How to bet the 2023 Holiday Cheer Stakes

A total of eight fillies and mares will run six panels on the Tapeta at Turfway Park in Sunday’s $125,000 Holiday Cheer S. The horse to beat is #7 Visitant (4-5) from the barn of Bill Morey. By Ghostzapper, the seven-year-old has been awesome on the course with a 9-7-1-1 local line, and he came off the long absence to stylishly bag an allowance tilt here last time out.

Visitant has come out on top in his last five one-turn efforts at Turfway, and while he was classy enough to take the 2021 Kentucky Cup Classic at nine panels here, the Kentucky-bred bay seems to be at his best when traveling one turn. He possesses the tactical speed to force the pace from the break, and he also owns a fine turn of foot which will make him especially difficult to upend on this occasion. Gerardo Corrales has the assignment.

Wesley Ward’s #8 Outadore (7-2) will give the favorite a real test in the dash with a nice draw directly outside of his main foe. Gray son of Outwork has displayed class since his two-year-old season, and the five-year-old is still relatively lightly raced with just 10 career outings under his belt. The Kentucky-bred gray was a stakes winner in his lone prior try at Turfway, and the gelding has posted some fine morning drills in preparation of this heat, as well. Kent Desormeaux will guide the logical win threat.

#4 Droppin G’s (10-1) owns a trio of lifetime victories at Turfway Park and looked good last time out when rallying for a sharp allowance score on the oval. The gray son of Klimt will stalk the pace from midpack early and put in his best work approaching the turn for home with Luan Machado in the stirrups.

#5 Thanks Mr. Edison (10-1) will make his first run since joining the barn of Doug O’Neill. A turf stakes winner two back at Horseshoe Indianapolis, the six-year-old gelding was stakes-placed in his lone prior effort on a synthetic surface, and the son of More Than Ready could sit a favorable trip off of a swift and contested pace. Abel Lezcano will take the reins atop the late runner.

Holiday Cheer Wagers

• $8 trifecta key 7 with 4,5,8 ($48)
• $2 superfecta key 7 with 4,5,8 ($12)