How to bet the 2023 Schuylerville Stakes

The Thursday feature at the much-anticipated opening day of the Saratoga meeting is the $175,000 Schuylerville S. (G3). Run at six furlongs on the main surface, the event for juvenile fillies attracted a deep field of 11 two-year-old prospects.

Conditioner D. Wayne Lukas is not the most accomplished trainer with first-time starters, so I have to give a long look to debut heroine #5 Saratoga Secret (4-1) with Luis Saez retaining the mount. The $200,000 yearling purchase took money in her unveiling and ran to her odds when drawing away in the lane to graduate by three lengths at Ellis Park.

The daughter of Arrogate, who is the first to have run out of an unraced dam, came back with a sharp half-mile morning drill in the interim and figures to improve for an outfit that is much better with experienced runners. I expect the March foal to track the contested early pace and to be formidable at the top of the stretch in the affair.

Todd Pletcher’s #7 Wine on Tap (5-2) was easily best in her Belmont Park debut when sent postward at even-money odds, and the Tapit gray is another who is expected to improve with experience. The Kentucky-bred filly was confidently handled every step of the way in her first run and shows a useful four-furlong spin leading up to her stakes bow. Purchased for $600,000 as a yearling, the first foal out of a stakes-winning dam looms large with Irad Ortiz Jr. staying in the silks.

#11 Sugar Treat (6-1) is the wildcard in the tilt for conditioner Mark Casse. The $120,000 two-year-old purchase looked the part in her debut conquest on the synthetic at Gulfstream Park when putting in a strong rally late, and she could be any kind in her initial appearance on the dirt. The bay daughter of Enticed comes in with a pair of solid morning moves in advance of Thursday, and I like the pairing with Flavien Prat in the silks. The Florida-bred bay could be the one to hold off late in a field full of speed.

Schuylerville Wagers

$2 win: #5 Saratoga Secret ($20)

$10 exacta box: 5, 7 ($20)

$.50-cent trifecta: 5, 7 with 5, 7, 11 with all ($18)