How to bet with, and against, Coach in the Pippin Stakes

A field of seven fillies and mares will travel one mile on the Oaklawn Park dirt in Saturday’s $150,000 Pippin S.

Stakes winner #1 Coach (9-5) is the morning-line choice for conditioner Brad Cox. The Commissioner four-year-old ripped off a trio of wins to kick start her career as a juvenile, led by a tally in the Rags to Riches S., and she ran a few very good races on this course at three.

The bay checked in second in the Martha Washington S. in her 2021 debut, and following an unplaced effort, she was a solid third in the Fantasy S. (G3) on the oval. In her most recent endeavor, the Kentucky-bred lass was a smart allowance winner over a sloppy, sealed surface here in preparation of Saturday.

Coach has a bit of tactical speed as well as a strong late kick, and drawing the rail could work to her advantage in her 2022 debut with a clean break from the gate under Ricardo Santana, Jr. But, the filly faces multiple contenders that I can make a case for, and she will have to be sharp to justify her status as the one to beat.

Former claimer #6 Miss Bigly (5-2) has been consistently good with five consecutive top-three results with stakes competition as of late for trainer Phil D’Amato. The late-blooming Gemologist mare was a winner in her lone prior try on the surface, and the six-year-old comes in fresh following a third-place run in the Chilukki S. (G3) beneath the Twin Spires last time out. Martin Garcia will ride and have the bay forcing the tempo from the start.

#2 Breeze Rider (5-1) has done much of her best work on the turf and synthetic, but the five-year-old loves to win and has to get a long look in this affair, nonetheless. Steve Manley's pupil has won a pair of stakes races in succession, and her natural early speed should play well at the trip from a very good inner post slot. The daughter of Paynter is a viable win threat with E. T. Baird taking the reins.

Coach – With

• $20 exacta 1 with 2,6 ($40)
• $5 trifecta key 1 with 2,6 ($10)

Coach – Against

• $2 trifecta 2,6 with 1,2,6 with all ($40)