Wednesday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Destiny Star better than recent results suggest

Saratoga | Race 8 | Post Time 5:10 p.m. (ET)

Revalita (#4) could go favored here as she makes her second start off a layoff for Chad Brown. She showed promise during her 3-year-old season, placing in a couple of Grade 2 stakes events. However, she failed to win for this barn, and didn’t seem to have a significant excuse when she lost the Lake George prior to heading to the sidelines. Her return from an 11-month layoff last time was somewhat disappointing considering her 9-5 odds. She got a pretty good trip, sitting in the 2-path most of the way before angling out as if she would prove a serious threat into the stretch. However, she never really kicked in, just staying on at one pace for third. Perhaps she’ll do better here, but Chad Brown typically has these types ready to go off a freshening.

Beets (#2) also figures to attract support as she steps up off a maiden score for Bill Mott, who is in the midst of an excellent Saratoga meet. She ran deceptively well to get up for second on debut last year, overcoming a poor start to make a wide, mid-race move into contention. It took her a while to get back to the races thereafter, but she looked like a filly who had really stepped forward in her return last time. Stretching out to this one-mile distance, she broke better and was sent straight to the lead, controlling the race throughout while never in danger. She’s facing a tougher field this time, but she gets Lasix and draws well inside.

I want to take a shot against these fillies with another 3-year-old who has been somewhat underrated through her recent starts. Destiny Star (#3) got no respect last time out at this level when dismissed at 32-1 against a promising field of fellow sophomores. Luis Saez clearly wanted to get her forward that day, but he had to settle for a mid-pack trip when other speeds were ridden aggressively. She adapted well and was advancing willingly at the quarter pole before having to briefly wait for room in the stretch. She found a seam and finished willingly in a race that otherwise fell apart. Her form prior to that is also better than it looks. She ran well to hold on for third in the Sanibel Island in March, and two back got a ridiculous wide trip that cost her any chance of success. Tim Hamm has sent live runners to this meet, and she’s another who drew well inside for this distance.