Exotics Plays for the Holiday Cheer Stakes

An overflow cast of 14 is entered for Saturday’s excellent, $250,000 Holiday Cheer S. at Turfway Park. The six-furlong heat on the Tapeta attracted a very good group in what appears to be a superb sprint event with numerous betting options. 

Holiday Cheer Exotics

• $3 exacta key box 8 with 1,2,3,12 ($24)
• $1 trifecta 8,12 with 1,2,3,8,12 with 1,2,3,8,12 ($24)
• 10-cent superfecta 8,12 with 1,2,3,8,12 with 1,2,3,8,12 with all ($21.60)

#8 One Timer (6-1) is a high-quality dasher who is a sterling 3-for-3 on the All-Weather in his career. The five-year-old son of Trappe Shot has run on the turf in his last nine races, with numerous very good results to show for it, and the move to the synthetic should be a simple transition for the gelding. The Kentucky-bred bay will be well placed at the top of the stretch with E. T. Baird signed on. 

Canadian star #12 Patches O’Houlihan (3-1) is a specialist who dons an 11-9-1-0 mark on the synthetic in his lifetime for Robert Tiller. The multiple graded stakes winner was upended last time when a close second, but he is consistently excellent and seems logical to me while making his first local run. Regular pilot Sofia Vives will be in the silks. 

I’ll also include the trio of runners drawn on the inside of the field. #3 Run Carson (9-2) is a sharp turf sprinter who will be a major contender if he takes to the surface transition, which seems likely. The sophomore son of Maclean’s Music comes off of two excellent grassy runs as of late and can win from on, or off, of the early tempo. Luis Saez will guide the colt. 

#2 Mo Stash (12-1) just missed in a deep allowance dash on the green at Keeneland most recently and wouldn’t be a surprise while making his first run on the All Weather. This Victoria Oliver charge adds value to the gimmicks with Luan Machado riding. 

Grade-1 victor #1 Howard Wolowitz (5-2), the morning-line choice, missed by just three lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) in a first run with his elders in advance of Saturday. The Munnings colt aired in a maiden run in his lone prior try on the synthetic, and he will have to overcome both his elders and the rail in this heat.