Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Seven furlongs may be the perfect distance for Devant

Belmont | Race 5 | Post Time 3:27 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

It will be interesting to see how much money this entry takes, as both halves of this pairing would be among the top choices in this race as single wagering interests. Clara Peeters (#1) made her U.S. debut at the Fair Grounds earlier this year and nearly got the job done after making a strong move from last to just miss. That was going a two-turn mile, but she shouldn’t have a major issue turning back to 7 furlongs here, as she handled that distance in Europe. The one issue is that she hasn’t exactly been a winning type and she showed that same tendency to hang last time.

Her entrymate Stone Tornado (#1A) has been an all-or-nothing type over in Europe. At her best she fits against a field like this, but it remains to be seen if this 7-furlong distance will be in her wheelhouse.

Another European import, Madeleine Must (#11) arguably comes over with comparable form lines, having won a listed stakes in France two back before beating a few home in a Group 1 event last time. Yet she goes out for Christophe Clement, who doesn’t have the strongest statistics with first time foreign imports. She tried this distance in the Prix Amandine over a straightaway last July, and she was actually beaten that day by today’s rival Devant.

DEVANT (#8) actually had a tough trip in that Prix Amandine, and eventually made it this country later in 2019. She showed some promise in her U.S. debut, but things went awry after that. Yet she’s had legitimate excuses in her last two starts. She was just left with way too much ground to make up two back after encountering some traffic in upper stretch, and then last time she was asked to go a distance that is just too short for her. She has more ability than it might seem, and I think this one-turn 7 furlongs will hit her right between the eyes. I’d also upgrade Kreesie if she’s a square price. She’s focused on longer races recently, but she’s been successful going this distance in the past and was in career form when last seen in late 2019.

THE PLAY

Win/place: 8
Exacta key box: 8 with 1, 2, 6, 7, 11
Trifecta: 8 with 1, 2 with 1, 2, 6, 7, 11