How to bet with, and against, Shamrocket in the Louisville Stakes

An overflow field of 15 will travel 1 1/2 miles on the Churchill Downs turf in Saturday’s $200,000 Louisville S. (G3). The wide-open grassy feature lacks a true standout and appears to be a fine betting event no matter which horse that you fancy most.

Morning-line choice #10 Shamrocket (4-1) will make his local debut for conditioner Todd Pletcher. The five-year-old son of Tonalist is a stakes winner at 12 furlongs and has kept some very good company over the past two seasons. The multiple stakes hero possesses some tactical speed and a big turn of foot, and the Florida-bred bay comes in fresh with a few solid morning moves in advance of Saturday. Umberto Rispoli inherits the mount.

I liked the return allowance win from Kenny McPeek’s #9 Camp Hope (6-1) at Keeneland last time out, and I expect the son of Summer Front to be a major player throughout. Camp Hope showed vast improvement when switching to grass racing last campaign, and he is proven running long. The four-year-old colt will be forwardly placed from the opening bell with James Graham in the silks.

#4 Cibolian (12-1) lacks the stakes experience that many of his foes possess, but the Rodolphe Brisset trainee has been consistent and has top-three appeal to me at a nice number. The Temple City five-year-old will race as a gelding for the first time and has performed well on the local lawn with a 4-2-1-0 mark at Churchill Downs. Chris Landeros will be in the silks.

#5 Ajourneytofreedom (5-1) was a closing fourth in the race in 2021 while facing arguably a better field, and the Mike Maker pupil makes a lot of sense on this occasion. The Hard Spun gelding lures Javier Castellano to pilot him in this spot.

Shamrocket – With

• $6 exacta key box 10 with 4, 5, 9 ($36)
• 50-cent trifecta 10 with 4, 5, 9 with all ($18)

Shamrocket – Against

• 50-cent trifecta 4, 5, 9 with 4, 5, 9, 10 with all ($54)