Wednesday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Be of Courage ready to step up into stakes company

Saratoga | Race 7 | Post Time 4:02 p.m. (ET)

Hush of a Storm (#9) figures to go favored in the Kingston as he gets back into New York-bred company for the first time since last fall. He ran reasonably well in a few stakes events against open foes on the all-weather surface at Turfway through the winter. Yet as a horse who has earned 6 of his 9 career victories on synthetic tracks, it shouldn't be any surprise that he maintained strong form in those spots. My issue with him is his last race when he got back to turf. It didn't appear as if there was much pace signed on in a short field, but two horses actually hooked up on the front end, which should have set up Hush of a Storm's late rally. However, he was unable to produce a kick, settling for last while part of a three-horse photo for third. He's likely to take money here going out for the dangerous Brad Cox barn with Flavien Prat getting aboard, but I don't think he necessarily has to win this race.

The TimeformUS Pace Projector is predicting a fast pace, which is no surprise given the presence of a few key speeds, including frontrunning longshots Schlomo (#2) and Union Trail (#6). Any pace that develops will obviously help the favorite, and could work against his main rival Itsallcomintogetha (#1), who fares best when he can attain forward early position.

Looking beyond the favorites, the pace scenario should also benefit some better prices, of which Be of Courage (#4) is the one I want to bet. This horse has never attempted a stakes before, but he has gradually improved over the course of his career and seems ready for this step up in class now as a 5-year-old. He hinted at possessing this kind of ability when he crossed the wire first, only to be controversially disqualified, in October of 2023. His 2024 campaign was unfortunately cut short after a strong second to todays' rival Itsallcomingtogetha in a paceless race in May. However, he returned after a year away and seemed to pick right up where he left off, closing resolutely to beat a solid allowance field last month. He stands to move forward second off the layoff, and he should be a square price due to the low-profile connections.