How to bet the 2021 Jessamine Stakes

Link textAn overflow field of juvenile fillies will seek a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) in Wednesday’s $200,000 Jessamine S. (G2) at Keeneland. The “Win and You’re In” affair will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the lawn and has attracted a fantastic field of good-looking prospects.

While it is difficult to land on just a single contender in the cast, I did come away very impressed with #10 Misthaven (6-1) in her debut and will give her top billing.

The Joe Sharp pupil went off as 9-5 favorite in a deep field at Kentucky Downs on debut and ran to her price when drawing off to a 1 3/4-length victory following a slow break. By Candy Ride, the Irish-bred filly was doing her best work late in the 6 1/2-furlong test, and she seems poised to handle the added ground on Wednesday with Tyler Gaffalione in the stirrups.

Misthaven is bred to be a precocious one with a lot of class, and that is what she has displayed from one try to date. The April foal is a half-sister to a trio of stakes winners on the green, led by 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) star Bobby’s Kitten, as well as four-time graded victor Camelot Kitten. Each of that pair was of graded-stakes quality at two, and the bay looks to be next in line, She gets the nod.

#12 Dressed (9-2) is the main danger to the top pick. Conditioned by Wayne Catalano, the More Than Ready Kentucky-bred has posted a trio of very good races in succession leading up to her stakes bow. The dark bay filly dominated 11 foes in a talented allowance field at Kentucky Downs last time out, and she has the running style of a filly who will thrive going long on the sod, as well. Flavien Prat will be in the stirrups.

#1 Kneesnhips (30-1), a huge number on the morning-line, has exotics appeal to me. Trained by Tom Amoss, the daughter of Connect won at first asking, prior to making a belated run to finish third in the Bolton Landing S. at Saratoga second time out. The $30,000 purchase showed little on the dirt most recently, but a rail draw combined with a return to her preferred surface will move her forward on Wednesday. James Graham will guide the top three contender.

Jessamine Wagers

• $15 win and place #10 Misthaven ($30)
• $.50-cent trifecta 10 with 1,12 with all ($12)
• $.50-cent trifecta 10 with all with 1,12 ($12)