How to bet the 2023 Perfect Sting Stakes

Conditioner Chad Brown has the three leading contenders for Sunday’s $150,000 Perfect Sting S. at Belmont Park. The one-mile affair on the outer turf for fillies and mares attracted just five, and the Brown triumvirate seems poised to occupy the top three slots at the finish.

#2 Technical Analysis (1-1) is the obvious one to beat and looms large under pilot Jose Ortiz. By Kingman, the five-year-old has been first or second in seven of her last eight assignments and has trained well in advance of her 2023 debut, as well. The five-year-old bay was fourth in her seasonal finale in the fall when running into a superb field at Keeneland, and she will appreciate the measure of class relief on this occasion.

The Irish-bred mare will not be fully cranked up for this contest to commence her season, but she is super talented and has proven to be capable of running from off of the layoff in the past. Technical Analysis has fine early foot and will be forcing the pace from the opening bell of this event as the clear favorite.

#1 Customer List (7-2) has run three of the best races of her career at the one-mile distance in preparation for this contest. The Wootton Bassett four-year-old was a measured allowance winner at Monmouth to commence her 2023 campaign, and I expect her to take a big step forward second off the shelf for a conditioner who excels with this type of runner. She is a bit of a mystery never having raced over this course, but the bay filly is lightly raced with a lot of room for improvement, and she also has a recency edge on the top pick combined with a nice draw on the rail. This French-bred miss will have Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle, as well.

Lake Placid S. (G2) heroine #3 Haughty (5-2) is very talented and will surely move forward following a sixth-place result in the Distaff Turf Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs last time out. By Empire Maker, the $310,000 purchase can be very good on her best day, and she possesses a high ceiling with just seven career performances under her belt. The Kentucky-bred bay has a versatile running style, and I envision her sitting in range throughout from the second flight in this spot under the guidance of Flavien Prat.

Perfect Sting Wagers

$30 trifecta: 2 with 1 with 3 ($30)

$10 trifecta: 2 with 3 with 1 ($10)