2023 Miss Preakness Stakes Exotics Plays

A total of seven sophomore fillies will dash six panels on the Pimlico dirt in Friday’s $150,000 Miss Preakness S. (G3). There is an abundance of pace signed on for the sprint, and while the late runners don’t necessarily possess the quality of the morning-line choices at this stage of their development, I feel compelled to take a shot with a closing type to upset the field. I also will use multiple runners in the top spot looking for value.

I came away quite impressed with the maiden win posted by Rodolphe Brisset’s #4 Afternoon Tea (8-1) at Keeneland last time out, and while this is a significant class hike, I expect the fine prospect to be a contender in the heat. The WinStar homebred broke from the widest post in that offering and gamely held on in the lane despite giving up ground the entire way in the seven-furlong contest. This Speightstown chestnut will rally from off the tempo with Irad picking up the mount.

#7 Bound by Destiny (30-1) simply has to be included at anything like her morning-line price. Now in the hands of the red-hot Brittany Russell, the Lord Nelson three-year-old stormed home to victories in her first four career outings prior to finishing off the board in the Smart Halo S. in November to conclude her 2022 season. This Kentucky-bred gray shows a trio of good morning moves as of late and will have Sheldon Russell in the irons.

#3 Happy Clouds (15-1) might be more of an exotics piece, but the Farrior trainee has turned out to be a fabulous claim when plucked for $12,500 in January. First or second in each of her five tries for these connections, the daughter of Paynter has the best turn of foot in the field and will benefit most from a pace meltdown in the event.

Beaumont S. (G2) queen #2 Key of Life (1-1) and the unbeaten #6 Maple Leaf Mel (8-5) each have to be on all tickets, but they might duel from the opening bell and be vulnerable inside the final furlong.

Miss Preakness Exotics

• $3 exacta: 3,4,7 with 2,3,4,6,7 ($36)
• $.50-cent trifecta: 3,4,7 with 2,3,4,6,7 with all ($30)
• $.10-cent superfecta box: 2,3,4,6,7 ($12)