Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Timing Difference has upside in return from layoff

Aqueduct | Race 5 | Post Time 3:08 p.m. (ET)

Chad Brown sends out two runners returning from lengthy layoffs in this maiden affair. Clare Quilty (#9) is the one likely to attract the most support after running well in both starts at this meet a year ago. However, he did go off at short prices in both of those starts and failed to get the job done for a barn that typically wins with horses that generate that kind of support. He seemed to get tired going a mile last time, so starting back up at this 6 1/2 furlong distance seems appropriate. It’s just fair to wonder if he still has much more upside, since he didn’t make his debut until his 4-year-old season, and now he’s making just the third start of his career as a 5-year-old.

I much prefer the other Chad Brown trainee who figures to be a bigger price. Timing Difference (#3) kicked off his career going this distance in a $100k maiden claimer at Churchill Downs in late 2023. He got off to a slow start and was just picking up pieces through the late stages after making a wide move. He showed real progression second time out when he came to Aqueduct. Stretching out to a mile, he again broke slowly but did well to get back into the race, making a nice rally to mid-stretch before flattening out. His effort prior to the layoff was poor, but he didn’t appear to want any part of the 1 1/8 miles distance. I like him cutting back to a sprint for this return, being a son of Munnings and a half-brother to Grade 1 Hopeful winner Chancer McPatrick. Chad Brown is 7 for 17 (41%, $3.19 ROI) with horses returning from 240 to 480 day layoffs going from a route to sprint on dirt over 5 years.

The other horse I would want to use with the top pick is Badge of War (#7), who had shown subtle improvement last fall in Kentucky, including a strong effort against winners two back. He built on that form when he returned to New York last time, and will be tough if able to repeat that effort. The only issue is that he’s making his 12th career start as a maiden.