How to bet the Coronation Cup Stakes

A strong field of sophomore fillies will go 5 1/2 furlongs on the Saratoga turf in Friday’s feature, the $100,000 Coronation Cup.

Coronation Cup Analysis

The field lacks a clear front runner and I expect a trio of contenders to be swiftest from the gate. #1 Always inthe Munny will be sent from the rail in her debut for Tom Amoss, with the Wesley Ward pair of #2 Karak and #8 Artie’s Princess also in the first flight early on.

Coronation Cup Contenders

#1 ALWAYS INTHE MUNNY -- Texas-bred comes off a pair of dominant wins on the dirt against lesser and makes her first run since joining the Amoss barn. Munnings filly has never run on the weeds, but she does have three turf-winning siblings and could take to the surface change. Bay is swift and will be a pace presence from the rail beneath Carmouche.

#2 KARAK -- One of two from the Ward barn, she's a multiple stakes victress with plenty of early foot. Karakonite filly will be prominent from the start, and she could peak in her third try of 2020 with Gaffalione in the controls.

#3 FLY SO PRETTY -- Casse pupil graduated in a turf sprint at Saratoga as a juvenile with a fine late run on the course. Chestnut daughter of Sky Mesa will try to run them down from the back of the pack with John Velazquez in the silks.

#4 MISS J MCKAY -- Two-time stakes queen had a solid prep for the Coronation Cup when a good third in the Lady Shipman S. when making her 3-year-old debut. Cathal Lynch trainee will improve second time back, and her best performance will give her a chance late under Jose Ortiz.

#5 SHIPPY -- Weaver charge missed by a nose in her lone run on the green to date, which preceded a facile stakes win on the dirt at Monmouth last out. Midshipman filly has a lot of talent and wouldn’t surprise in her third try of 2020. Manny Franco will be in the stirrups.

#6 BREDENBURY -- Lady Shipman starlet picked up her first stateside win since arriving in November for Motion. Night of Thunder chestnut will need better to take down this cast, but she is trending in the right direction and retains Saez as well.

#7 LEXI ON THE MOVE -- Fast Anna filly is the wildcard in the field while making her turf debut for Diodoro. Bay was dusted on the dirt in her stakes bow at Oaklawn Park, though she is training well as of late which includes a nice drill on the turf at Saratoga in advance of the Coronation Cup.

#8 ARTIE’S PRINCESS -- Ward trainee is a neck shy of being unbeaten from four career outings to date. We Miss Artie filly was a dominant winner on the all-weather at Woodbine in her sophomore bow, and I think that she will thrive with the transition to the lawn on Saturday. Speedy Ontario-bred looms large with Irad as her pilot.

#9 SHE’S MY TYPE -- Consistently very good stakes vixen draws widest for her first run at The Spa for Clement. French-bred was a fast-closing second in the Lady Shipman at Belmont most recently, and I envision her moving best of all in the stretch with Rosario returning to the irons.

Coronation Cup Wagers

• $2 Trifecta: 8,9 with 8,9 with all ($28)
• $1 Trifecta: 8,9 with all with 8,9 ($14)