How to bet the 2022 Kudzu Juvenile

A total of six registered Alabama-bred juveniles will run 5 1/2 furlongs in Friday’s $25,000 Kudzu Juvenile S. at Fair Grounds. The intriguing field of first-time starters has appeal to me and is a nice way to kick off the early Pick 4 on the card.

Kudzu Juvenile Wagers

• $10 win and place: #3 She is Making Rip ($20)
• $3 exacta: key box 3 with 1, 5 ($12)
• $1 trifecta: box 1, 3, 5 ($6)

Three of the six that will go postward hails from the shedrow of conditioner Eric Nelson, Jr., and I expect each of his trio of youngsters to make their presence felt in the heat. #3 She is Making Rip (6-1) possesses the best odds of the Nelson triumvirate and receives top billing from me. By young sire Bama Drifter, she is one of four fillies in the race and is bred to be a runner right out of the box.

She is Making Rip has not been training in swift fashion in advance of Friday, but I still expect the dark bay to be ready to roll with Jose Riquelme taking the reins. With the likelihood of speed in the tilt, she will presumably do her best running from off the early tempo.

#5 Alabama Queen (2-1) fired a three-furlong bullet in her latest morning drill and will be a major threat if she runs to that gate move on the green. The dark bay daughter of Divide and Conquer has some speed in her bloodlines through her dam’s side, and drawing near the outside of the field will be a benefit to her on this occasion. She will have Jose Rodriguez in the stirrups.

#1 Unitedappeal (3-1), the third Nelson pupil signed on for the contest, has a pair of winning siblings from three to have raced. The gelded son of Divide and Conquer shows a few decent morning moves in preparation of the event and might flash early foot from the tricky rail slot. If he gets away clean from the gate beneath Brianne Culp, he might be in the mix throughout. I’ll keep a close eye on the early wagering of this one.