How to bet the 2023 Hill Prince Stakes

A field of 10 sophomores, with one being a main-track only entrant, will travel nine panels on the Aqueduct turf in Saturday’s $250,000 Hill Prince S. (G2). The marquee event on a card with three additional black-type races slated attracted a trio of contenders from the potent Chad Brown shedrow, but I will look elsewhere for my top selection. 

Hill Prince Wagers

• $25 win #3 Integration ($25)
• $1 superfecta 3,4 with 3,4 with 1,6 with all ($24)
• $.50-cent superfecta 3 with 1,4,6 with 1,4,6 with all ($18) 

Virginia Derby (G3) winner #3 Integration is perfect from two lifetime tries for conditioner Shug McGaughey and he has been ultra-impressive on both occasions. By Quality Road, the $700,000 yearling purchase dusted his foes at first asking at Colonial Downs on August 12 when drawing away by a commanding 6 1/2 lengths, and earning a hefty 101 Brisnet Late Pace number in the process. The Kentucky bred took a major step up in class when trying stakes foes in his next assignment, and the result was similar as the colt displayed a huge late kick en route to posting a 1 1/4-length victory in going-away fashion. 

Integration has registered eight solid morning drills since his latest coup, and it’s quite possible that he will improve while making his third lifetime run at Aqueduct. Kendrick Carmouche, who guided the sophomore home last time, will be in the silks once again. 

Of the Brown trio, I give an advantage to the lightly raced #4 Equitize, who romped in his lone start to date at Tampa Bay Downs on March 15. By Kingman, the $606,000 yearling buy was well backed in his initial offering and deservedly so, as the colt took over readily in early stretch and strode home a decisive winner while coming home fairly swiftly. The bay colt has been steady in his morning drills leading up to Saturday and figures to fire big for a conditioner who is so good off the layoff, in general. Irad Ortiz, Jr. inherits the mount. 

#1 Freedom Trail was a sharp runner-up in a local allowance tilt on the course last time out and will be a contender with even minor improvement in this spot. The John Terranova pupil has done his best work on the oval with a 3-2-1-0 local mark, and I envision him moving forward in his second appearance since July. Jose Ortiz will be in the stirrups. 

#6 Toofareastiswest has won two races in succession for conditioner Michael Trombetta and has responded to the addition of blinkers three back. This Street Sense colt will have to get faster to upset the group, but the bay is very consistent and rates an obvious chance to make the frame with Joel Rosario taking the reins for the initial time.