Checkered Flag Stakes exotics plays, Brickyard Stakes Daily Double

Wednesday’s race card at Horseshoe Indianapolis features a pair of stakes races for Indiana-breds, beginning with the $100,000 Checkered Flag S. for fillies and mares, followed by the Brickyard S. for three-year-olds and older.

Below we analyze the contenders in the nine-horse Checkered Flag field and give our best exotics plays for Race 7, including exacta, trifecta, and superfecta tickets, along with a daily double play combining the Brickyard (Race 8) with the Checkered Flag.

#2 Hungarian Princess (5-2) opened as the morning-line favorite in the six-furlong Checkered Flag after winning the Shelby County S. at Horseshoe on June 8 in her first start for trainer Marvin Johnson, an 18% winner this meet. The four-year-old filly posted a 78 Brisnet Speed figure in her one-length victory, which marked her sixth win in 12 career starts at the track. She's also an impressive 7 4-3-0 in her career at today's distance.

Hungarian Princess could be challenged by #7 Chandana (5-1), who came home fourth in the 6 1/2-furlong Crestwood S. at Hawthorne on June 4. Two back, she posted an 81 Brisnet figure in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance on a sloppy Horseshoe track in her four-year-old debut. Conditioner Robert Dobbs is a 17% winner this meet, while Rodney Prescott will hop back in the saddle for Chandana, who won three straight in her last three races under the jockey.

#6 Verry Amelia (8-1) lost by half a length to Chandana in her three-year-old finale in November while posting an 84 Brisnet rating. The Verrazano filly won her four-year-old debut at Horseshoe on May 23 by two lengths in a five-furlong sprint that was taken off the turf. Trainer Antonio Duran is a 17% winner with horses that won their last race but just a 9% winner in nongraded stakes. However, Very Amelia's sharp 36-second workout at three furlongs and 6-3-1-1 record at this distance makes her an intriguing play.

#5 Poetic Verse (7-2) is 3-for-4 in her career, but the three-year-old's speed figures pale in comparison to her aforementioned rivals. The Distorted Humor granddaughter hit a 72 Brisnet figure last out at 5 1/2 furlongs in an eight-length victory on May 25 at this track. She'll be making a move up in class and will contend for the minor awards.

#8 Mintchocolatechip (15-1) will also move up in class for trainer Randy Klopp, a 21% winner this meet. The five-year-old mare won by a neck in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance for Indiana-bred fillies and mares last out and beat #1 Dontyouremember (20-1) by a length. Regular rider Thomas Pompell is a 15% winner this meet and has gone 5-2-0-1 in the last 14 days when paired up with Klopp.

#9 Buoy (12-1) could also make a bid for the minor awards after clocking a 77 Brisnet figure in a three-length victory at six furlongs at this track on June 9. Hot jockey Fernando De La Cruz, who is 18-6-2-2 over the last seven days, will stay in the saddle for trainer Robert Pincins, who has won at a 23% clip in 2022 and has finished in the money in seven of 13 races this year.

Checkered Flag S. exotics wagers

• $5 Exacta: 7 with 2,6 ($10)
  
• $4 Trifecta: 7 with 2,6 with 2,6,9 ($16)
  
• $2 Superfecta: 7 with 2,6 with 2,6,9 with 5,6,8,9 ($22)

Checkered Flag S. and Brickyard S. Daily Double

#11 Nobody Listens (5-2)'s 92 Brisnet figure is the highest last speed rating, but two back on dirt, he came home second by four lengths in a five-furlong sprint and clocked an 81 Brisnet rating in muddy conditions.

Three back, on May 3, the four-year-old gelding lost by a length to rival #7 Chipofftheoldblock (2-1), who re-opposes here and followed up his win with a fourth-place showing in the Work All Week S. at Hawthorne. The morning-line favorite will switch back to hot jockey Jon Court (22% winner this meet), who rode the More Than Ready son to a decisive win at today's distance at Oaklawn Park on Jan 2 and clocked a 96 Speed figure. The dark bay also posted a 99 Speed figure at six furlongs in a third-place finish to champion male sprinter Jackie's Warrior in the Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3) on April 16.

We'll play Chipofftheoldblock with longshot #5 Rock N June Bug (20-1), who showed improvement in a six-furlong victory at this track on May 30. Trainer Devarus Douglass is 4-for-14 this meet, while jockey Orlando Mojica has won at a 33% clip when paired up with Douglass the last two months.

Let's also include #3 Double Tuff (9-2), who was beaten as the favorite last out in the William Henry Harrison S. in sloppy conditions. Conditioner Kim Hammond is a 29% winner with horses beaten as the favorite and a 19% winner in non-graded stakes. A rider switch back to Jesus Castanon could also help the nine-year-old gelding return to the winner's circle.

$1 Daily Double: 2,7 with 3,5,7 ($6)