Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Ground-saving trip would benefit Golden Rocket

Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 3:42 p.m. (ET)

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A few of the main players in this New York-bred optional claimer exit an Oct. 13 race at the same level. Masterof the Tunes (#4) is the horse that many handicappers are likely to upgrade out of that race, since she used uncharacteristically aggressive tactics to open up on the field early before fading. The pace wasn’t exactly fast by TimeformUS standards, but she did carve out honest fractions while racing very freely. This time she’s projected to be the controlling speed once again, now in a race to which TimeformUS gives the No Speed designation. That lack of pace should benefit her, but I still have some reservations about this 2 for 25 lifetime mare earning her third career victory, especially going a distance that might be a little far for her.

Waterville (#2) was the favorite in that Oct. 13 event, and she never had much chance to get involved after dropping to the back of the pack early. I’m just not sure what will be different this time. She lacks speed and is always at the mercy of pace developing.

My top pick is Golden Rocket (#1), who finished ahead of both aforementioned rivals when checking in second in that Oct. 13 affair. She’s another who prefers to rally, but she possesses better tactical speed than Waterville. We saw that displayed two back when she found herself in an unfamiliar pace-pressing position in another race that lacked speed. The difference this time is that she drew the rail, which should give Jose Gomez an opportunity to slot in behind Masterof the Tunes and work out a pocket trip around the track. Golden Rocket has lacked cover getting outside trips in each of her last three starts, and I think she’s better than those results indicate.

Some may look to last-out winners like Snowy Evening (#5) or Autumn Glory (#6), but both have something to prove stepping up in class. I slightly prefer the latter, who should appreciate stretching out, but she’s another who does her best running from off the pace.