How to bet the 2024 Honeybee Stakes

A total of 10 three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Oaklawn Park dirt in Saturday’s $400,000 Honeybee S. (G3). The morning-line choice, #6 West Omaha (7-5), bypassed a difficult assignment at Fair Grounds last weekend in favor of this affair, and I feel that the Brad Cox charge will be a formidable presence in the event. 

Honeybee Wagers

• $20 exacta 6 with 10 ($20)
• $3 trifecta key 6 with 1,2,10 ($18)
• 40-cent superfecta 6 with 1,2,10 with 1,2,10 with all ($16.80)

By West Coast, the Gary and Mary West homebred has won or placed in each of her four lifetime tries to date led by a convincing score in the Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds last time out. The dark bay filly possesses both tactical speed as well as a fine turn of foot, and she continues to train in progressive fashion this campaign, as well. Christian Torres will be in the irons and have the top selection tracking the tempo from the second or third flight on the backside. 

I’m intrigued by #10 Midshipman’s Dance (12-1) who will have Ramon Vazquez in the silks. The $150,000 yearling purchase is 2-for-2 in her lifetime while displaying a fine turn of foot going one turn, and I feel that the lass might be cut out to handle middle distances of this nature. By Midshipman, the Kentucky bred is proven at this locale and has trained well in preparation of her graded debut, led by a bullet move two works back. The bay will stalk the pace early on for Robertino Diodoro. 

Martha Washington S. romper #2 Band of Gold (2-1) was excellent in her latest performance and will be tough to deny with a repeat of that showing for conditioner Kenny McPeek. The Preservationist filly earned a hefty Brisnet Late Pace figure over a sloppy, sealed surface in her local bow leading up to Saturday, and if she shows the same closing punch in this spot, then the $70,000 weanling buy will be difficult to fend off late with Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the silks. 

The Grade-1 placed #1 Alys Beach (10-1) is another exotics contender in the field from the rail. By Omaha Beach, the Tom Amoss pupil was game in holding third in the Alcibiades S. (G1) to cap her juvenile season, and while I don’t love her winning chances in the affair, I do feel that the $120,000 yearling purchase will receive a good trip and be in the mix for a placing in the lane under Julien Leparoux.