How to bet the 2024 Busanda Stakes

A compact field of five sophomore fillies will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Aqueduct dirt in Saturday’s $100,000 Busanda S. I think that the affair will be decided by the pair of fillies drawn closest to the rail. 

Busanda Wagers

• $25 exacta 1 with 2 ($25)
• $15 exacta 2 with 1 ($15)
• $5 trifecta 1,2 with 1,2 with 3 ($10)

#1 Gin Gin, from the barn of Brad Cox, was unplaced in the deep Golden Rod S. (G2) in her latest venture but lands in a better spot on Saturday. The daughter of Hightail had performed well in her first trio of assignments, led by a runner-up result in the Rags to Riches S. two prior, and the rail post will aid the three-year-old on this occasion. 

This Calumet homebred has useful gate presence and could use that to her advantage in the contest while being in a field that lacks a confirmed frontrunner. She comes in fresh with four morning drills in advance of the affair and will track the tempo while always saving ground under the guidance of Trevor McCarthy. 

Kenny McPeek’s #2 Shimmering Allure finished a very good second to a horse that I like a whole lot in the Demoiselle S. (G2) on this surface to cap a productive two-year-old campaign. By Enticed, the $40,000 yearling purchase is proven locally and at the distance, and she possesses arguably the best closing punch in the field, as well. 

The Kentucky-bred rolled home to a clear victory in the Tempted S. on the course two races prior and has never been better. If the dark bay isn’t left with too much to do at the top of the lane in the feature, then she will be tough to deny late, in my opinion. The Kentucky bred picks up pilot Manny Franco for the endeavor. 

Godolphin homebred #3 Most of All seems like a logical filler for the trifecta for trainer Bill Mott. By Quality Road, the sophomore graduated by 10 lengths in her Aqueduct debut two back, which preceded a distant fourth-place finish in the Demoiselle (G2) most recently. The bay is pretty quick from the gate and could inherit the lead in a group without much pace, and I envision her hanging around for a minor award at the finish with Jose Lezcano in the stirrups.