Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Thrill of It better than last result

Belmont | Race 7 | Post Time 4:16 p.m. (ET)

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This state-bred optional claimer drew a competitive field of 7 runners led by 11-time winner Big Engine (#1). This 8-year-old spent much of the winter and spring competing against tougher open company rivals, where he actually had some success for Linda Rice. However, he got some welcome class relief last time, dropping back down to this New York-bred level. He ran an improved race, but the trip didn’t quite work out, as he was uncharacteristically close to the pace and couldn’t quite produce a strong enough finish to withstand the late runs of Awesome Native and Brew Pub, both of whom are in great form. This is a slightly softer spot than that, and he looks like the horse to beat.

His main rival might be Daufuskie Island (#6), who got a confidence boost with his near 20-length victory two back against claimers and followed up that performance with another strong effort first off the claim for Rudy Rodriguez. He was beating slightly softer company in that May 29 affair, but he did it the hard way, contesting a fast pace and holding off the closers. A repeat of that 116 TimeformUS Speed Figure will make him tough, but he will have to contend with other speed this time.

Unique Unions (#4) and Foolish Ghost (#5) hooked up in the early stages of an April 30 race at this level, where they dueled each other into defeat. I wonder if the pace of this race could take a similar toll with Daufuskie Island also likely to force the issue.

Thrill of It (#3) finished fourth, beaten nearly 5 lengths in that April 30 race at this level. However, he didn’t get an ideal trip that day, as he broke a step slowly and looked uncomfortable negotiating the turn. He was staying on gamely through the stretch, but got guided down to the inside, which perhaps wasn’t the place to be. I was impressed by his return from the layoff two back when he made a decisive move through traffic to win by open lengths in solid time. Now he gets Jaime Torres back aboard and figures to be a fair price, especially if some downgrade him on the assumption that he can’t handle a wet track.