How to bet the American Stakes

A cast of seven will run one-mile on the Santa Anita lawn in Sunday’s $100,000 American S. (G3). The Phil D’Amato-trained #6 King of Gosford had a pretty busy 2024 campaign with nine starts, including eight facing stakes foes, but he gave a fine impression of himself numerous times while banking in excess of $500,000. 

American Stakes Wagers

• $6 trifecta key 6 with 1,4,5 ($36)
• $2 superfecta key 6 with 1,4,5 ($12) 

The European import annexed a quartet of black-type events last season, capped by a measured score over a strong group in the Mathis Mile S. (G2) on this surface. By Zoustar, the four-year-old colt is adept at winning at sprints or route races, and he can come out on top while on the front end or rallying from off the pace, too. He is four-for-five at Santa Anita, is proven capable of running well while fresh, and the top pick will also have top gun Flavien Prat come in to ride. In my opinion, King of Gosford will be untouchable if he runs his best.

I will use a trio of contenders under the leading selection. #1 Zio Jo has been in good form since August and fell just a half-length short in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) in his most recent adventure. The Doug O’Neill pupil will save ground and be in range turning for home, with Kyle Frey taking the reins. 

Mike McCarthy’s #4 Endlessly is a four-time stakes victor and is also five-for-eight overall in his career. The son of Oscar Performance appears to be working well in preparation for his seasonal bow, and I believe he will receive a nice pace set up in the race with ample early speed signed on. Umberto Rispoli will be in the silks. 

#5 Il Bellator returned from the long layoff to post a pair of big races on the dirt as of late, and the gelding has proven to be fairly capable on the grass in the past, too. The Jose Bautista trainee has speed but can run from off the tempo, and I have to include him in his current form cycle with Geo Franco in the stirrups. 

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