Betting With, and Against, Haulin Ice in the Downthedustyroad Stakes

Multiple Grade 3 heroine and defending champ #8 Haulin Ice (1-2) is the prohibitive morning-line choice in Friday’s $150,000 Downthedustyroad S. at Oaklawn Park. The six-furlong dash on the dirt attracted a field of nine, but the favorite is clearly the one to beat for Saffie Joseph. The Coal Front mare is just shy of $1 million in earnings and will look to surpass that in the dash that she won by six facile lengths last season. 

Haulin Ice – With

• $10 trifecta 8 with 2 with 5,7 ($20)
• $5 trifecta 8 with 5,7 with 2 ($10)

Haulin Ice – Against

• $10 trifecta 2 with 8 with 5,7 ($20)
• $1 trifecta 2,5 with 2,5,8 with 2,5,7,8 ($8)

Second in the grassy Abundantia S. at Gulfstream Park in December to conclude her four-year-old season, the gray sports a formidable 8-6-2-0 mark on this strip and will be especially tough to upend with something close to her best performance. The fleet mare will be forcing the tempo from the opening bell with Francisco Arrieta in the silks. 

#2 Hush It Honey (3-1) is the main danger to the favorite and comes in off two allowance wins over open allowance foes for conditioner Randy Morse. The Too Much Bling five-year-old loves this oval with a 6-4-1-0 mark locally in her career, and she shows some nice morning drills in advance of her seasonal bow, as well. Rafael Bejarano will be in the irons. 

#7 Ministry’s Destiny (20-1) is not a likely winner in the affair, but the bay filly cuts back in distance after a nice try going long on the oval most recently, and the four-year-old could peak while making her third run off the shelf, as well. The daughter of Hamazing Destiny is stakes-placed on the oval and at the distance, and the filly has a versatile running style with Tyler Bacon staying in the silks. 

Ron Moquett will saddle #5 Caliente Star (12-1) for the initial time off the shelf in the heat. The Tapiture four-year-old faced stakes foes in her final four races as a sophomore and could move forward while making a second appearance since June. The versatile lass has trained well leading up to the tilt and will have Luis Saez in the irons.