Aqueduct | Race 1 | Post Time 1:20 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up 

Linda Rice holds a strong hand in this race with two contenders in his six-horse field. The well-bred La Kara Mia (#3) had a right to need a race coming off the 7-month layoff last time. She briefly made a bid at the quarter pole before flattening out, and should do better this time. If she can get back to the form that she displayed in her lone prior dirt start in July she’ll be tough for this field to handle. Despite being a daughter of champion sprinter La Verdad, this filly looks like one that wants to go longer, so the stretch-out to a mile should work to her benefit. Though I prefer Linda Rice’s other entrant.

Voice of Spring (#5) showed so much promise in her career debut last June, making excellent late progress up the rail in the lane while facing a solid field of maiden special weight rivals. However, she disappointed in her subsequent summer start and never got involved in her return from a layoff in January. The obvious excuse for those last two efforts is the wet track, and she’s likely to get back on fast going on Sunday. Yet questions still remain, as Linda Rice did enter her for a $40k tag (and scratch) about a month ago. She’s bred to handle added ground, so the stretch-out may work for her.

I’m using both of these, but my top pick is LUCKY GIRL (#2). This filly didn’t get the best trip last time when just edged out by today’s rival Moon Sweeper (#1) for second. Lucky Girl was off a step slowly, got a little rank at the back of the pack, and made a 4-wide move on the far turn before flattening out. Runbacks from that Feb. 5 affair have suggested it was a stronger race than it first appeared to be. Prior to that, she was simply overmatched against open company two back, and run well going a route distance in October. She appears to be heading in the right direction, and just needs to work out a fair trip to succeed.

THE PLAY

Win: 2

Exacta Key Box: 2 with 1,3,5

Trifecta: 2 with 1,3,5 with 1,3,5