How to bet the 2024 Barbara Fritchie Stakes

A nice field of nine fillies and mares will travel seven panels on the Laurel Park dirt in Saturday’s $200,000 Barbara Fritchie S. (G3). The main-track co-feature includes a pair of runners from the barn of Saffie Joseph, including #6 Intrepid Daydream who gets top billing in the affair. 

Barbara Fritchie Wager

• $10 trifecta key 6 with 1,4,5 ($60)

The dark bay daughter of the late Jess’s Dream compiled a sharp 8-4-3-1 mark in 2023 which included two facile stakes tallies on the course, and I expect her to get back to her local winning ways in this one. Bred in Maryland, the accomplished five-year-old was in a nice spot in midstretch of the Inside Information S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park last time out before tiring late, and I envision her taking a big step forward in her third run since joining this outfit. 

Intrepid Daydream likes the local oval, she has done well at the distance, and I also expect her to receive a favorable voyage, as well. Jevian Toldeo will guide my clear top choice. 

#4 Disco Ebo is the inside pace of the race and will be difficult to run down if she clears early and establishes moderate early fractions for conditioner Butch Reid. The five-year-old was very game in a recent allowance victory at Parx in her latest venture and could peak in a third effort since the short layoff. The Weigelia mare will be sent from the opening bell by regular rider Frankie Pennington. 

Brittany Russell’s #5 Apple Picker was a clear runner-up in both the Safely Kept S. and Willa on the Move S. on this strip to conclude 2023. The Connect four-year-old has posted some brisk morning moves in the interim, and the Kentucky bred will likely have a solid pace to run at late with Sheldon Russell in the irons. 

Eddie Kenneally’s #1 Last Leaf always produces a nice turn of foot and could benefit from the synthetic-to-dirt move. The dark bay daughter of Not This Time has not found the winners’ circle since 2022, but she did pick up four stakes placings last campaign and has to be included in the vertical exotics with a perfect post slot on the rail. Angel Cruz has the call.