Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Chasing the Crown has speed figure advantage

Saratoga | Race 9 | Post Time 5:44 p.m. (ET) TimeformUS PPs are now available on DRF.com. Go to PPs

This optional claimer marks the return of 3-year-old Ari Gold (#1), who looked so promising last year when dominating the Pulpit at Gulfstream. He led that race from gate to wire, and projects to be the early speed here as well. However, he’s stepping up into a pretty tough spot off the layoff, and needs to produce the best race of his career to beat a hardened group of older runners. He’s obviously a contender, but not the kind of horse I want to bet at a short price.

Exact Estimate (#7) and James Aloysius (#5) also figure to take money in this spot especially with the former going out for Chad Brown and Irad Ortiz Jr. Exact Estimate has really improved since the switch to turf. However, I wasn’t thrilled with his last victory, where he had to work hard to beat an inferior group. James Aloysius couldn’t reel in a couple of classy rivals in a stakes at Monmouth last time, but his speed figures had been trending in the right direction prior to that.

My top pick is another 4-year-old in the field. Chasing the Crown (#10) has really come to hand since returning this winter at Gulfstream. He ran well after making an early move into a fast pace when beaten by future Grade 1 winner Up to the Mark, and then was compromised by a slow pace (indicated by blue color-coded pace figures) in a February allowance. He tried this distance at Churchill two back and produced his most visually impressive effort, rallying to dominate an overmatched field with a field-best 123 TimeformUS Figure. He stepped up to this level last time and crossed the wire second before being disqualified for interference. However, I thought he ran well within the context of that race, making an early move to lead before getting run down by the classy Easter. That foe is tougher than any rival he meets here. Chasing the Crown is drawn in a tough post position, but he possesses the tactical speed to overcome it if Franco can time his move correctly.

The one other horse I would include at a bigger price is Whisper Not (#11). He can be difficult to ride, since he tends to get rank early in his races. However, he has settled better when using a more aggressive style in the past, and he could be dangerous if Tyler Gaffalione utilizes his speed from this outside draw.