Wednesday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Corruption looks too tough for allowance foes
Saratoga | Race 4 | Post Time 2:58 p.m. (ET)
I'm not trying to beat likely favorite Corruption (#6) in this high-priced allowance/optional-claimer. I had been hoping to bet this horse in a tougher spot where he'd be a more enticing price, but his connectinos opted out of running in the Bowling Green, and then were forced to scratch from the United Nations due to a quarantine in Mark Casse's barn. He's since gotten back on the worktab, looking no worse for the missed time. His form through the early part of this year has been excellent, as he has improved with experience and added distance. He ran the classy Far Bridge to a neck decision in the Pan American, and then cut back for his next couple of starts. The nine furlongs of the Grade 1 Manhattan was probably short of his best distance, but he ran deceptively well chasing on the outside after getting steadied out of position at the start. He figures to get a more comfortable trip pressing the pace here, and I believe stretching back out around three turns will bring out his best.
I'm not a big fan of the horse who could go off as the second choice in the wagering. Hush of a Storm (#5) just missed as the favorite in last month's Kingston against New York-breds without a major excuse. The winner of that race came back to disappoint in his next start, and I haven't loved the overall form of this runner as he has moved into his 7-year-old season. It's also unclear if he will appreciate the added ground he gets.
Summer Cause (#4) interests me more at a bigger price, especially for use underneath my top pick. He is one of two Miguel Clement trainees in this field who has spent the majority of his career on the dirt. However, he always had turf in his pedigree and proved that he could make the transition to this surface when he won at Tampa in April. He made a wide, sustained run into the lane, looking very much like a horse who wouldn't mind some additional distance. He failed to step forward last time when moved into stakes company at Laurel, but he got shuffled back early in a race that didn't feature any pace. He can be used more aggressively this time by Joel Rosario, and I believe he'll get the distance without issue.