Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Miss Sizzle’s speed makes her dangerous in turf debut

Aqueduct | Race 5 | Post Time 3:38 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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It’s hard to find the horse to beat in this wide-open field. The horse that's run the best turf races is perhaps Hollywood Cat (#7), who is coming off a layoff. This filly improved last summer and encountered trouble in her final two starts of 2017. That was especially true on Oct. 15, when she was in a bad spot throughout and had to steady out of position in the lane. She was a vet scratch twice after that and now returns as a fresh filly. I’ll use her, but I prefer two fillies switching to turf.

Passporttovictory (#9) has already handled grass for her prior connections but hasn’t made a start over it since last November. Her turf efforts make her competitive, and she has decent tactical speed in a field that lacks much pace. Perhaps most importantly, she’s making her first start off the claim for Jeremiah Englehart and Jimmy Riccio. I’m using her prominently, but I’m picking another rival on top.

MISS SIZZLE (#4) is making her turf debut, and she’s certainly bred to handle the grass. Her sire, First Defence, wins with 15 percent of his turf starters, and this filly is a half-sister to multiple turf-sprint winner Whiskey Seven. I think it’s telling that her best dirt race came over a sloppy, sealed track. Angel Arroyo figures to send her from the outset in hopes of wiring the field.

THE PLAY

Win: 4
Exacta Key Box: 4 with 7,9,10
Trifecta: 4,9 with 4,9 with 1,3,7,10