Wednesday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Passing Moments needs a more patient ride

Belmont | Race 2 | Post Time 2:01 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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Veil (#3) is likely to go off as the favorite here, but she did not do that much running in her only start during the past year. She is dropping in class, as is Time to Flirt (#4), who ran decently in two maiden races at the Fair Grounds. Brad Cox is always dangerous, but I think she might need to improve to beat this field. Other runners like Farcical Feline (#8) and Holiday Hopes (#9), who both received some questionable rides in recent starts, are somewhat interesting, but I’m going in a different direction for my top pick.

PASSING MOMENTS (#1) makes her second start for Tim Hills. I don't know what Elvis Trujillo's plan was in her debut, but he sent her forward starting around the half-mile pole, making a suicidal premature move from last to first within the span of about a furlong. Others that were more patiently ridden had more left in reserve for the stretch drive and she faded from contention. She should have gotten plenty of experience out of that race, and she's certainly bred to get better on turf as a half-sister to five turf winners who all won multiple races on this surface. The rider switch to Javier Castellano makes her irresistible in this spot.

THE PLAY

Win/Place: 1

Exacta Key Box: 1 with 3,4,8,9