How to bet the 2023 Lady of Shamrock Stakes

An intriguing field of seven sophomores fillies will travel one mile on the Santa Anita turf in Sunday’s $100,000 Lady of Shamrock S. The finale boasts a few logical nice prospects, as well as one interesting longshot, in what I expect to be a fun betting endeavor.

In my opinion, the value runner in the cast is Peter Eurton’s #5 Princess Bettina (15-1) at a fine morning-line number. The chestnut daughter of Will Take Charge showed marked improvement moving to the lawn for her third lifetime try when graduating on the course, and she followed that up with a fast-closing third in a subsequent allowance tilt on the sod at Del Mar. She prepped for Sunday with an even showing in a dash on the green here off the short layoff, in an outing that will be beneficial to her chances against this group.

Princess Bettina stretches back out in distance and also picks up fine turf pilot Flavien Prat, which will only aid her chances. The Florida-bred filly will be coming from off the early tempo as a prime player in the affair.

Morning-line choice #3 The Wild Grazer (2-1) looks tough off the strength of two fine victories since arriving in the U.S. for conditioner Jeff Mullins. By Gustav Klimt, the Irish-bred bay broke her maiden in a grassy dash at Del Mar off the layoff in November, which preceded a stylish allowance sprint score at about  6 1/2 furlongs on the local lawn.

The Wild Grazer has displayed some tactical speed as well as a fine turn of foot from her two stateside performances, and she is bred to handle the added ground on Sunday with relative ease, too. She lands in a field where the pace should be honest at the very least, and she will be tough to deny with even slight improvement with Juan Hernandez retaining the mount.

I will also dabble with recent maiden romper #4 Ag Bullet (3-1) and Blue Norther S. fourth #2 Tea N Conversation (5-2) for my vertical exotics plays.

Lady of Shamrock Wagers

• $10 win and place #5 Princess Bettina ($20)
• $10 exacta box 3-5 ($20)
• 50-cent trifecta 3,5 with 2,3,4,5 with all ($15)