Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Daylight Dreamer switches to the right surface

Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 4:53 p.m. (ET)

I don't have a major problem with Aperitif (#8), who seems like the horse to beat based on her turf sprint efforts from last year. However, she is returning from a layoff and it's unclear if she'll be ready to return to that level in her first start off the bench.

She is facing several 3-year-olds with more upside, including the expensive auction purchase Saint Margaret (#2). This filly ran well in her debut last summer at Saratoga, closing into a slow pace to get up for third. She then was far more aggressively ridden after a sharp start put her in front when she tried this six-furlong distance in October. The pace was fast, and she understandably tired late as the race came apart. She figures to have improved during the time away and seems to be working well for her return.

I slightly prefer another 3-year-old, however. Daylight Dreamer (#4) gets on turf for the first time after taking some money in her dirt debut in February. While she doesn't have that much turf pedigree on her dam's side, she is sired by excellent turf sprinter Leinster. So far, the best progeny by this young sire have generally excelled in turf sprints, so I expect this filly to move forward as she switches surfaces. She ran better than it looks on debut, racing in traffic early and getting shuffled back into the far turn. I would expect her to show more speed this time.