Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Return to sprinting suits Mississippi Delta in Intercontinental

Belmont | Race 8 | Post Time 5:48 p.m. (ET) | Go to the FREE TimeformUS PPs

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The likely favorite, Take These Chains (#9), gets a class test here. She was visually impressive when winning her return race in April at this distance, easily inhaling some overmatched foes before being geared down in deep stretch. She is a major threat to step right up and win this race, but she's going to be an awfully short price, and there are some other runners with talent in this group.

Given the likelihood of the favorite being an underlay, I’m taking a shot against her with MISSISSIPPI DELTA (#5). This mare does her best running around one turn, and this seven-furlong distance is perfect for her. Don't be fooled by her poor showing in this race last year since she had a nightmarish trip and was blocked in traffic for nearly the entire stretch drive. Since returning as a 5-year-old, she ran especially well two back when she outbroke the talented Celestine before ultimately conceding the lead to that rival heading into the first turn. Recent performances like that one suggest that she may be in the best form of her career heading into this race.

THE PLAY

Win: 5

Exacta Key Box: 5 with 4,8,9

Trifecta: 5,9 with 5,9 with 1,2,4,8,10