Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Class drop should magnify Microscope’s talent

Belmont | Race 1 | Post Time 1:15 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

After the scratch of Fried Rice King this becomes a much softer spot. Allured (#2) could inherit the favorite's role, but I'm pretty skeptical of this runner. He did show improvement last time second off the layoff for Orlando Noda, and he's previously shown the ability to handle a wet track. However, he still has never recaptured his best form for this barn and now he's dropping in for the lowest claiming tag of his career. I prefer another class dropper.

MICROSCOPE (#4) has yet to run as fast as some others, but he has kept strong company in his recent races. The gelding had little chance against the likes of Danny California, Harris Bay, or Bears Mafia at the New York-bred allowance level and now is dropping down to an appropriate spot. He’s also stretching out in distance, which I like. Although his past performances may not explicitly suggest that he’s better going longer, I think he’s run subtly well in all of his route starts. That was especially true in a couple of one-mile events over the winter at Aqueduct. Furthermore, there is rain in the forecast on Thursday and he earned both of his career victories over sloppy, sealed tracks.

THE PLAY

Win: 4
Exacta: 4 with 2,3,5
Trifecta: 4 with 2,5 with 2,3,5