Exotics Plays for the 2025 River City Stakes

A full and competitive field of 12 will jaunt nine panels over the Churchill green in Saturday’s $300,000 River City S. (G3). The contest features numerous win contenders in a very difficult handicapping tilt, and I will look outside for one of my key players in the field. 

River City Exotics

• $2 exacta box 2,6,9,12 ($24)
• 50-cent trifecta 12 with 2,6,9 with all ($15)
• 50-cent trifecta 12 with all with 2,6,9 ($15)
• 10-cent superfecta box 2,6,9,12 ($2.40)

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, #12 Taking Candy (8-1) has performed well while facing top foes in three of four tries in 2025 and is very good value at his morning-line price. The bay has won or placed in three of four career runs at this venue and comes off an even run in a deep field at Kentucky Downs last time out. The Kentucky-bred son of Twirling Candy is still lightly raced with room for improvement, and he will be in all of my plays despite drawing the widest of all.

#9 Lagynos (9-2) was a runaway winner of the Tapit S. at Kentucky Downs two back, prior to checking in second in the lucrative Mint Millions S. (G3) most recently. The Steve Asmussen charge came close while placing in a trio of stakes runs on the course in succession earlier in the year and comes in fresh for the assignment. The Kantharos colt will stalk the action under Frankie Dettori.

Mike Maker’s #6 Chasing the Crown (7-2) sports a strong 6-4-2-0 mark on the local lawn and is a logical contender. Millionaire son of Skipshot comes off of a game tally at Kentucky Downs in his most recent showing and gets back on a course that he thrives upon. The Kentucky-bred six-year-old, who rallied to be a good third in the Pegasus Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park two back, will improve today while making his second run since January. He will be moving into contention approaching the turn for home with Tyler Gaffalione retaining the ride. 

The John Ennis-trained #2 Epic Ride (8-1) has to be sent from this post, and it could be a good thing. The Blame gelding was fantastic in his Mint Millions (G3) romp and gets a pass for his latest when facing a strong group at Keeneland last out in the Turf Mile S. (G1). He will move up off of that effort in this tilt with Luan Machado in the stirrups.