Sunday’s TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Sky Chaparral should appreciate switch to the main track

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 4:44 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

Kohlhase (#4) is predicted to be in a favorable position setting the pace through moderate early fractions, but I wonder if he’s good enough to take this field all the way. He had to work awfully hard to hold off weaker foes last time and must run a faster race today for the always dangerous Rudy Rodriguez barn. The other runner likely to take money, Manipulated (#8), looks formidable at first glance, but he’s gotten pretty good trips in his races and I prefer others.

My top selection is SKY CHAPARRAL (#2).

This horse may not have appreciated racing over the inner track. He was down inside trying to close through kickback in his first two starts this winter, and actually did not run as badly as it seems. Then last time, I thought he ran deceptively well, making a wide late run on a day when you wanted to be on the rail. If he can run back to his winning effort over the main track last November, he’ll be a major threat to pull off the upset. I’m a little concerned about a potentially unfavorable pace scenario, but Sky Chaparral does possess the requisite positional speed that should allow Dylan Davis to place him closer to the pace.

I’ll use him with the aforementioned two favorites, as well as fellow closers Timber (#1) and Nobody Move (#7), who have both run recent races that put them in the mix.

THE PLAY

Win/Place: 2
Exacta Key Box: 2 with 1,4,7,8
Trifecta: 2 with 4,7,8 with 1,4,6,7,8