How to bet the 2022 Spinaway Stakes

A fantastic cast of 10 two-year-old fillies will dash seven-eighths on the Saratoga dirt in Sunday’s $300,000 Spinaway S. (G1). The fascinating affair is loaded with superb prospects in a field where all of the contenders look playable to me.

#1 Kaling didn’t run especially fast in her debut victory, but the way that the youngster did it was ultra-impressive to me. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the daughter of Practical Joke was unveiled on July 24 and drove home a 2 3/4-length winner under today’s pilot, Flavien Prat. The $220,000 yearling purchase has posted three solid morning drills in the interim, with the last pair coming in relatively swift fashion.

The dark bay Kentucky-bred is drawn on the rail, which could be a good thing, and I expect her to sit off of a wicked and contested early tempo to the top of the lane before getting into contention inside the final furlong. The April foal will likely be a fair price at post time, too.

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained #4 Naughty Gal dominated the Adirondack S. (G3) on the front end last time out and is surely worth including in the deep field. The $350,000 daughter of Into Mischief likely has more to offer and will be a serious threat with improvement with Jose Ortiz picking up the mount.

I am very intrigued that Irad Ortiz Jr. landed on #8 Aunt Shirley, so I will include the second-time starter. The Rodolphe Brisset pupil was a game winner in her first run at Ellis Park and has trained forwardly since for a conditioner who continues to do good things with young horses. The Justify filly is bred to run longer, and perhaps on the turf, but she will be included in my plays at a likely good number, nonetheless.

Debutante S. heroine #9 Wonder Wheel has dominated in both of her career attempts to date and rates an obvious chance for conditioner Mark Casse. The February foal has proven to be capable of winning from on or off the pace, and she received a nice draw outside of the other pace in the race. John Velazquez picks up the mount.

Spinaway Wagers

• $5 exacta key box: 1 with 4,8,9 ($30)
• $1 trifecta box: 1,4,8,9 ($24)