How to bet the 2022 Skidmore Stakes

A competitive field of 10 will dash 5 1/2 panels on the Saratoga main turf course in Friday’s $150,000 Skidmore S. Nine colts and a gelding will vie in the finale and leading conditioner Chad Brown looks to have a strong hand in the race with a pair of live contenders in the cast, but I will look elsewhere for the winner. 

#4 No Nay Hudson (4-1) has flashed a lot of potential from a pair of tries on the dirt from two lifetime starts to date, and I expect the third timer to show even more while making his grassy debut on Friday. Trained by Wesley Ward, the Irish-bred dominated at first call at Keeneland prior to coming home a decent fourth after forcing the pace from the break in the Tremont S. at Belmont Park last time out.

The $190,000 yearling purchase comes in fresh off a trio of solid morning drills, with the latest pair coming on the Oklahoma turf course in preparation of his second stakes assignment. The speedy bay is kin to a pair of winners on the lawn and has the early foot to be involved from the break in the heat. Regular pilot John Velazquez will be in the silks.

#6 Noble Huntsman (12-1) is an especially nice price on the morning line for conditioner Mitchell Friedman. The Empire State-bred made his first appearance on July 27 at Saratoga and drove home late to record a widening, 4 1/2-length score under today’s pilot Javier Castellano. By Noble Mission, he came home fast and could sit a nice trip behind a swift and contested pace from the break. He is my value play for the vertical exotics.

#3 Oxymore (9-5) makes his first try since moving to the Brown shedrow following a fantastic debut tally at Belmont Park. The gelded son of Astern led throughout in the July 1 grassy sprint to win by 6 1/2 lengths, and he could be any kind. Jose Ortiz retains the mount.

#8 Appraise (3-1), the second Brown pupil, was game to win at first asking on the oval while recording a sharp final time. The Irish-bred son of Kodiac was close to a hot pace in that outing and held off a potentially good juvenile late, and horses from this shedrow often improve with experience. He will likely never be far back from the lead with Manny Franco keeping the mount.

Skidmore Wagers

• $10 win and place: #4 No Nay Hudson ($20)
• $3 exacta: key box 4 with 3, 6, 8 ($18)
• 20-cent superfecta: 4, 6 with 3, 4, 6, 8 with 3, 4, 6, 8 with all ($16.80)