How to bet the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes

A deep field of 11 sophomore fillies will run one mile on the Tapeta at Turfway Park in Friday’s $175,000 Cincinnati Trophy S. Trainer Kelsey Danner has a pair of ladies entered for the affair, led by the unbeaten #10 Map of the Moon (3-1), who is my top selection. By Liam’s Map, the $200,000 yearling purchase defeated maidens on the Keeneland green at first asking in October and capped her brief juvenile season with a late-running score in the grassy Stewart Manor S. at Aqueduct on Nov. 7. 

Cincinnati Trophy Wagers

• $20 win #10 Map of the Moon ($20)
• 50-cent superfecta 8,10 with 8,10 with 4,5 with all ($16)

The Kentucky-bred commenced her sophomore campaign with a measured tally in the Gowell S. in her synthetic debut and has trained well in the interim. She will improve in her second run off the bench, and the filly gives the impression of a horse who will appreciate the added ground in this tilt, as well. Victor Carrasco inherits the mount. 

Godolphin homebred #8 Dame Laura (2-1) was an excellent allowance winner in her initial try on the course most recently and looks like the one to beat for Brendan Walsh. The Munnings chestnut has never run a bad one in her lifetime and loved the surface change in her latest attempt. She was a bit more involved early on in her latest and will be formidable with a clear voyage in the feature with Edgar Morales taking the reins. 

#4 Rip Current (15-1) was a visually sharp debut winner on this oval prior to checking in a troubled fourth in a subsequent allowance run on the oval, and she has some appeal at a big price for the exotics. The Paulo Lobo trainee showed improvement the second time out and will be a late player in the contest with a move forward on Friday. Regular pilot Walter Rodriguez retains the mount. 

#5 Belle of the Barn (15-1) is another longshot that I like for the vertical plays in this spot. Caramori trainee came home with fine energy to graduate in a dash on the surface at first asking, and will stretch out today, which I think will be to her benefit. The Ontario-bred daughter of Street Sense shows a maintenance half-mile drill leading up to this and will have Dylan Machado in the stirrups.