How to bet the 2024 Acorn Stakes

A spectacular field of sophomore fillies will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Saratoga main strip in Friday’s $500,000 Acorn S. (G1). Six of the nine three-year-olds in the cast were last seen competing in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), led by superb Oaks heroine #9 Thorpedo Anna (8-5) for conditioner Kenny McPeek. 

Acorn Wagers

• $2 trifecta 3,4 with 3,4,6,9 with 3,4,6,9 ($24)
• 50-cent trifecta 3,4 with 3,4,6,9 with all ($21)

The daughter of Fast Anna is four-for-five in her career and won the Oaks with ease on the front end with Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the controls. Kentucky-bred miss will endure a much different voyage on Friday, however, and in a field with so much depth to it with eight graded stakes winners in the group, I feel somewhat obligated to try and topple the favorite who could be wide throughout the affair. 

Ashland S. (G1) queen #3 Leslie’s Rose (5-1) never fired in Louisville last month but will improve in a big way for Pletcher. Into Mischief filly has posted a pair of morning moves on the Oklahoma training surface leading up to her return, and I like her chances from a tactical standpoint. In a field lacking a confirmed front runner, the Whisper Hill color bearer might inherit the lead early with a clean break. Irad Ortiz, who has won 5 riding titles here dating back to 2015,  knows his way around the Saratoga oval as well as anyone and will give the filly an ideal trip while saving ground every step of the way. The price will be fair, too. 

Bill Mott’s champion #4 Just F Y I (5-2) has run big in both starts this year while settling for second on each occasion, and the classy Justify filly is a must use. The bay is a winner on the surface, she shows two bullet morning drills in advance of the race, and her running style will have her in striking range every step of the way with regular pilot Junior Alvarado taking the reins. She’s a dual Grade 1 winner who could add a third to her resume with a top effort. 

I’m not taking anything away from Thorpedo Anna, I just fear that she will be hung wide from the opening bell and giving away vital ground, and this is never my favorite thing while routing on this surface, especially in a field with class throughout it. Gazelle S. (G3) vixen #6 Where’s My Ring (8-1) is much better than she showed in the Oaks and will offer a lot of value with Gaffalione inheriting the ride. The much improved daughter of Twirling Candy blitzed a bullet four panels on the main oval on Saturday to prepare for the demanding test.