>Aqueduct / Feb 27 / Race 1 /  1:20 PM EST

We found interesting price horses difficult to come by on this Friday card, so let’s try to start the day off right with a horse who, while hardly a big price (assuming he is going to show up today; a big price on any runner from this barn would be a terrible sign), figures to be no better than the second or third choice behind a likely heavy favorite.

#1 Money Machine is dropping back down today for his third start off the layoff. The $50k claimer he ran in last time (Race Rating 90, vs. today’s 83) was made difficult by the presence of two horses taking big class drops out of allowance company. Adding to Money Machine’s troubles in that spot, there was very little pace in that race (note Pace Figures/fractions shaded blue), which forced his rider to try an early three-wide run at the lead. In his first start off the layoff, which was also his first start for David Jacobson, Money Machine ran quite well despite a less-than-ideal trip.

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Jacobson gets a perfect 100 rating with claimers dropping in class, and he gets a solid 92 third off the layoff. Money Machine is going to need at least some pace to develop in this race, which Pace Projector indicates could be an issue, but with all of #6 First Ranger, #7 March Too, and even #3 Pegasus T entered to run, there should be enough going on up front to give him his best chance.