How to bet the 2025 Temperence Hill Stakes

A big field of 11 dirt marathoners will run 1 1/2 miles on the Oaklawn Park surface in Friday’s $200,000 Temperence Hill S. I generally prefer not to land on horses drawn on the outside when running this demanding distance, but in this case I will do just that as I feel like the outer entrants look best. 

Temperence Hill Wagers

• $15 win and place #11 Lambeth ($30)
• 50-cent trifecta 10,11 with 3,10,11 with all ($18)

Joe Sharp’s #11 Lambeth (5-1) ran a lifetime best when dominating allowance foes at 1 1/16 miles on the surface most recently, and the Arrogate colt gives me the impression of a horse that will appreciate the added ground. The Kentucky-bred chestnut has the gate presence to be put into the race early on, and he lands in a field without much pace, which is a big benefit to him. Lambeth has the pedigree to run all day and I like the expected trip that he will receive with Brian Hernandez, Jr. inheriting the live mount. 

Morning-line choice #10 Sir Greylind (5-2) has won or placed in each of his seven career runs for trainer Kenny McPeek, which includes four straight on this oval at the meeting. The Speightster four-year-old, who came home second in the General MacArthur S. two back, had a fine prep for this with a closing second in a recent allowance tilt following a poor break. The Kentucky-bred bay has consistently earned solid Brisnet Late Pace figures, led by a 102 number last time out, and I expect him to negotiate this distance pretty well against this cast. Julien Leparoux will be in the silks and will likely have the win threat within a few lengths throughout the 12-furlong endeavor. 

For the lower rungs of the exotics, #3 Time for Trouble (6-1) is a logical one to me for conditioner Jeff Hiles. This English Channel eight-year-old ran the best race of his life when defeating allowance runners at 1 3/16 miles on this surface last season, which preceded a third-place result in the 2024 Essex H. (G3). The chestnut gelding ran an even allowance race off the bench last time out and will improve with having a run under his belt. He is well drawn to save some ground going into the turns, and I expect him to be in with a winning chance late over a course that he performs well on. Rafael Bejarano has the call.