Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Sassy Princess stretches back out to preferred distance

Aqueduct | Race 5 | Post Time 2:40 p.m. (ET)

Melle Mel (#7) is sure to attract support with Flavien Prat taking over the mount for Tom Morley, whose barn has been on quite a roll over the last several weeks in New York. He is getting this horse from another dangerous trainer in Orlando Noda, and I find it interesting that he elects to stretch this filly out to a mile in her first start for the barn. Her prior form hardly suggests that more distance is supposed to benefit her, but she did finish pretty well going seven furlongs in her most recent start. I have some reservations about her producing her best form over this trip, but she does possess early speed, which has been an advantage at Aqueduct lately.

I much prefer her main rival Sassy Princess (#9), who is stretching back out to a mile after winning by over 11 lengths going this distance two back. That victory was achieved against weaker $17,500 beaten claimers, but she proved she can stack up against a field like this when finishing second at this level last time. That was her first start off the claim for Ilkay Kantarmaci, who curiously cut her all the way back to 6 furlongs. Not only did she handle this level, but she might have been best considering that she chased wide on a day when the inside path appeared to be an advantage. She has much more of a route profile, so I like her stretching back out here, and she has the tactical speed to attain forward position.

The only other horse I want to use is Kadena (#5), who has been a bit of a disappointment since getting claimed by Linda Rice. However, I can make some excuses for her last two efforts. She didn’t seem to handle a muddy, sealed track two back, and last time she was chasing outside in that same rail-biased race that Sassy Princess exits. I'm not sure that the mile will suit her, but she figures to finally be a better price this time.