How to bet the 2022 Hill Prince Stakes

A well-matched field of 10 three-year-olds will vie in the $300,000 Hill Prince S. (G2) at Belmont at the Big A on Saturday. The nine-furlong turf tussle lacks a standout and figures to be an attractive betting contest to many.

I like each of the duo conditioned by Shug McGaughey, most notably #1 Celestial City (7-2) from the rail. By Uncle Mo, the homebred has been consistent to this stage of his development and comes off of a smart allowance victory on the surface in his latest outing while facing his elders.

Celestial City has always possessed a fine turn of foot, but the sophomore colt has been laying a bit closer to the early tempo in his last pair of endeavors, and I feel that his tactical speed will aid him in this event. The bay shows two useful morning moves in advance of Saturday and will get first run on the deep closing types with Jose Lezcano back in the stirrups.

#10 Limited Liability (4-1) is a four-time graded stakes placed colt with obvious class to him for McGaughey. The gray son of Kitten’s Joy closed to be third in the recent Virginia Derby (G3) last time out, and the Kentucky-bred rates as an obvious top-three threat with his best effort. Regular rider Jose Ortiz will be in the silks once again, and he will have the colt making one run from well off of the early tempo.

#8 Unanimous Consent (6-1), one of two in the field for conditioner Chad Brown, has never run a bad race and is another top-three player in the field. The son of Almanzor won his first three lifetime races and has finished fourth in two since, including the Virginia Derby (G3) most recently. The Klaravich color bearer has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in three straight appearances and will be a major factor late with another step in the right direction beneath Manny Franco.

Hill Prince Wagers

• $20 win: #1 Celestial City ($20)
• $1 trifecta: 1 with 9,10 with all ($16)
• $1 trifecta: 9,10 with 1 with all ($16)