Keeneland: The best exotic wager in the Valley View Stakes

The rail is the shortest route around a racetrack, and setting the pace eliminates any chance of getting stuck in traffic.

These tried-and-true horse racing truths should give #1 Duopoly (9-2) a meaningful advantage in Saturday’s $150,000 Valley View (G3) at Keeneland.

Trained by Chad Brown, who excels with fillies and mares on turf, Duopoly looks formidable. The 3-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom was soundly beaten in her May 17 debut but bounced back with two big efforts during the summer.

Duopoly first attracted attention when she crushed a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Monmouth Park in gate-to-wire fashion and defeated next-out winner Curly Ruth by five lengths. As if to prove the effort wasn’t a fluke, Duopoly came right back to wire a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Saratoga by 1 3/4 lengths an left future allowance winner Lashara in her wake.

The 93 Brisnet Speed rating Duopoly posted at Saratoga ranks among the highest figures in the Valley View field, which stamps the stoutly bred filly as the horse to beat. The 1 1/16-mile distance is right up her alley, and hot jockey Tyler Gaffalione (5-for-15 when he teams up with Brown over the last 60 days) has been named to ride.

Duopoly isn’t the only frontrunner in the Valley View field, but the rail draw will give her every opportunity to secure the lead and save ground. Saratoga Oaks 1-2 finishers #12 Antoinette (3-1) and #11 Stunning Sky (7-2) are shorter prices on the morning line, but both are marooned in outside posts, which sets the stage for wide trips.

We’ll make Duopoly the key to a potentially lucrative exotic wager and play her in the exacta, over Antoinette, #2 In Good Spirits (8-1), and #3 Princess Grace (15-1).

The latter has easily won both of her starts for trainer Michael Stidham, and though she isn’t as fast as the favorites in terms of Brisnet Speed ratings, she is bred to thrive as a turf miler and still has upside.

$15 exacta: 1 with 12
$10 exacta: 1 with 2
$5 exacta: 1 with 3
Total: $30

Good luck!