Tipsheet: 2022 Pocahontas Stakes

A well-matched field of 12 juvenile fillies will go postward in Saturday’s $300,000 Pocahontas S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. 

Pocahontas S. Picks

• #4 Shoplifter
• #10 Fun and Feisty
• #9 Jet Setting
• #1 Boss Lady Bailey

Pocahontas S. Wagers

• $15 win and place: #4 Shoplifter
• $5 exacta key box: 4 with 1,9,10
• 50-cent trifecta: 4,10 with 1,4,9,10 with all

Pocahontas S. Contenders

#1 BOSS LADY BAILEY was a game winner at the tricky seven-furlong distance at first asking for John Ortiz. The expensive daughter of Connect was always in the hunt on that day and draws well on the stretch out to two turns for a conditioner who does well with the type in general. I expect a big move forward from the dark bay with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the silks.

#2 KISS ME ON OCONEE won at first asking on the surface before being unplaced in the Ellis Park Debutante last time out. The Lord Nelson filly will need to show vast improvement to have a say in the outcome of this affair for Tom Amoss.

#3 NAUGHTY GAL went wire to wire in the Adirondack S. (G3) at Saratoga two back before tiring in the stretch of the Spinaway S. (G1) most recently. The fleet Into Mischief filly could be at any kind going a route of ground for the initial time, and she likes this course, evidenced by her superb maiden score beneath the Twin Spires. Ricardo Santana inherits the mount.

#4 SHOPLIFTER gets the upset nod for Eddie Kenneally and jockey Rafael Bejarano. The Super Saver filly was a fine graduate on the oval two back and ran evenly in the Ellis Park Debutante despite breaking poorly from the difficult rail slot. The April foal has the early presence to be in the mix early, and I expect the bay to thrive in her first route attempt at a big price.

#5 GRAND LOVE led throughout in a facile debut score at Saratoga and rates an obvious chance on Saturday if she can handle two turns at this stage of her development. The bay daughter of fine sire Gun Runner will have to prove that she can rate early, but if she can, then I envision her being in the hunt throughout with Joel Rosario in the stirrups.

#6 OUTOFNOTHINGATALL finished a distant third in the Sorority S. at Monmouth Park in her second attempt but faces a tougher task in this spot. The daughter of Super Saver would be a surprise in a cast with a lot of depth. David Cohen will be up.

#7 SOUTHLAWN added blinkers second time out and showed marked improvement by graduating with ease at Ellis Park. The Norm Casse pupil is a dangerous commodity in the field after coming home swiftly in her latest appearance, and the move to 1 1/16 miles seems ideal for the daughter of Pioneerof the Nile filly. Tyler Gaffalione riding adds to her appeal.

#8 NEED SOME MONEY drew off to a fine score in her second showing for Sarah Hamilton. The $9,000 yearling purchase doesn't have much early foot, but this field is full of pace and the May foal should have some tired legs to run at late at a huge number.

#9 JET SETTING didn’t run especially fast in her first outing, but the Brad Cox trainee was professional and has obvious room for improvement going forward. The bay daughter of Union Rags shows four solid morning drills on this oval, and I envision her stalking the pace before being asked for her best run turning for home on Saturday. Florent Geroux inherits the ride.

#10 FUN AND FEISTY broke through with a powerful sprint tally in her third lifetime try and seems poised to give a good account of herself in her route and stakes debut on this occasion. The Kenny McPeek trainee has moved forward in each career engagement to date and is bred to handle the distance. The $100,000 daughter of Midshipman will be coming from off the early tempo with Julien Leparoux in the stirrups.

#11 JUSTA WARRIOR annexed the Debutante S. to make it 2-for-2 for Ottiz, who has two major contenders in the field. The $150,000 daughter of Justify has done nothing wrong from a pair of sprints to this stage of her development, and the March foal will be an obvious contender if she can negotiate a good voyage from this post. Regular pilot Reylu Gutierrez stays in the irons.

#12 FRIENDLYPERSUASION drew widest of all in the field and comes off a smart maiden tally at Indiana for Mike McCarthy. The gray daughter of Arrogate appreciated the move to route racing last time, but she will have to be a bit lucky to win from this slot. James Graham retains the mount.