How to bet the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes

A total of seven fillies and mares will travel 1 1/4 miles on the Belmont inner turf in Saturday’s $250,000 Flower Bowl (G1). The “Win and You’re In” affair will reward the winner with a berth in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1).

Flower Bowl Analysis

The pace is expected to be on the slow side in the Flower Bowl, with #1 Cambier Parc and #5 Beau Belle being most prominent early on. I don’t expect there to be a lot of separation in the field throughout the race.

Flower Bowl Contenders

#1 CAMBIER PARC -- Win contender finished second in the Canadian (G2) at Woodbine in her seasonal debut for Brown. Medaglia d’Oro filly concluded her sophomore season with back-to-back Grade 1 victories, and she will be a major player second time off the shelf on this occasion. John Velazquez will have the 4-year-old in the mix from the break.

#2 MY SISTER NAT -- Top selection has the best turn of foot in the field, and I think she will pass them all late under Jose Ortiz. Acclamation 5-year-old, who is a half-sister to recent Arc (G1) victor Sottassas and champion Sistercharlie, has won or placed in each of her trio of local tries, and the mare also comes in with three top-two finishes to kick off 2020. The bay will be tough to deny late.

#3 CIVIL UNION -- Talented contender from the McGaughey shedrow has won two stakes races in succession in advance of her initial Grade 1 attempt. Lightly raced War Front mare is perfect from a pair of tries on the Belmont lawn, and she has as much room to improve as any in the cast with just seven lifetime tries on her ledger, as well. Joel Rsario has the call.

#4 LA SIGNARE -- Walsh pupil is a winner on the surface and brings good form to the race. Top-three threat had a good prep when third in the Distaff Turf Mile (G2) most recently, and she would not be a total surprise in the affair if she proves capable of handling 10 furlongs at this level.

#5 BEAU BELLE -- Albertrani trainee was a well-beaten fifth in the race last campaign, and I haven’t seen marked improvement from her since. Chestnut daughter of Giant’s Causeway looks to be in a tough spot on Saturday.

#6 NAY LADY NAY -- Third from the Chad Brown barn comes in with a pair of wins in succession, including a dominant triumph in the All Along S. at Laurel most recently. No Nay Never 4-year-old would need a lifetime-best showing to challenge for the win late, though she does move forward if there is give in the lawn on Saturday. Irad will be in the stirrups.

#7 LOVELY LUCKY -- Former maiden claimer outran her odds when a close fourth in the recent Glens Falls (G2) at Saratoga, but she drew widest of all in the Flower Bowl, and I will need to see her repeat her latest before getting in her corner.

Flower Bowl Wagers

• $20 Win and Place: #2 My Sister Nat ($40)
• $5 Exacta Box: 1-2 ($10)