Turfway Park: How to bet the 2022 Dust Commander Stakes

A very good field of eight will contest the Saturday feature at Turfway Park, the $100,000 Dust Commander S.

The best value in the group lies with the Mike Maker-trained #8 Fancy Liquor (12-1), who will be making his first run on the surface. By Lookin at Lucky, the five-year-old is winless since the 2020 American Turf S. (G2) at Churchill Downs, but he has faced tough competition since that victory, and is a candidate to show major improvement in just his second performance in more than 11 months.

Fancy Liquor has the pace to stay in touch on the backside in a race that features a lot of early zip, and it’s beneficial that the dark bay drew outside of the speedy types signed on. Charis Landeros will pilot the value play.

#4 Big Dreaming (2-1) gave a fine account of himself in his lone run on the surface two back for Wayne Catalano. The Declaration of War five-year-old dominated allowance foes on that occasion while clocking a swift final quarter-mile, and his even fifth on the Fair Grounds lawn last time out was a solid effort. Gerardo Corrales riding the win contender adds to his appeal.

#7 Mr Dumas (5-1) split a nice pair when runner-up in the Prairie Bayou S. in his first run at Turfway to conclude his 2021 campaign for John Ortiz. The Majesticperfection six-year-old has posted some fine results against top competition in the past, and he rates as a top-three must use in my opinion.

Morning-line choice #2 Beatbox (7-5) also has to be included in my wagers due to his razor-sharp current form. The William Morey pupil has decimated a pair of allowance fields at the meeting and has never been better. The Pioneerof the Nile colt does face a hefty class hike, but anything resembling his latest outing makes him a prime contender in this heat beneath Rafael Bejarano.

Dust Commander Wagers

• $10 win and place #8 Fancy Liquor ($20)
• $5 trifecta 4, 8 with 4, 8 with 2, 7 ($20)
• $3 trifecta 4, 8 with 2, 7 with 4, 8 ($12)
• 50-cent superfecta box 2, 4, 7, 8 ($12)