Betting With, and Against, Good Cheer in the Acorn Stakes

Six sophomore fillies will attempt to take down unbeaten Kentucky Oaks (G1) phenom #2 Good Cheer (1-2) in Friday’s $500,000 Acorn S. (G1) at Saratoga. The 1 1/8-mile affair attracted some good ones, but it will be a tall task to upend the Godolphin homebred who aims to keep her sterling mark at a perfect eight in her first appearance at The Spa. 

Good Cheer – With

• $12 exacta 2 with 3,6 ($24)
• $1 superfecta 2 with 3,4,6 with 3,4,6 with all ($24)

Good Cheer – Against

• $1 trifecta 3,6 with 2,3,4,6 with all ($30) 
• $1 trifecta 3,4,6 with 2,3,4,6 with 2,3,4,6 ($18)

Trained by Brad Cox, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has yet to be seriously challenged in the stretch while besting her foes by a combined 44 1/2 lengths to date, and it’s hard to say anything negative about the bay. She will stalk the pace early before being unleashed by Luis Saez approaching the turn for home, and her best will likely be too much for this cast. 

If the top pick unexpectedly fails to fire over the famed surface that has stymied multiple great ones in the past, there are solid alternatives to explore. #3 La Cara (10-1) set fast and contested splits in the Kentucky Oaks last time before giving way in the lane, but can easily rebound with a more sensible voyage on Friday. Street Sense homebred bagged the Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland two back, and the speedy filly is the inside pace of the race, as well. She broke her maiden with authority on the oval in the summer and retains regular pilot Dylan Davis. 

Eight Belles S. (G2) queen #6 Look Forward (15-1) reversed form in a big way last time out at Churchill Downs when taking down a nice field, and any improvement off of that will give the Bolt d’Oro filly a chance if Good Cheer fails to fire. The Mike McCarthy pupil can be very good on her best day, and if the bay takes to the local oval, then she will be prominent at the top of the lane at a price. The $285,000 yearling purchase will have Umberto Rispoli in the silks. 

I’m not sure what to make of #4 Shred the Gnar (3-1) in this particular spot, but the Brian Lynch pupil is obviously quite talented and could be up to the task despite the major class rise. The improving Into Mischief filly wired an allowance field with ease on Kentucky Oaks Day last time out, and she is surely bred to handle the distance, as well. Jose Ortiz will be in the silks atop the bay. 

Join us on June 7 for a rematch that will shake the stands. Many top Kentucky Derby contenders return for the Belmont S. (G1) to fight for the finish, including Journalism, winner of Preakness 150, and Sovereignty, winner of Derby 151. Who will stand in the winner's circle for Belmont?

Stay with us throughout Belmont Day during stakes races as we bring you the latest horse racing news, live odds, expert picks, and more. It is sure to be an exciting day of racing!

Also, come chat with our expert panel regarding Friday and Saturday racing during Saratoga's Friday card, including the Acorn S. (G!)!