Betting the 2024 Hendrie Stakes

An outstanding field of 12 fillies and mares will go 6 1/2 furlongs over Woodbine’s Tapeta surface in Saturday’s $135,000 Hendrie S. (G3). This is a very classy group featuring synthetic specialists and proven turf performers, and I surely have to spread my wagers out using multiple runners. A superfecta play, while ambitious, will be very rewarding if I am successful with my handicapping and ticket structure. 

Hendrie Wagers:

20-cent superfecta 8 with 2,4,9 with 2,4,6,7,9,11,12 with all ($32.40)

20-cent superfecta 2,4,9 with 8 with 2,4,6,7,9,11,12 with all ($16.20)

Hendrie Analysis:

#8 Play the Music is the first of my must-use inclusions in the field. Trained by Mark Casse, the four-year-old daughter of Mo Town is peaking right now and looms as the likely one to beat. She aired in the Whimsical S. (G3) on the course two back, prior to roaring home an open-length victress of the grassy Royal North (G3) last time out. The four-year-old has a potent turn of foot and go-to pilot Patrick Husbands in the silks. 

The most intriguing win threat in the field might be stakes winner #4 Freedom Speaks for Jose D’Angelo. The American Freedom mare has not run in more than a year, but she has displayed a ton of ability in her lifetime, which includes a dominant debut win in her lone prior run on an All-Weather surface. It’s a big ask of this five-year-old to take down such a deep field, but I don’t doubt her ability or her conditioner’s acumen with layoff runners. 

Grade 3 heroine #9 Honey Pants owns good positional speed which will go a long way in the field lacking a lot of early types. Trained by Jonathan Thomas, the Cairo Prince mare has performed well while runner-up in each of her two synthetic efforts to date, and she could peak while making her third run off the layoff, too. The six-year-old could get first run on the closing types turning for home with Luis Contreras up. 

#2 Gal In A Rush is also making a third run off the break and could run her best for Christophe Clement. This Ghostzapper mare has been much improved since adding blinkers seven back and possesses a big turn of foot on the green that can surely translate to this surface. The Kentucky-bred will rate from midpack before being asked for her best late by Kazushi Kimura.