How to bet the 2022 Mistletoe Stakes

A solid field of seven fillies and mares will travel one-mile on the Oaklawn Park dirt in Saturday’s $150,000 Mistletoe S.

The race is led by exciting Chilean import #6 Le Da Vida (8-5), from the barn of Arnaud Delacour. The Gemologist five-year-old has been dominant from a pair of allowance tries since arriving in the U.S., and another forward move in her third off the shelf will make her tough to deny in this affair.

Mistletoe Wagers

• $20 exacta: 6 with 4 ($20)
• $6 exacta: 6 with 1, 3 ($12)
• $2 trifecta: key 6 with 1, 3, 4 ($12)
• $1 superfecta: 6 with 4 with 1, 3 with all ($8)

Le Da Vida continues to train in fine fashion this campaign, led by a bullet half-mile breeze last time out, and she has proved to be capable of adapting to a slow or swift pace. The dark bay mare will likely track the tempo from third or fourth early on. Vincent Cheminaud retains the mount atop the leading selection.

I have a good measure of interest in the D. Wayne Lukas-trained #4 Will’s Secret (10-1), who has run two of the best races of her career on the Oaklawn surface. The Will Take Charge four-year-old has yet to build upon her fine three-year-old season, although the recent allowance triumph at Churchill Downs was a good sign for the filly.

Will's Secret has been solid, if not spectacular, in 2022 and appears to be a nice fit at the one-mile distance. Rafael Bejarano will be in the silks and tracking the tempo to the top of the lane on this occasion.

#3 Lovely Ride (8-1) has appeal at a price for Robertino Diodoro. The Candy Ride filly is the expected pacesetter in the cast, and if she clears with ease, she rates as a dangerous player at a number. She was third in the contest in 2021 and I expect her to hang on for a share under the wire in the hands of Christian Torres.

Brad Cox’s #1 Coach (2-1) is a stakes heroine on the surface and could surely be a huge factor with her best performance. The four-year-old daughter of Commissioner ran a dull one at Churchill Downs most recently, but she is obviously much better than she showed on that day, and she will move forward in this affair. I expect the win threat to track the pace from second to the head of the stretch for rider Joe Talamo.