How to bet With, and Against, Goodnight Olive in the Bed o' Roses Stakes

Champion #1 Goodnight Olive (6-5) will lead a compact field of five postward in Saturday’s $200,000 Bed o’ Roses S. (G2) at Belmont Park. Trained by Chad Brown, the five-year-old had a superb 2022 campaign where she went four-for-four, which included a pair of Grade 1 victories capped by a tally in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland.

The daughter of Ghostzapper was a fine winner of the Madison S. (G1) in her seasonal debut, but she endured a horrific stretch run when blocked throughout the latter stages of the Derby City Distaff S. (G1) when ultimately finishing third as the 1-2 favorite last out. She has trained in fine fashion since, led by a bullet move on the main oval here most recently, and her lone local appearance resulted in a stylish allowance triumph. The mare will be formidable beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr., but she does face a classy bunch.

Ed Allard’s #2 Beguine (8-1) could control the race early with a clean break from the gate at a nice price as the longest shot on the morning line. Second in the 2022 Fantasy S. (G2) as a sophomore, the four-year-old has focused on sprinting since joining this outfit and the results have been good ever since. This daughter of Gun Runner was a clear second in the Garland of Roses S. two back with the addition of blinkers, which preceded a first-level allowance romp on this course last time out. The class rise is a major one, but the homebred is long on talent and could get brave if alone on the lead turning for home.

#3 Wicked Halo (7-2) finished ahead of the favorite at Churchill Downs last time out and has been consistently very good over the past 12 months. The Winchell homebred, who finished third behind Goodnight Olive in the Breeders’ Cup this past fall, possesses excellent tactical speed and packs a punch in the lane, too. This four-year-old gray could peak in her third start of the season with Jose Ortiz taking the reins, and I expect her to track the pace from second to the top of the stretch.

Goodnight Olive – With

$20 trifecta: key 1 with 2,3 ($40)

Goodnight Olive – Against

$10 trifecta: 2,3 with 1,2,3 with 1,2,3 ($40)