How to bet the 2024 Penn Mile

Seven of the 10 sophomores entered for the $400,000 Penn Mile (G3) have previously achieved stakes glory, making it arguably one of the deeper fields ever to be assembled at Penn National for the tilt. 

Penn Mile Wagers

• $20 win and place #2 Good Lord Lorrie ($40)
• 50-cent trifecta 2,7 with 2,7,10 with all ($16)

#2 Good Lord Lorrie (9-2) has done nothing wrong from a pair of career starts to date and I think that the colt will make it three in succession on Friday evening. The Kentucky-bred son of Hard Spun debuted at Saratoga on August 12 in a turf sprint and put in a fine late run to win by one length over a ‘good’ surface. Returning in April in the Woodhaven S. at Aqueduct, the chestnut picked up right where he left off with a half-length triumph over firm ground at today’s distance, while being well backed 5-2 odds.

The top pick put in a half-mile bullet work on the Oklahoma training surface at Saratoga in his latest morning endeavor and seems poised for a big run in his local bow. I see him saving ground near midpack to the top of the lane prior to spurting clear late with Flavien Prat retaining the ride. 

I had interest in Mark Casse’s #7 Set (6-1) in the American Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, but the colt missed the break and didn’t do all that much over ground he didn’t seem to handle. The Oscar Performance chestnut was pretty impressive in his two prior outings in Florida, led by a victory in the Cutler Bay S., and I consider his last to be a throwout. Emisael Jaramillo, who was in the stirrups in his first pair of tries, will take the reins. Set will be forwardly placed from the opening bell. 

#10 Trikari (3-1), the morning-line choice, comes off of a strong American Turf (G2) victory for conditioner Graham Motion. The surging son of Oscar Performance has displayed class and versatility as of late, but he will have a much different voyage on Friday. At Churchill, the colt tucked in from his rail post and had things his own way, but today he’s drawn outside and might be wide throughout. He’s an obvious inclusion, but I can’t back him on top at an expected short number.