How to bet the Kelly's Landing Stakes

An intriguing field of nine will go postward in the $110,000 Kelly’s Landing Overnight S. at Churchill Downs on Friday. The seven-furlong event is led by the return of 2020 Blue Grass S. (G2) winner #9 Art Collector (7-5), who was last seen finishing unplaced in the deep Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland. The Tom Drury trainee is a two-time winner on the surface and has prepared for his comeback with a string of strong morning drills on the strip, as well. And I think that he will be on point on Friday.

Art Collector is not at his best running seven-eighths of a mile, but he is the class of the field and received an ideal post draw on the outside of this cast. The Bernardini colt has good gate presence and tactical speed to be in range throughout, and he will be tough to deny with anything close to his best under regular pilot Brian Hernandez Jr.

Greg Foley’s #6 Bango (9-2) was a game winner despite a rough trip in the Aristides S. here last time out and rates a strong chance with another move forward on Friday. The dark bay son of Congrats has never been better, and it’s hard to overlook his fine 8-5-1-1 mark on the oval, too.

The Kentucky-bred has the pace to be close from the start, and he proved capable of running from off the pace with success last time out, as well. Four-year-old colt will always be in range with Tyler Gaffalione picking up the live mount.

#3 Bourbon Calling (8-1) owns three local wins and two at the distance for conditioner Ian Wilkes. The gelded son of Dialed In makes his seasonal debut in the Kelly’s Landing with some solid morning drills of late, and his strong late kick will be on full display on the cutback in distance under Julien Leparoux. I expect the five-year-old to be moving best of all inside the final furlong at a nice price.

Kelly’s Landing Wagers

• $30 exacta 9 with 6 ($30)
• $2 trifecta 6,9 with 6,9 with all ($28)
• 50-cent superfecta 9 with 3,6 with 2,3,6 with all ($12)