Betting With, and Against, Two Sharp in the Chilukki Stakes

A total of eight fillies and mares will go one mile on the main oval in Saturday’s $300,000 Chilukki S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The Phil Bauer-trained #4 Two Sharp (2-1) is the morning-line odds choice and has been first or second in each of her four lifetime races to date. 

Two Sharp – With

• $5 trifecta key 4 with 1,2,3 ($30)
• 50-cent superfecta 4 with 1,2,3 with 1,2,3 with all ($15)

Two Sharp – Against

• 50-cent superfecta 1,2,3 with 1,2,3,4 with 1,2,3,4 with all ($45)

Two Sharp was a debut second on the oval in June and has improved with each run since. After breaking her maiden by a whopping 11 lengths at Saratoga on August 2, the $925,000 yearling purchase missed by just a neck when runner-up in the Prioress S. (G3) at The Spa, which preceded a dominant allowance triumph at Keeneland most recently. 

The sophomore daughter of Twirling Candy will face her elders in the dash, which is always a challenge, and the bay will also have blinkers added following a strong victory last time which is intriguing to me. This speedy Kentucky bred will be forcing the pace in her first test at the distance under Junior Alvarado. 

Grade 2 heroine #3 Taxed (4-1) is a solid alternative to the favorite for those in search of more value. The gray Collected filly is not the most consistent horse in training, but she possesses a lot of quality and lands in a very reasonable spot for conditioner Randy Morse. The Kentucky-bred four-year-old was a strong allowance winner on the oval and at the distance in May, and something resembling that effort will make her dangerous in the lane beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr. 

Claiborne homebred #2 Pigalle (9-2) bagged the Groupie Doll S. at Ellis Park two back prior to checking in fourth in the Locust Grove S. (G2) beneath the Twin Spires in her latest offering. The Blame four-year-old is lightly raced this campaign with just a trio of tries to her credit, and the improving sort also likes the venue as she sports a 5-2-2-0 mark locally. The bay, who cuts back in distance off the short layoff, can win from on or off the pace, and I envision her getting first run at the top of the lane. Luan Machado has the call.

Trainer Saffie Joseph has endured an excellent season with stakes horses leading up to this affair and I can’t omit #1 Imonra (12-1) at a nice price. The Violence four-year-old ran into Soul of an Angel in the Princess Rooney S. (G3) at Gulfstream in her latest endeavor, and the Vegso homebred will appreciate getting a bit more ground with which to work with on Saturday. She shows a 4-2-2-0 mark at the distance and is well drawn on the rail with speed to her outside under Luis Saez.