How to bet the 2024 Wonder Again Stakes

A total of eight sophomore fillies, including two main-track-only contenders, entered Monday’s $200,000 Wonder Again S. (G2) at Aqueduct. Conditioner Chad Brown has three of the entrants in the nine-furlong turf affair, but I’m siding with another for the win while hunting for value in a competitive cast. 

Wonder Again Wagers

• $40 win #3 Vive Veuve ($40)
• $5 trifecta key 3 with 1,6 ($10)

Sterling Stables’ #3 Vive Veuve has run a trio of good races in succession since arriving in the U.S., led by a late-running score in the Sanibel Island S. in her latest performance. The Kentucky-bred began her career in Ireland with three runs as a juvenile prior to arriving in South Florida in November. 

The chestnut filly broke her maiden two back prior to her impressive stakes triumph, and she has obvious room to improve going forward. Closing from the back at Gulfstream Park is never an easy thing, and I think she will be even more effective running on this course, as well. Javier Castellano retains the ride. 

Brown’s #6 Sweet Rebecca is 2-for-2 in her lifetime and comes off a nice victory in the Memories of Silver S. on the surface in her last outing. The American Pharoah chestnut is not swift early, but she has displayed a potent turn of foot to this point, and drawing outside should ensure a clear voyage throughout the contest. The $250,000 yearling purchase, who was later acquired privately by John Stewart's Resolute Racing, will make one run in the lane with regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione in the controls. 

I’m not in love with Brown’s #1 Segesta, but the Juddmonte homebred will likely inherit the early advantage from the rail in the paceless contest. By Ghostzapper, the filly graduated well at Keeneland in her latest offering and has improved in each career try leading up to Monday. Irad Ortiz Jr. has been on a good run for this barn as of late, and the Kentucky-bred will be dangerous if she crawls on the front end.