How to bet the 2022 Winter Memories Stakes

A total of 12 sophomore fillies, with two being entered for the main-track only, will vie in Sunday’s $135,000 Winter Memories S. at Aqueduct. There is an abundance of deep-closing types in the field, which leads me to believe that tactical speed and post position will be deciding factors in the grassy endeavor.

The Chad Brown-trained #8 Veronica Greene was an easy maiden heroine last time out and makes the jump to the stakes ranks. By Tapit, the $260,000 yearling purchase has shown major improvement since being moved to the lawn two back, and seems poised to give a nice account of herself under regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr.

Veronica Greene isn’t especially swift out of the gate, but she does possess very good tactical speed and figures to sit a nice trip from third or fourth to the top of the stretch. The Kentucky-bred bay will get first run turning for home and that might be enough in an evenly-matched field.

My second pick, #3 Salimah, is also from the Brown shedrow. The daughter of El Kabeir was visually impressive when dominating at first asking at Tampa Bay Downs and, following an unplaced showing at Saratoga, the gray displayed a fine turn of foot in beating allowance runners on this course most recently. Irish-bred three-year-old will not be up close early on, but her improving form combined with a nice post to save ground early will both serve as a benefit to her. Jose Ortiz riding adds to the appeal.

Tom Albertrani’s #1 Hail To is not the most talented horse in the field, but figures to sit either first or second for a long time in the affair. Chestnut daughter of Kitten’s Joy has failed to hit the board from her four previous stakes tries, but she makes sense to grab a share from the rail on the cutback in distance. Jose Lezcano will be in the silks atop the Kentucky-bred.

#9 Tasweya, runner-up in the Christiana S. at Delaware Park three back, will also bring pace to the field for conditioner Michael Pino. The gray daughter of Frosted is worth tossing in at a nice price with Jorge Vargas taking the reins.

Winter Memories Wagers

• $15 win and place #8 Veronica Greene ($30)
• $6 exacta box 3-8 ($12)
• $2 trifecta key 8 with 1,3,9 ($12)