Exotics Plays for the Boston Stakes

A total of eight sophomores will run one mile on outer turf at Colonial Downs in Saturday’s $125,000 Boston S. The two leading morning-line choices in the field look pretty formidable to me, so I will attempt to get a bit creative in the verticals to find value. 

Boston Exotics

• $6 exacta key box 4 with 6,8 ($24)
• $4 trifecta 4 with 6,8 with 6,8 ($8)
• $4 trifecta 6,8 with 4 with 6,8 ($8)
• 50-cent superfecta 4 with 6,8 with 6,8 with all ($5)
• 50-cent superfecta 6,8 with 4 with 6,8 with all ($5)

The key to my exotics plays will center around #4 Crystal Quest (5-1) for Michael Trombetta. The Live Oak homebred is not a huge number on the board, but a top-two finish from the son of Uncle Mo will spike the payouts, and he can surely accomplish that with his top showing. 

The Florida-bred bay is a two-time winner from four career races on the green, led by a nice tally in the Sophomore Turf S. at Tampa Bay Downs three back. Second in the Murphy S. at Pimlico two prior, the well-bred colt showed little when stuck behind a slow pace at Monmouth Park most recently, but he is much better than he displayed on that afternoon. 

Crystal Quest can really pack a punch in the lane on his best day, and if he gets some pace to run at which is possible, then he has an upset chance with Jorge Ruiz in the stirrups. 

#6 Fulmineo (2-1) has been first or second in five of his six lifetime runs on the turf, and the bay comes off a strong score in the Murphy S. for Arnaud Delcaour. This Bolt d’Oro colt had a promising juvenile campaign on the sod before trying the main surface in his first pair of attempts this season, and he ran fairly well in each of those contests. But he is simply better on the green. The Maryland-bred colt will be even tougher to deny if the course has any moisture in it, as well. Victor Carrasco has the assignment. 

Mark Casse’s #8 In A Jam (9-5) has been consistently good since stretching out in distance and comes off of a nice tally on the All-Weather at Gulfstream Park to earn his first stakes win. The Kentucky-bred son of Preservationist has a good turf record, a versatile running style, and a bullet morning drill as of late leading up to this one, too. He toppled the excellent Trikari on the lawn in February, and it’s hard to find any major flaws with the colt. Antonio Gallardo will be in the irons.