Many of the other horses with turf form are not particularly compelling. Datum (#8) may have needed his debut, but he is going to need to improve significantly on that lackluster effort, and Lemon Blitz (#9) has hardly impressed.

One horse that might be able to take a step forward in this spot is longshot LAST CHANT (#3), whose lone turf effort is better than it seems. He was facing a much better field in that open race, in which the first three finishers are superior horses to those he meets here. He also did not get an easy trip that day, as he raced very wide around both turns and was just out of position throughout the race. Now he’s moving back into New York-bred company where he belongs, and I think he has an excellent chance to outrun his odds.

THE PLAY

Win/Place: 3

Exacta Key Box: 3 with 2,5,7,8

Trifecta: 2,3 with 2,3 with 1,5,7,8,9