Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Western Lane deserves another chance routing on turf

Aqueduct | Race 6 | Post Time 2:16 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

Chad Brown sends out the likely favorite in this maiden event. Expand the Map (#4) will again be a very short price after the scratch of stablemate Chaberton. Yet this filly has been a significant disappointment, losing at odds-on prices in the first two starts of her career. They tried to cut her back in distance last time, but that was unsuccessful. She’s landing in a spot where she looks competitive, but she figures to take money with Irad Ortiz getting back aboard, and I want others.

After scratches, Mozay (#6) should be upgraded. She has had her fair share of chances at this level, but has maintained strong form and exits a race at Colonial where she was compromised by a slow pace. However, I want to go with a runner who has a little more upside.

WESTERN LANE (#1) will be a better price than the aforementioned contenders, and she also has a right to move forward getting back on the turf. She got slammed coming out of the starting gate two back, putting her at the back of the pack early. The race was dominated up front, so she actually did well to close for fourth up the rail. That was a sprint, but she’s not supposed to have any problem with added ground, and she showed she could handle a mile on dirt in that off-the-turf race last time. It’s possible that she’s just turned things around for this underrated barn, and she drew a great post position.

THE PLAY

WIN: #1 Western Lane, at 4-1 or greater