Dinner Party Stakes Exotics Plays

An accomplished field of 12 will run 1 1/8 miles on the Pimlico lawn in Saturday’s $500,000 Dinner Party S. (G3). A trio of Grade 1 winners are signed on for the event, and I will give top billing to one of them. 

Dinner Party Exotics Wagers

• $10 exacta box 4-10 ($20)
• $3 exacta key box 4 with 5,9,12 ($18)
• $1 trifecta key 4 with 5,9,10,12 ($12)
• $1 trifecta 5,9,10,12 with 4 with 5,9,10,12 ($12)
• 20-cent superfecta 4,10 with 4,10 with 5,9,12 with all ($10.80)

2023 Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) winner #4 Atone (10-1) is an especially generous price on the morning line and he is my selection in the tilt. By Into Mischief, the seven-year-old is far from a win machine as he has gone winless in nine races in succession, but the gelding has faced excellent competition over that time and fits well in a field with many question marks. He was fifth by a length in the race last season after leading to midstretch, and I expect him to go better on Saturday with Luis Saez riding. I’ll key the value selection in first and second. 

Five-time turf stakes victor #10 Emmanuel (5-2) is a deserving favorite in the field and was a close third in the event in 2023. This Todd Pletcher pupil set the pace before being outclassed in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) last time out, but he gets a pass for that event which was run over a yielding course. The son of More Than Ready looms large on firm going under Irad Ortiz, Jr. 

Three additional horses that I will consider include Chad Brown’s #5 Running Bee (9-2), Fair Grounds S. (G3) winner #9 Beatbox (5-1), and Wesley Ward’s #12 Funtastic Again (12-1), who might be the one to catch turning for home. 

I feel that Grade 1 star #1 Highland Chief (12-1) is much better at extended distances, while Grade 1 victor #7 Adhamo (8-1) hasn’t won since 2022 and wants more distance, so I will omit both of the accomplished turfers.