Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Uno looks tough in Rego Park following impressive debut

Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 3:50 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

The two favorites in this race are likely Uno and Blue Gator. I prefer the former, who steps up into stakes company following his debut win.

This $255k auction purchase was very impressive, drawing off to win by nearly 4 lengths after a slow start. While UNO (#3) got the six furlongs that day, these Laoban progeny have relished any extra ground they can get. Furthermore, Todd Pletcher has a remarkable record with horses like this. Over the past 5 years the barn is 9 for 15 (60%, $2.76 ROI) with last-out debut winners making their second starts against New York-breds in dirt sprints. He seems like the most appealing of Pletcher’s trio, and he doesn’t have to improve much to beat the other favorite, Blue Gator, one of three Mike Maker runners in here.

Blue Gator’s (#4) form is solid, but he got a little lucky to win that stakes at Finger Lakes two back when his main rival got left at the gate. He didn’t have much of an excuse to lose to Eagle Orb last time, and I just wonder if he’s a horse that hasn’t really moved forward since that precocious start to his career. He also will have to deal with some other speed to his outside.

While I prefer these two, I wouldn’t discount the two other Pletcher horses. Perfect Munnings (#8) actually has more of a dirt pedigree, and Storm Shooter (#6) got a perplexing ride last time when inexplicably taken out of the race on the far turn.

THE PLAY

Win: 3

Exacta: 3 with 4,5,6,8

Trifecta: 3 with 4,6 with 4,5,6,7,8