Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: She’s Fire better than last result

Saratoga | Race 4 | Post Time 2:52 p.m. (ET)

TimeformUS PPs are now available on drf.com. Go to shop.drf.com and use coupon code NYRATF23 to get one free TimeformUS card.

The fillies exiting the Colleen at Monmouth look like the main players in the Bolton Landing. The Colleen’s winner, Amidst Waves (#3), has done nothing wrong in her two turf starts. She put in a strong final quarter on debut in June, drawing away to an impressive victory over next-out winner Kodiac Wintergreen. She then stepped up to win the Colleen as the favorite, but she had a lot working in her favor that day. She was able to attain an advantageous position stalking the pace in a race where those in behind had tougher trips. She finished off that race nicely, but now has to stretch out an extra half-furlong. She picks up Irad Ortiz Jr. and figures to be a very short price off exposed form, so I’m willing to look beyond her.

Crown Imperial (#2) is one of those who didn’t have the smoothest journey in the Colleen. She got bumped at the start, and then was racing in an uncomfortable spot between rivals on the turn, getting jostled in the approach to the quarter pole. She ultimately found a clear path in the lane and finished gamely while unable to reel in the top two. That was her turf debut, and I think she has a right to do better here for John Ortiz, who has sent live runners to this meet so far.

My top pick is the Colleen fourth-place finisher She’s Fire (#5). This filly used her ample early speed to get to the front end in her turf debut at Belmont in early July, leading every step of the way in a dominant score. The 86 TimeformUS Speed Figure she earned for that effort is the highest number in this field. However, she was unable to get to the front last time, while not ridden as aggressively. She was stalking on the outside heading for the turn, but didn’t corner as well as some others and then got steadied back between rivals into the stretch. She actually recovered pretty well once she straightened up in the stretch and finished mildly to reclaim fourth. I think she’s better than that result, and I would imagine that Jose Ortiz will look to send her forward again as he gets back aboard.