How to bet the 2022 Bowling Green Stakes

A talented field of six turf stayers will contest the $250,000 Bowling Green S. (G2) at Saratoga on Sunday. The 1 3/8-mile contest on the inner turf features the top two finishers from the 2021 edition of the event, but I will side with another for the top prize.

Graham Motion’s #3 Highland Chief (5-2) was a fine winner of the Man o’ War S. (G1) at Belmont Park two back, prior to checking in fourth behind a runaway victor in the Manhattan S. (G1) last time out. The son of Gleneagles stretches back out to 1 3/8 miles in this spot, and I expect the classy five-year-old to thrive on this occasion.

Highland Chief faced off with some of the top grass performers in Europe earlier in his career while posting some solid results, and the Irish-bred has given a fine account of himself in his two most recent outings, He has the versatility to be close to an expected slow pace on Sunday which will benefit him. Regular pilot Trevor McCarthy will be in the silks, and either on the lead or tracking the tempo, early on.

Defending champ #4 Cross Border (4-1) loves Saratoga for conditioner Mike Maker, sporting a superb 8-6-1-1 mark on the course. English Channel eight-year-old had a very good prep for Sunday when finishing a closing fourth at 1 1/16 miles most recently, and it’s impossible to omit the ageless New York-bred with Tyler Gaffalione in the stirrups.

#1 L’Imperator (6-1), one of two in the cast for trainer Chad Brown, has run some good races with give in the ground in the past, and the gelded son of Holy Roman Emperor could be dangerous on the stretch-out in distance on this occasion. The five-year-old has not been consistent since arriving in the States, and he is a question mark at the distance, but worth including at a fair price in a small field. Manny Franco has the assignment.

Bowling Green Wagers

• $35 win #3 Highland Chief ($35)
• $10 Exacta 3 with 4 ($10)
• $5 exacta 3 with 1 ($5)