Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Pineapple Man can rebound on the stretch-out
Belmont at the Big A | Race 4 | Post Time 2:35 p.m. (ET)
I don’t have a major knock against likely favorite Magia Nera (#5), other than the fact that his form is totally exposed at this point. He’s run consistently well in his last few starts for Carlos David, and finally broke through the N2L claiming condition last time. Yet a claim put in on him was voided by the vet that day, and now he’s stepping up against a tougher field that features plenty of class droppers. He’s the horse to beat, but I think others offer better value as win candidates.
One of those is Harvard (#2). I have been chasing this horse since he returned from a lengthy layoff for David Jacobson earlier this year, and he hasn’t run that badly. One could argue he actually sports stronger form than Magia Nera, but he’s just been placed in some spots that are a little too tough for him. Now he’s getting needed class relief, and I also think the mile is the best distance for him. I generally don’t like these Jacobson runners when they’re dropping, but this one appears to belong at this level.
Ski Country (#7) finished behind Harvard when they met in early April, but he might have needed that start coming off a long layoff. I expect him to run better this time, and he does have one effort form Monmouth last summer that would make him tough in this spot. He’s one I’ll be using.
My top pick is Pineapple Man (#8). He ran well enough to win a race like this two back when besting N2L claimers by over 4 lengths, earning a 101 TimeformUS Speed Figure. That was a return to form for a horse who had been eased coming off the layoff for Mike Maker and tailed off last summer. He is clearly good enough to beat this field on his best day. He has to bounce back from another poor effort here, as he underperformed off the claim for Michelle Giangiulio. However, I didn’t think he got a particularly savvy ride that day, as Lane Luzzi eased him back at the start and let him drop way too far back in a race that didn’t feature any pace. He was actually running on best of all in the stretch from an impossible position. I don’t mind him stretching back out, since he has run well going a mile in the past, and the outside post should suit his style.