How to bet the Rags to Riches Stakes

A total of nine 2-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Churchill Downs main strip in Sunday’s $98,000 Rags to Riches S.

Rags to Riches Analysis

The pace will be contested in the Rags to Riches, as #1 Orsetto, #2 Malibu Bird, and #5 Lady Traveler are all coming off wire-to-wire tallies. I expect the winner to rally from midpack.

Rags to Riches Contenders

#1 ORSETTO -- Austin pupil graduated like a good thing going seven-eighths on the surface most recently. Bernardini filly has moved forward in each of her lifetime tries to date, and another step forward will give the well-bred miss a chance for a stakes-placing from the rail. Declan Cannon will guide the speedy lass.

#2 MALIBU BIRD -- Norm Casse trainee graduated in her initial try going long at Keeneland in her latest endeavor. Daughter of Malibu Moon was unplaced in her lone local showing, however, and she will need to take another step in the right direction to be a major factor against this cast.

#3 DASH TO THE TOP -- Violence filly has shown improvement in each of her career attempts to date for Catalano. March foal just missed in a recent allowance tilt, and she might get a quick pace to rally into on Sunday at a price.

#4 OLIVIAOFTHEDESERT -- $320,000 yearling purchase never got involved in the recent Alcibiades (G1) but faces much softer in the Rags to Riches. Win threat was sharp in her prior try on the dirt when graduating at Ellis Park three back, and I expect the gray to be a major player on Sunday with Brian Hernandez up.

#5 LADY TRAVELER -- Quality Road filly got it done in her second assignment on the surface for Romans. Bay has shown the ability to run from on or off the pace, and the stretch out in distance figures to aid the Kentucky-bred in her initial try at a route of ground. Regular pilot Joe Talamo has the call.

#6 SALTY AS CAN BE -- Expensive daughter of Into Mischief bravely held on late at first asking on the course for Mark Casse. The $850,000 yearling buy is bred to run at least this far, and she shows five solid morning drills at Churchill Downs in anticipation of her stakes debut, as well. Ricardo Santana Jr. inherits the potentially live mount.

#7 TORSIE’S CHARM -- Kenneally pupil tired in the lane to finish fifth in an allowance affair at Keeneland most recently. But, the bay daughter of More Than Ready will be a top-three contender if she runs to her sharp maiden tally two prior. Adam Beschizza will be up.

#8 COACH -- Brad Cox charge is perfect from a pair of career tries to date, winning by a combined 13 lengths in total. Dark bay daughter of Commissioner faces a class rise coming in from Indiana Grand, but she has done little wrong to date and has to be given a winning chance in this spot. Florent Geroux will be in the irons.

#9 MIDNIGHT BALLERINA -- Top pick delivered as the favorite in a measured score on the course on debut for Mott. Daughter of Mineshaft was flattered when the runner-up came right back to win next out, and I think that the Stoneway Farm homebred will appreciate the added distance as much as any contender in the field. Julien Leparoux retains the mount atop the intriguing prospect.

Rags to Riches Wagers

• $20 Win and Place: #9 Midnight Ballerina ($40)
• $2 Exacta Key Box: 9 with 4,5,8 ($12)