How to bet the 2023 Eddie D Stakes

A talented field of 11 will dash about 6 1/2 furlongs down the Hillside Turf Course at Santa Anita in the $200,000 Eddie D S. (G2). The "Win and You’re In" event will provide the winner with a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at this venue on Nov. 5. 

Eddie D Wagers

• $5 exacta key box: 10 with 1,2,5,6 ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 1,10 with 1,2,5,6,10 with 1,2,5,6,10 ($24) 

I’m going outside the box with my top selection of #10 Packs A Wahlop (15-1) for conditioner Jeff Mullins. The gray sophomore was an excellent juvenile on the lawn in California when rolling home to a pair of facile Grade 3 tallies, and the lightly raced colt appears to be sitting on a big effort while making his second run since January, in my opinion.

Packs A Wahlop was forwardly placed while very wide in the deep Green Flash S. (G3) at Del Mar last time out before fading in the lane, and he will make a big move forward coming off of a tilt that he surely needed. The Creative Cause colt has good early foot in a field that is not loaded with pace, and the Kentucky-bred will be well-positioned at the head of the stretch with strong turf pilot Hector Berrios in the stirrups.

#1 Balnikhov (6-1) is a one-run closer who has raced at the one-mile trip in seven of his last eight assignments for conditioner Phil D’Amato, and the cutback in distance is intriguing to me in this spot. The multiple graded winner was third in his lone prior run at the trip, and I feel that his substantial late kick will be even stronger at 6 1/2 panels with Geo Franco in the controls. The son of Adaay is a win contender at a square price.

John Sadler’s #2 Bran (5-2) is one of the top turf dashers on this circuit and surely makes a lot of sense while making his second appearance off the bench. The Grade 2 victor has won or placed in four of his five local tries in advance of Saturday, and the French-bred has been training in rapid fashion as of late, as well. Top pilot Juan Hernandez will ride. 

Richard Mandella’s #6 Lane Way (3-1) was second best in the contest in 2022 and is a major win threat with his best showing. The Into Mischief gelding has compiled an 8-3-4-0 mark on the local lawn, and the six-year-old has been first or second in each of his four runs at the trip, as well. Mike Smith will take the reins.

If #5 Noble Reflection (6-1) catches a flier out of the gate, then the Liam’s Map gelding could be very dangerous taking this field to the turn for home. The Kentucky-bred gray is 3-for-4 on the Santa Anita green and could get brave if he clears in the early stages with Mario Gutierrez in the silks.