How to bet the 2022 Victory Ride Stakes

A well-matched field of seven sophomore fillies will go postward in Saturday’s $150,000 Victory Ride S. (G3) at Belmont Park. The 6 1/2-furlong dirt dash features five horses who have achieved stakes success in the past, as well as an unbeaten contender, in what appears to be a very good betting affair.

The Tom Albertrani-trained #7 Sterling Silver is three-for-three in sprint races in her lifetime and I will tab her for the top prize. The gray Cupid filly debuted with a victory last season at Aqueduct, a rare feat for this barn, and commenced 2022 with a late-running stakes score on the same course. Following a pair of unsuccessful tries going long, the Empire State-bred came back with a powerful 4 1/4-length win in the Bouwerie S. while making her first run over Big Sandy.

Sterling Silver lands in a field with a good measure of early speed in the fold, which will benefit her off-the-pace running style perfectly. Regular pilot Trevor McCarthy will be up and asking this miss for her best run approaching the turn for home.

#4 Happy Soul, from the barn of Wesley Ward, won the Astoria S. by 11 lengths on the surface last season and shows a pair of lifetime wins on the oval by a combined 22 lengths. The daughter of Runhappy burned money when second in the Miss Preakness S. (G3) most recently, but she didn’t have a great trip, and I was impressed at how she battled back late to earn runner-up honors. The bay fired a five-furlong bullet at Belmont Park last weekend and seems set for a big showing in this spot. John Velazquez will be in the silks once again atop the three-year-old.

I am having a hard time separating the rest of the speedy fillies, so I will be using the ‘all’ button in my vertical plays.

Victory Ride Wagers

• $15 win and place: #7 Sterling Silver ($30)
• $1 trifecta: 4,7 with 4,7 with all ($10)
• $1 trifecta: 4,7 with all with 4,7 ($10)