Betting With, and Against, Society in the Chicago Stakes

The Steve Asmussen-trained #1 Society (4-5) has been installed as the morning-line choice for Saturday’s $250,000 Chicago S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. By Gun Runner, the five-year-old dominated the race in 2023 when the affair was hosted by Ellis Park, and she seems well spotted in an attempt to defend her title in the feature. 

Society – With

• $40 trifecta 1 with 3 with 4 ($40)
• $5 trifecta 1 with 4 with 3 ($5)

Society – Against

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• $30 trifecta 3 with 1 with 4 ($30)
• $5 trifecta 3 with 4 with all ($15)

Society, winner of the 2022 Cotillion S. (G1), capped her four-year-old season with a solid fourth-place run in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita and appears to be training forwardly in preparation of her yearly debut. The Kentucky-bred mare will face a pair of additional Grade 1 heroines in the contest, but she is total lone speed and will be impossible to knock off if she runs her best race. Tyler Gaffalione will guide the imposing favorite. 

#3 Vavha (1-1) is the logical main danger in the field for conditioner Cherie DeVaux. The four-year-old daughter of Gun Runner rolled home to an impressive victory in the Derby City Distaff (G1) most recently, and she has run a trio of fantastic races in succession while at the peak of her career entering the dash. Also by Gun Runner, the four-year-old is not the swiftest gate horse, but she does possess a nice measure of tactical speed and will have first run on the pacesetter turning for home. I do fear that she could be compromised by chasing the clear early leader all the way around the oval, but she is too genuine to ignore with Irad Ortiz, Jr. coming back to retain the mount. 

2022 Test S. (G1) heroine #4 Chi Town Lady (10-1) closed well to be fourth in the Derby City most recently for conditioner Wesley Ward. The Verrazano five-year-old is a horse that I like in general, but the one-run closing type will be up against it from a pace standpoint. If the top pair hook up early and duel, then she will benefit most with Jose Ortiz taking the reins.