How to bet the 2022 Mamzelle Stakes

A dozen three-year-old fillies will sprint five-eighths on the Churchill Downs turf in Saturday’s $160,000 Mamzelle Overnight S. The grassy dash is led by the superb #5 Twilight Gleaming (6-5), and I feel that the bay will be tough to knock off on this occasion.

Trained by Wesley Ward, the daughter of National Defense has finished first or second in each of her six lifetime tries to date, including all five on the green. The Irish-bred filly was a two-time stakes heroine as a juvenile, capped by a strong victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at Del Mar to conclude a fine 2021 season.

Twilight Gleaming finished a sharp second in the Palisades S. at Keeneland in her sophomore bow and has trained well in the interim, with a brisk half-mile move on this course in advance of her first try at Churchill Downs. The fleet filly is the pace of the race, and she will be tough with a good break under the guidance of Tyler Gaffalione.

I will tab a pair of longshots for the gimmicks beneath the morning-line choice. #3 Margie’s Kitchen (20-1) aired on debut on the Fair Grounds turf prior to finishing unplaced on the main oval at Keeneland last time out, and I am expecting big improvement from the Michelle Lovell pupil on the return to the weeds. The daughter of Daredevil has flashed speed in both career engagements to date and will be forwardly placed once again in this spot with Jack Gilligan retaining the mount.

#11 Devine Charger (30-1) has displayed talent on both the dirt and turf, and I believe that she will relish the return to the green for Jordan Blair. The gray daughter of Will Take Charge possesses tactical speed and a solid turn of foot, and if she improves off of her latest run on the lawn, then she makes sense as an exotics piece at a huge number. Brian Hernandez Jr. stays in the silks.

Mamzelle Wagers

$2 trifecta: 5 with 3,11 with all ($40)

$1 trifecta: 5 with all with 3,11 ($20)