How to bet the 2023 Cincinnati Trophy

A field of nine sophomore fillies will travel one mile in Saturday’s $150,000 Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway Park. The cast features a few really nice prospects in it, but I’m all about the Brad Cox-conditioned #3 Botanical for the top prize.

Runner-up in a turf tilt at Keeneland in her second lifetime try, the Botanical transformed into a new animal at Turfway Park. She broke her maiden by an easy 10 lengths on the surface to conclude her two-year-old season, prior to taking an allowance field every step of the way by 4 1/2 lengths. By Medaglia d’Oro, the $220,000 yearling purchase has improved her Brisnet Speed figure in each career performance to date and seems poised to give a good account of herself while making her stakes debut. The Kentucky-bred will be forwardly placed following the start with Chris Landeros returning to the saddle. 

#4 Bulsara is 2-for-2 on all-weather strips, including a fine allowance victory on this oval two races back for trainer Michael Trombetta. The $205,000 juvenile purchase comes off a fifth-place showing in the grassy Sweetest Chant S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park and will relish both the class relief, and the surface change on Saturday. The dark bay filly possesses a nice turn of foot and will be making her move approaching the turn for home with Corrales riding. 

I’m not in love with Kenny McPeek’s #9 Fun and Feisty in the affair, but the daughter of Midshipman has obvious class and will be a late threat if she takes to the going in her synthetic debut. The $100,000 Midshipman three-year-old bagged the Pocahontas S. (G3) as a juvenile and came home third best in the Rags to Riches S. to cap her solid 2022 campaign. The dark bay is essentially a one-run closer with the widest post, so she will be tracking towards the rear early on under the guidance of Brian Hernandez Jr. If the pace backs up, then the Kentucky-bred could be dangerous. 

Cincinnati Trophy Wagers

• $40 win #3 Botanical ($40)
• $5 trifecta key 3 with 4,9 ($10)