Aqueduct | Race 4 | Post Time 2:55 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up 

The two major players in this race, Ruvies in Time and Miss Jimmy, faced off last time in a similar race at this level on Jan. 31. Miss Jimmy (#3) finished just ahead of her rival that day, as both were defeated by the late-running Elegant Zip. Yet Jan. 31 was a day that featured a dead rail that appeared to compromise horses racing anywhere near the inside path. That hindered both Miss Jimmy and Ruvies in Time, as each of them raced in the rail path until the quarter pole. Given that track profile, we saw many winners close down the center of the track on that Jan. 31 card, and that was certainly the case in the race these two mares exit.

That’s why I’m especially confident that RUVIES IN TIME (#2) will rebound with a better effort on this occasion. Not only was she on the rail early, but she spurted away and was battling back all the way down to the wire while racing on the rail, even as Miss Jimmy attempted to rally outside of her in the lane. Ruvies in Time has been in excellent form since fall for Rick Schosberg, having turned the corner ever since that confidence-building win against $12.5k claimers last October. She rode a bias to victory on Dec. 19, but she proved that the performance was no fluke last time when running nearly as well in defeat. This time she figures to be the controlling speed from the inside, which has been an advantage in recent weeks at Aqueduct.

I strongly prefer this pair of mares to the 4-year-old Impazible Donna. While she is coming off a victory at the N1X level, she was facing slightly weaker company in that race and hasn’t yet faced the level of competition that she encounters here.

THE PLAY

Win: 2

Exacta: 2 with 3,4

Trifecta: 2 with 3 with 4,5,6