How to bet the 2021 Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs

Thirteen sophomore fillies have been entered to contest Sunday’s lucrative $500,000 Music City S. at Kentucky Downs. The 6 1/2-furlong turf dash features numerous nice prospects in the cast, but I have a strong feeling about #7 Illegal Smile (5-1) for Wesley Ward, and I think that she will be the one to beat in the stretch.

Illegal Smile is winless from a trio of tries in 2021, but the talented daughter of Camacho has run quite well in each of the three outings. The bay three-year-old has run well in each lifetime run following her unplaced debut, which includes a fine runner-up showing in the Galway S. at Saratoga last time out.

The Irish-bred lass is versatile in her running style, which is a big asset in a sizable field, and I expect her to sit an ideal trip just behind the swift tempo early on. Irad Ortiz Jr., who piloted her in her latest venture, returns to the silks, which is a huge plus.

Brian Lynch’s #6 Tobys Heart (3-1) cuts back in distance following a third-place finish in the Lake George S. (G3) at the Spa most recently. The dark bay daughter of Jack Milton is 3-for-4 in turf dashes, and her turn of foot will be enhanced on Sunday at the 6 1/2-furlong voyage. If her foes go too fast early, then the Kentucky-bred will be difficult to deny late with Joel Rosario in the controls.

#11 Joy’s Rocket (15-1) was a stakes second in her lone turf run to date and offers immense value at her morning-line number for Asmussen. The three-time stakes heroine is fast and will be forwardly placed early on despite the wide draw under Santana. I think that #5 Navratilova (6-1) is clearly better sprinting on the lawn for Rusty Arnold. Medaglia d’Oro filly was a big third in the Mamzelle S. in her latest grassy dash and looks like a logical exotics contender to me beneath Hernandez.

Music City Wagers

• $10 win and place #7 Illegal Smile ($20)
• $10 exacta box 6-7 ($20)
• $3 exacta key box 7 with 5,11 ($12)
• 20-cent superfecta 7 with 5,6,11 with 5,6,11 with all ($10.80)