Wednesday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Fair Haired Boy ready to move forward off sprint prep

Saratoga | Race 7 | Post Time 4:29 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

There are a few runners dropping in class out of N1X allowance company in this intriguing $40k claimer. There are a couple of runners cutting back from marathon distances who may attract support. Prefect (#9) and Win d’Oro (#10) both raced over 1 1/2 miles in their most recent starts. Prefect seemed to improve a bit with the stretch-out, so I’m somewhat skeptical about the turnback for him, even dropping in class. And I’m just not sure that Win d’Oro is that good, as he was never really a factor in either race at the N1X level.

Given the lack of speed signed on, Gimme Some Mo (#12) is perhaps the one to beat on the front end. He ran poorly in his most recent turf start, but he’s had some time off since. He has a few back races that put him in contention and Irad Ortiz Jr. should feel the need to make good use of his tactical speed from this outside post position. I’m using him prominently but I’m most interested in a less obvious entrant.

FAIR HAIRED BOY (#2) looks way too slow based on speed figures, but I think it’s worth taking his form apart a bit. He ran well to break his maiden at Colonial Downs when he was a 2-year-old and then was hardly disgraced trying the Laurel Futurity three weeks later. He was steadied slightly on the backstretch of that stakes and had to alter course in the lane, hitting his best stride too late. That race didn’t come back fast but it’s been somewhat productive. Third-place finisher Doc Boy won a turf stakes as a 3-year-old and fourth-place finisher Field Pass is now a multiple graded stakes winner. Even Grade 1 Carter winner Mischevious Alex was in that field, though he’s not a turf horse. Something obviously happened for Fair Haired Boy to be off for so long after that but I think his return at Gulfstream last time was merely a prep. He’s not a five-furlong horse, and he was running on late before galloping out well. I think he should show more speed with that tightener under his best and he’s placed appropriately for a barn that has been dangerous on this circuit.

THE PLAY

Win: 2
Exacta Key Box: 2 with 5,9,10,11,12