Betting With, and Against, Marissa’s Lady in the Holiday Inaugural Stakes

An overflow and talented field of 14 fillies and mares are signed on for the Saturday feature at Turfway Park, the $125,000 Holiday Inaugural S. The morning-line choice for the deep affair is the William Morey-trained #4 Marissa’s Lady (5-2). By Violence, the four-year-old has compiled a career 4-3-1-0 line at Turfway Park, and a 7-5-1-1 mark on synthetic ovals in total, and she was last seen finishing a fine second in a deep turf dash at Keeneland most recently. 

Marissa’s Lady – With

• $25 exacta 4 with 8 ($25)
• $10 exacta 4 with 7,11 ($20)
• $.50-cent trifecta 4 with 7,8,11 with all ($15)

Marissa’s Lady – Against

• $.50-cent trifecta 7,8,11 with 4,7,8,11 with all ($45)
• $2 exacta box 7,8,11 ($12) 

Marissa’s Lady displayed a lot of pace on this surface last campaign, but the gray has evolved and doesn’t need the lead in order to win, proven by her off-the-pace score in the Satin and Lace S. at Presque Isle Downs two back. Rafael Bejarano will be in the silks atop the deserving favorite. 

The late-running #8 Spun Glass (8-1) bagged the Ontario Fashion S. (G3) on the Woodbine All-Weather strip two back and rates an obvious chance with something resembling that performance for conditioner Michael Trombetta. By Hard Spun, the consistent chestnut is a one-run closer who is two-for-two at six panels, and her best effort will give her a chance inside the final furlong at a nice price on Saturday. Gerardo Corrales will be in the silks. 

Saffie Joseph’s #7 Artie’s Princess (20-1) is a Grade 2 heroine on synthetic and is slowly racing back into form this season. This We Miss Artie six-year-old has failed to hit the board in four straight leading up to this one, but the mare has moved forward since removing blinkers two back and simply has too much back class to ignore in the affair. Tyler Conner will be in the stirrups. 

#11 Lady Goldstart (15-1) is a wildcard on the move from the lawn to this surface, but she will improve in her second off the Mike Maker claim and rates a chance at a price. The Upstart five-year-old has been in very good form since the summer, and the Kentucky-bred also owns the speed to be in range from the early stages of the tilt, too. Martin Chuan has the assignment.