Exotics plays for the 2021 Matt Winn Stakes

Kentucky Derby (G1) fifth-place finisher #3 O Besos leads a field of eight in Saturday’s $150,000 Matt Winn S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. As the class of the field, the Greg Foley-trained son of Orb seems more than likely to reach the top-three with anything close to his top performance. The chestnut is not a cinch, however, due to his late-running style in a field lacking pace. And he figures to be a short price, too.

I will use O Besos, but the Kentucky-bred is not my top choice. And the best value in my wagers will come if he gets upset under Marcelino Pedroza. A trio of additional horses will be included in the gimmicks.

Still a work in progress, #2 Helium has accomplished quite a bit in a short time for Mark Casse. The son of Ironicus was a stakes winner at Woodbine as a juvenile, and he also bagged the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) in his three-year-old debut. A tiring sixth in the Kentucky Derby last time out, the bay has the early foot to be prominent from the start on Saturday. And I also expect him to be much fitter while making just his third run of 2021.

#6 Hello Hot Rod is a question mark from a class standpoint, but the dark bay colt has the right running style and is very intriguing at a number. He led throughout in the Jimmy Winkfield S. at Aqueduct in his 2021 bow, prior to finishing a decent fifth in the Federico Tesio S. in his initial two-turn assignment. The son of Mosler will be equipped with blinkers for the first time on Saturday, and if the equipment change moves him forward, the Maryland-bred will be a prime factor throughout.

Recent maiden winner #1 Ready to Pounce is giving up a lot of seasoning in his stakes debut, but I loved his maiden win at Keeneland last time out and give him a top-three chance from the rail. Neil Pessin pupil completed a swift final quarter-mile going eight panels in his dirt debut, and any improvement in here will make him interesting despite the hefty class rise. Regular pilot Brian Hernandez Jr. retains the mount.

Matt Winn Exotics Wagers

• $3 trifecta key: 3 with 1,2,6 ($18)
• $2 trifecta: 1,2,6 with 3 with 1,2,6 ($12)
• 50-cent superfecta box: 1,2,3,6 ($12)
• $3 exacta 1,2,6 with 3 ($9)