How to bet the 2022 Forbidden Apple Stakes

An overflow field of 13, with one entered as a main-track only entrant, will vie in Friday’s $175,000 Forbidden Apple S. (G3) at Saratoga. The one-mile inner turf contest is one of two stakes events on the card and features a well-matched cast of grassy performers. Despite the competitive nature of the group, I will land on the morning-line choice in the top slot.

Juddmonte homebred #1 Set Piece (3-1) has won half of his 20 lifetime tries to date, including four of his last seven attempts on the green. The well-related son of Dansili comes in off of a fine score in the Dinner Party S. (G2) at Pimlico, when powering clear late in a fine tally. The six-year-old gelding also gave a very good account of himself in his latest try at The Spa when rallying for runner-up honors in the Fourstardave H. (G1) in August.

Set Piece is essentially a one-run closer who will benefit from the abundance of early speed in the field. He gets what could be a dream post slot on the rail with regular pilot Florent Geroux in the silks.

I love the improvement made by #11 Scuttlebuzz (15-1) since blinkers were added, and I will give him a pass for his non-showing in the Jaipur S. (G1) at Belmont Park last time out. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, the gray son of The Factor has displayed a swift turn of foot at shorter trips prior to his latest, and I have confidence that he will be able to duplicate that kick at eight furlongs. Manny Franco picks up the mount.

#8 Atone (6-1) has been in excellent form since capturing an allowance race over a yielding course here in September. The Mike Maker pupil has been in the hunt in each of his four recent graded stakes in succession, and the five-year-old seems like a logical exotics piece under Flavien Prat.

Course specialist #7 Public Sector (6-1), a two-time graded winner at the venue, and Turf Classic (G1) second #3 Mira’s Mission (7-2), will make my tickets and multi-race plays.

Forbidden Apple Wagers

• $4 exacta: key box 1 with 3, 7, 8, 11 ($32)
• $1 trifecta: key 1 with 3, 7, 8, 11 ($12)
• 10-cent superfecta: 1 with 3, 7, 8, 11 with 3, 7, 8, 11 with all ($10.80)