2022 Mint Julep Stakes Exotics Plays

A talented field of 10 will go postward in the 1 1/16-mile $200,000 Mint Julep S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sunday. The feature on the card pits a well-matched field of fillies and mares for the grassy endeavor in what appears to be a very good betting contest.

Juddmonte homebred #1 Petricor (8-1) was sharp in an allowance tally at Keeneland while making her U.S. debut for conditioner Bill Mott last time out. The four-year-old Frankel filly will improve with one race under her belt off the long absence, and I am making her my top selection despite the class rise.

Petricor is a lightly-raced filly with a 3-for-5 career mark who possesses a very high ceiling, in my opinion. The stakes-winning dark bay has posted four solid morning drills in advance of Sunday, and the rail draw might be ideal for the lass with top turf pilot Florent Geroux in the silks, as well.

Grade 3 heroine #7 Gam’s Mission (5-1) sports a 3-2-1-0 mark on the course for DeVaux and rates a big chance in her third try of the season. By Noble Mission, the four-year-old filly has been second-best in both of her assignments in 2022, and the bay is primed for a peak performance in this cast with Beschizza up.

Al Stall’s #6 Dalika (9-2) will make her seasonal debut and is always a threat, especially when she runs beneath the Twin Spires. The classy mare does her best work when running longer distances, but she is good enough to be a major player against this cast with a top showing.

I can’t find a lot of separation with the rest of the contenders in the field, so I will use all of them for the lower rungs of the gimmicks.

Mint Julep Exotics Wagers

• $10 exacta 1 with 6,7 ($20)
• $1 trifecta 1 with 6,7 with all ($16)
• 20-cent superfecta 1,6,7 with 1,6,7 with 1,6,7 with all ($8.40)
• 10-cent superfecta 1,6,7 with 1,6,7 with all with 1,6,7 ($4.20)