by TimeformUS Analyst David Aragona

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RACE 2: SING FOR BEAUTY (#2)
If Sing for Beauty repeats her last effort, she is supposed to win this race. There was a strong rail bias on Dec. 31 at Aqueduct, and Sing for Beauty was racing in the No. 2 path for much of that contest. The pace was extremely fast (indicated by the red color-coding in PPs), but she gamely held onto the lead until the final strides. The 103 TimeformUS Speed Figure that she was assigned for that performance is faster than what her rivals have proven themselves to be capable of attaining. This mare had previously run races as fast as that one and it appears that she has finally cycled back into top form.

Win: 2
Exacta: 2 with 4,5,6

RACE 4: ZONIC (#7)
Sicilia Mike is the horse to beat, but he has now finished second in all five of his races and seems to lack the will to win. Furthermore, I'm not sure how far he really wants to go as he was really staggering home at the end of his first two-turn test last time. I want a new face in this spot and my top pick is Zonic, who is stretching out for the first time. This son of Ghostzapper has been awfully green in both of his career starts, and seems to really resent racing inside of horses down along the rail. He actually finished well last time once his rider was able to steer him out into the clear, losing to Sicilia Mike by slightly less than two lengths. He is bred to handle this stretch-out in distance as a half-brother to Mr. Z.

Win/Place: 7
Exacta Key Box: 7 with 1,2,3,5

RACE 5: PRINCE ZURS (#5)
Prince Zurs has been in great form for Dennis Lalman ever since he was claimed earlier last year. He was overmatched last time, but still ran reasonably well, benefiting from a ground-saving trip over a surface that was favoring inside paths. This time there is no other speed in in this race, and the TimeformUS Pace Projector is predicting that Prince Zurs will find himself loose on the lead in a situation favoring the front-runner. His apprentice rider won a race in wire-to-wire fashion here last week, and he would be wise to use that same aggression aboard this mount.

Win: 5
Exacta: 5 with 1,3,4

RACE 7: BENEVOLENCE (#8)
A few runners are exiting the same Dec. 30 race at this level, and the horse that I want out of that spot is Benevolence. This Kiaran McLaughlin trainee is in much better form than it appears as he has had trouble in each of his last two starts. Two back, he was shuffled back around the turn after his rider unwisely decided to rate him behind the speeds. Then last time, he was bumped hard at the start and forced to steady sharply. He spotted the field about five lengths through the opening furlongs and actually did well to make up some ground in the stretch. Today, he should show far more speed with a clean break, and I think he can turn the tables on his rivals.

Win/Place: 8
Exacta Key Box: 8 with 1,4,9

RACE 8: JAN’S RESERVE (#9)
Bond Vigilante beat a few of these same rivals last time on Dec. 31. While his early speed makes him the horse to beat, he faces a sterner test today. Whereas last time he was the lone speed on a day that featured a strong rail bias, this time he will likely face early pressure from both Proven Commodity and Market Sentiment. I actually prefer a different horse out of that Dec. 31 race. Jan's Reserve was the closer most affected by race dynamics. After getting squeezed back at the start, this horse just couldn't make up ground into what had been a moderate pace. He was also not aided when Rajiv Maragh, who tried his best to save ground early, was forced to angle to the far outside in the stretch. Jan's Reserve had previously run deceptively well two back when he made a premature move on the far turn. If more pace develops here, he should finally get the setup he needs to be successful at this level.

Win/Place: 9
Exacta Key Box: 9 with 1,4,7,8