How to bet the 2023 Wintergreen Stakes

An overflow field of 14 fillies and mares will travel one mile on the All-Weather in the $125,000 Wintergreen S. at Turfway Park on Saturday. The excellent betting affair has numerous legitimate contenders in the field, and I will spread with a few entrants with my wagers.

The Jonathan Wong-trained #3 Opening Buzz (5-2) is a sterling three-for-three on synthetic ovals, which includes a pair of sharp victories at this Turfway meeting. By Stanford, the California-bred filly has displayed a fine turn of foot while sprinting as of late, and I have confidence that the four-year-old will be up to the task on the stretch out to one-mile on Saturday.

Opening Buzz has room for improvement with just six lifetime runs to her credit, and the chestnut can adapt to any pace scenario. Walter Rodriguez retains the mount atop the logical win threat.

Mike Maker will saddle California import #9 Burgoo Alley (12-1) for the first time, and I feel that the chestnut will make an impact while making her second run of 2023. The Footstepsinthesand mare placed second in her lone prior run on synthetic, and has some class to her in facing graded stakes foes in seven of her last eight races. She has posted five solid morning drills on the course as of late and should handle the surface transition with relative ease beneath Chris Landeros.

#7 Kate’s Kingdom (6-1) was mostly a non-factor when unplaced as the even-money favorite in the Likely Exchange S. last time out, but I will not dismiss her at better odds on this occasion. Purchased for $400,000 in December, the five-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom is a Grade 3 heroine on the All-Weather and will move forward while making her third run off the layoff. The deep closing bay will make one run in the stretch for trainer William Walden and jockey Jack Gilligan.

I will also dangle with #1 Grand Ave Girl (10-1), who led for almost every step when a close second in the Likely Exchange in her latest venture. The Ken McPeek pupil is not especially consistent, but she is quick and is also well drawn on the rail to take the edge soon after the break. The Runhappy five-year-old posted a pair of nice five-furlong drills leading up to this run and will have Luan Machado in the stirrups once again.

Wintergreen Wagers

• $15 win and place: #3 Opening Buzz ($30)
• 50-cent trifecta: 3, 9 with 1, 3, 7, 9 with all ($30)