Betting With, and Against, Emery in the Chicago Stakes

A total of 11 fillies and mares will jaunt seven-eighths on the Churchill Downs dirt in Saturday’s feature, the $300,000 Chicago S. (G2). The deep and accomplished group boasts multiple graded stakes heroines, including the Brad Cox-trained #1 Emery (5-2). 

Emery – With

• $24 win #1 Emery ($24)
• $4 trifecta 1 with 5,9 with 4,5,9,11 ($24)

Emery – Against

• $1 trifecta 5,9 with 1,4,5,9,11 with 1,4,5,9,11 ($24)
• $1 superfecta 5,9 with 1,5,9 with 1,4,5,9,11 with 1,4,5,9,11 ($24)

An unplaced fifth in the strong Derby City Distaff S. (G1) on the surface last time out, the daughter of More Than Ready faces a more reasonable task in this spot and is also well drawn on the rail, as well. The Stonestreet color bearer is a stakes victress on the course and also dons a 6-2-3-0 mark at the trip, too. Four-year-old filly has good early foot in a field lacking an abundance of pace and will be tough with a clean voyage beneath Florent Geroux. 

#5 Vahva (3-1), winner of the 2024 Derby City Distaff (G1) at this venue, is an obvious contender for trainer Cherie DeVaux. The Gun Runner mare was off the board when trying to defend her title in the race in her 2025 debut, but the bay has come back with a handful of solid morning drills in the interim and will be formidable with her best showing. Vahva will stalk the pace from the second or third flight early before being asked for her best under Irad Ortiz, Jr. 

#9 My Mane Squeeze (5-1) is perfect on the local strip with a pair of graded tallies to her credit for Mike Maker. The Audible filly has come home third in both the Madison S. (G1) and Ruffian S. (G2) to commence this campaign and could peak in her third appearance of the season. Bred in New York, the dark bay filly has won or placed in each of seven lifetime tries at the distance and wouldn’t be a surprise with Luis Saez in the stirrups. 

Grade 2 starlet #11 Zeitlos (8-1) is four-for-six with a second beneath the Twin Spires and comes off a measured victory at Pimlico most recently. 2023 Spinaway S. (G1) queen #4 Brightwork (10-1) has raced just three times dating back to her juvenile season and has to be given a look at a nice price with Brian Hernandez, Jr. taking the reins.