You can try all you want, but you’re going to have a very difficult time making chicken salad out of the chicken whatever that was Horse of the Year California Chrome’s draw of the 12 post in Saturday’s $12 million Pegasus World Cup going – quite notably – 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park.

It was well known well before the Pegasus was born that there is a very short run to the first turn in 1 1/8-mile races at Gulfstream, putting outside post positions at a severe disadvantage. How much of a disadvantage? Consider the following:

Jan. 21

Fair Grounds

Col. E. R. Bradley (race 8)

PALMER’S WAY
Trainer: Peter Miller
Last race: Jan. 21, race 7
Finish: Second by three and one-quarter lengths
Beyer: 81
A first-time starter by Gemologist, this colt broke last, made an extended run into contention, loomed in stretch, lugged in while tiring, likely best in an excellent debut.

DOWNTOWNER
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Jan. 21, race 7
Finish: Fifth by six and one-half lengths

Each week, TimeformUS Chief Figure Maker Craig Milkowski takes a look back at the weekend’s graded stakes and releases the TimeformUS Speed Figures for these races.

TimeformUS Speed Figure Report

Stakes Races for week ending 1-22-2017

Santa Anita

Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes

1/4          128

1/2          124

Fin           113

Top 3: Finest City 118, Fantastic Style 114, Sheer Pleasure 109

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time: 3:20 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up now

Race 3:

Resolve (#4)

Has been overmatched in his recent dirt races.

Ran better than it appears last time when racing on a dead rail in the stretch at Laurel.

Handled two turns over the inner track last season.

30-1 on ML

Race 6:

:: Get TimeformUS PPs for these races at Aqueduct

Sol the Freud (#10)

Weather forecasters have been surprisingly accurate during this wet winter in Southern California. If the forecast is right once again, the Santa Anita card on Sunday will be run in the rain.

 The debut of Paradise Woods in race 4 is a potential highlight, although filly faces legitimate rivals that have an experience edge. They are the program favorite Princess Julia, runner-up last out, and Kenda, s better-than-looked fourth in her debut.

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 3:20 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs 

Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up now

Three of the main contenders are all exiting the same race on Dec. 30. Fratello del Nord was the only one to hit the board, finishing a game second after contesting the pace for his entire trip. However, I think the two horses that finished behind him are just as dangerous in this spot.

Duly inspired by all the greatness on hand here Saturday night at Gulfstream Park for the Eclipse Awards, we’re going to try to be equally great at the betting windows Sunday afternoon. I will take a stand in a couple of spots in the early pick five by trying to leverage some strong opinions.

In race 1, DERO D (6) is the 2-1 morning-line favorite, but he has been far shorter in similar nonwinners-of-two-lifetime spots and looks like he will finally get through that condition at a short price when dropping back in for $6,250 for the highly competent Jane Cibelli.

Race 2

Sing for Beauty (#2)

Was involved in a very fast pace last time (indicated by red color-coding in TimeformUS PPs).

Was mildly against a rail bias last time, making her performance better than it appears.

When she's in form, is capable of earning the highest TimeformUS Speed Figures in the field.

4-1 on ML

Race 7

Benevolence (#8)

Two races back, he got shuffled back along the inside around the far turn.