Sunday’s TimeformUS Highlight Horse: High Promise looks ready to deliver in third start off layoff

Belmont | Race 4 | Post Time 3:04 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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The two obvious horses who are going to take money are Im the Captain Now (#6) and Peace Speaker (#12). The former has run well in his recent starts at or around this distance, but he’s starting to run out of chances, and the latter must prove he can negotiate 10 furlongs after two strong runs going shorter. I’ll use both, but I want to try a runner who figures to offer a bit more value.

HIGH PROMISE (#5) showed some promise early in his career, finishing a closing fourth in a solid maiden race at Belmont last October. After that, he didn’t get to try turf again until he returned as a 3-year-old this summer. He was moving well late to be fourth in that July 28 return and followed that up with an improved performance when cut back to a mile on Sept. 9. He found a seam on the rail that day and made the lead prematurely approaching the stretch. He appeared to lose focus when clear and got passed by the eventual winner. Having dropped two lengths behind that runner with a furlong to go, he rerallied well to make it close on the line.

Now, High Promise gets a positive rider switch to Luis Saez, and trainer Brian Lynch gets a 92 Trainer Rating with horses making their third start off a layoff. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of this horse yet, and I’m encouraged that he showed improved tactical speed with the blinkers added last time since there isn’t much early pace in this race.

THE PLAY

Win/Place: 5

Exacta Key Box: 5 with 2,6,9,10,12