US expert Tom Collins opts for classy sprinter in Will Rogers Downs feature

Nym
10.15 Will Rogers Downs
1pt win

Nero
11.15 Will Rogers Downs
3pts win

The Will Rogers Downs faithful will be pleased to see the $50,000 Highland Ice Stakes (11.15) headlining Tuesday's card at the Oklahoma venue, and it looks a competitive heat with eight of the nine runners holding realistic claims.

When that is the case it is usually wise to side with the best jockey and trainer, as well as a horse who will be favoured by the way the race will pan out, and both of those factors led me towards Nero.

Nero, who has plenty of early speed but is also able to race in behind the pacesetters, was formerly trained on the west coast by Bob Baffert and was highly regarded as a juvenile.

He was pitched into the deep end on just his third outing and finished a highly creditable second in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, before winning an allowance-optional claimer and then running in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes.

He didn't live up to expectations then but returned to his level afterwards at Santa Anita, recording form figures of 213 (third in Grade 2 company) before switching to trainer Steve Asmussen, who does so well with his runners at this track.

Nero is winless in three starts for his new barn but has run well in defeat on each occasion at Oaklawn Park and this rates an easier task.

He has had just nine days off since his last start, so will be rock-hard fit, and is drawn to go forward from stall five. Asmussen will have bigger targets ahead for Nero and hopes are high that he can progress from here.

Although Lane Luzzi, who rides Nero, is one of the best jockeys at the track, no rider is in better form than Leandro Goncalves, who went into Monday's Will Rogers Downs fixture with a record of seven winners from 19 rides.

The Brazilian-born jockey started his career riding quarterhorses and showed an aptitude for success. He quickly progressed into a much-sought-after thoroughbred rider and is on a red-hot streak of late.

Goncalves can add to his haul when partnering Nym for trainer Keri Craddock in the $8,250 claimer (10.15), a race that is open to horses who haven't won two or more races since October 2019.

Nym falls into that category thanks to one victory at Sam Houston Park in that timeframe, but that score came when he was last seen on the track in the middle of February and it's easy to envisage him following up in a similar race.

Held up in the early stages, Nym came through the pack powerfully and drew away to win well at the line. Recent works at Sam Houston indicate he remains in fine fettle despite a near two-month layoff.

There doesn't appear to be a great deal of early pace in the race so he will need some luck if nothing develops in front of him, but he remains the most likely winner and will probably be backed.

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