How to bet the 2022 Wintergreen Stakes

The Saturday feature at Turfway Park is the $100,000 Wintergreen S. The one-mile affair for fillies and mares on the synthetic attracted a full field of 12, and I will look to the outside for a big upset in the deep cast.

Conditioned by Ben Colebrook, #12 Ambassador Luna (15-1) makes her local debut on the surface and also stretches out in distance for her trek up from the Sunshine State. By Brethren, she will be seeking her first score dating back to 2020, and I think that she is well spotted for a big showing on Saturday.

The dark bay six-year-old has some class, having achieved prior stakes success, and she has faced black-type foes in seven of her last 10 assignments in preparation of this tilt. The speedy mare is something of a question mark at the distance, and over the surface too, but she comes in fresh with Kazushi Kimura in the controls and figures to flash her early speed from the break despite drawing widest of all in the field.

Ambassador Luna lands in a field lacking a confirmed front runner and could be the one to catch turning for home following a clean start from the gate. At a big price, the Florida-bred is surely worth the investment for a capable layoff outfit.

The majority of my plays will be tied up with the top pick, but for the gimmicks, I will include three additional ladies.

#9 Josie (10-1) has yet to run to her $300,000 price tag that she attracted in July of 2021, but she appeals to me at a nice price. The gray Race Day five-year-old will make her All-Weather debut on Saturday and is training well in advance of it. The mare has class and will stalk the tempo under Albin Jimenez.

#5 Alydiva (4-1) come out victorious as the lukewarm favorite in the Likely Exchange S. most recently, and the Mark Casse pupil is an obvious inclusion in this spot. The daughter of Quality Road dons a 3-2-1-0 mark at Turfway and possesses a fine turn of foot as well. Chris Landeros will guide the four-year-old.

Morning-line choice #4 Breeze Rider (9-5) has won five of her last seven overall, including a dominating tally in the My Charmer S. on the surface in December. She is a clear must-use in the top three for trainer Steve Manley.

Wintergreen Wagers

• $10 win/place/show #12 Ambassador Luna ($30)
• $3 exacta key box 12 with 4 ,5, 9 ($18)