Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Fille d'Oro can turn the tables on Deep Learning in Chelsey Flower

Aqueduct | Race 6 | Post Time 2:39 p.m. (ET)

The starting point in this Chelsey Flower is last month's Grade 2 Miss Grillo at Aqueduct. Deep Learning (#3) was the beaten favorite, finishing second to Ground Support. That winner would go on to flatter the form in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, achieving third place as the best American finisher in an international field. Deep Learning put in a solid rally to get up for second while no threat to that rival. While a repeat of that effort obviously makes her competitive here, I'm still left mildly disappointed in her lack of progression since her impressive debut at Saratoga. She simply ran out of ground when left with too much to do at Woodbine two back, but now I'm starting to wonder if she just lacks the turn of foot to beat graded stakes company.

I prefer her Miss Grillo rival Fille d'Oro (#5), who checked in fourth, about a length behind Deep Learning. This Brad Cox trainee was making just the second start of her career after an encouraging Saratoga debut. She did get a very good trip first time out, but showed off acceleration to put that field away. She showed more of that quality last time, when she had to take back from a wide post and was still far back with a quarter-mile to go. She couldn't catch the talented winner, but was running on best of all late despite not getting fully clear until the eighth pole. I believe Fille d'Oro has more tactical speed than she displayed that day, and I believe she's more likely to move forward from the Miss Grillo than likely favorite Deep Learning.

The other two fillies to consider are both coming off maiden wins, Getting Serious (#1) and Tideoftime (#6). Both have to get faster but are supported by strong turf pedigrees. The latter might have a little more upside in the second start of her career, but I would need better than the morning line price as she steps up against a much stronger field.