Sunday’s TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Shamrock Rose should appreciate return to sprinting in Cicada

Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 4:56 p.m. (ET) | Go to the FREE TimeformUS PPs

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Strategic Dreams (#4) is clearly the horse to beat for Rudy Rodriguez, who has three entrants in this Cicada. She comes into this race off three straight wins, including two stakes. While she possesses a versatile running style, she’s obviously comfortable passing horses and has used closing tactics in her last two starts. That should be a real asset in a race that features a fair amount of early speed.

One of her main rivals looks to be her stablemate Lezendary (#5). This filly won her maiden last time out with a 109 TimeformUS Speed Figure, one of the fastest numbers earned by any horse in this race. While that performance may be legitimate, she’s now stepping up into a much tougher spot. I wasn’t visually impressed by that last win as she had to be ridden hard to pull away from the inferior Warrior of Light in the late stages. I prefer others who figure to offer better value.

The horse I want to bet is SHAMROCK ROSE (#7). She made her dirt debut last time in the Busher and put forth a solid effort to be fourth behind the Kentucky Oaks-bound Midnight Disguise. She never looked like the winner, but I thought she fought on gamely to the wire in a tough race. She won her debut sprinting against stakes company and has been losing ground at the end of her route attempts in three subsequent starts, so this turnback in distance may actually suit her.

THE PLAY

Win: 7

Exacta Key Box: 7 with 1,4,5,6