Betting with, and against, Carribean Caper, in the Dogwood Stakes

Seven three-year-old fillies will go postward in Saturday’s $275,000 Dogwood S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The race goes through the unbeaten #2 Carribean Caper, who has rolled home by a combined 18 lengths from four lifetime races to date for trainer Al Stall Jr. The recent Audubon S. heroine has done nothing wrong as of yet, and she will be tough to upend if she brings her best to the field on Saturday.

Carribean Caper is 2-for-2 at the seven-furlong distance and has displayed versatility in her running style as well. She has the gate presence to be close early on, but she can run from off the pace with equal effectiveness. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Speightstown is training well as of late and lands in a cast lacking a ton of class it seems. Colby Hernandez, her regular rider, will be in the stirrups atop the dark bay.

The Jeff Hiles-trained #5 Shesa Mystery has delivered big performances in each of her three races on dirt to date. The talented daughter of Verrazano finished a nice second behind Army Wife two prior in the Iowa Oaks (G3), and she gets a pass for her unplaced showing in the recent Pucker Up S. (G3) on the Arlington Park lawn last time out.

Despite never racing at less than a mile prior to this contest, Shesa Mystery should be a formidable foe with her best on Saturday. The chestnut has good early foot and will never be far back in a field lacking an abundance of pace. She rates a big chance with Miguel Mena taking the reins for the first time.

Tom Amoss’ #3 Li’l Tootsie has delivered multiple fine performances in one-turn endeavors and rates a logical chance in this affair. Third in the deep Prioress S. (G2) at Saratoga most recently, the bay daughter of Tapiture might not get a swift pace to rally into in the Dogwood, but she has drawn well and has the ability to run with this cast for sure. The bay is a winner on the surface and will be closing fast beneath James Graham.

I think that the aforementioned trio will decide the race inside the final furlong on Saturday.

Dogwood Stakes wagers

Carribean Caper -- With

• $20 exacta 2 with 3,5 ($40)

Carribean Caper -- Against

• 50-cent superfecta 3,5 with 2,3,5 with all with all ($40)