How to bet the 2024 Muniz Memorial S. (G2)

A large and well-matched field of 13 will run 1 1/8  miles on the Fair Grounds lawn in Saturday’s $300,000 Muniz Memorial S. (G2). Trainer Mark Casse has three signed on, including a pair of major contenders in the cast, and I expect each of those to make a lot of noise in the heat. 

Muniz Wagers

• $20 win and place #3 Webslinger ($40)
• $1 trifecta 3 with 2,13 with all ($22)
• 50-cent trifecta 3 with all with 2,13 ($11.50)

I have taken #3 Webslinger (9-2) a little bit for granted in his career, but the gelding had an excellent sophomore season and seems perfectly suited to both the distance and the course. The Constitution gelding was sixth, beaten three lengths, in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) to commence 2024, but it was a pretty good showing in my opinion. Closing into a slow pace on the Gulfstream Park lawn in a deep field is no easy chore, but he still passed a lot of horses late despite encountering minor traffic in the lane. Flavien Prat taking the reins is always a positive in my view. 

#2 Strong Quality (6-1) is the pace of the race and comes off of a pair of very good runs on the local lawn at the meeting. A game winner of the Colonel Bradley S. two back, the five-year-old son of Quality Road led for nearly every call when ultimately second in the recent Fair Grounds S. (G3) over ‘soft’ turf. He’ll benefit from that run, and if his recent half-mile work is any indication, then the pacesetter will be difficult to pass late beneath John Velazquez. 

#13 I’m Very Busy (4-1) was outclassed by the fantastic Warm Heart in the Pegasus but still ran arguably his best race to date when second in the lucrative tussle. Trained by Chad Brown, the son of Cloud Computing is still lightly raced and could be set for a big 2024 with continued ascension. I feel that nine furlongs is in his wheelhouse and Irad Ortiz, Jr. retaining the ride is a plus, too. The dark bay has enough tactical speed to avoid being left behind in the early going and will have clear sailing turning for home.