How to bet the Silks Overnight Stakes

Nine sophomores will speed six panels over the Oaklawn Park dirt in Friday’s competitive $135,000 Silks Overnight S. #6 Amorosa (4-1) is the lone prior stakes winner in the field, and while his two previous black-type tallies have come over Iowa-bred foes, I still like the talented three-year-old in this spot. 

Silks Wagers

• $20 exacta 6 with 5 ($20)
• $2 trifecta 5,6 with 5,6 with 3,4,7 ($12)
• $1 trifecta key 6 with 3,4,5,7 ($12)

Amorosa has compiled an 11-7-2-1 mark to date and will cut back in distance after running long in six straight in advance of Friday. The chestnut colt will make his first appearance for conditioner Chris Hartman in the tilt and comes off a solid try in the Zia Park Derby most recently. This voyage might be a tick shorter than ideal for the Sky Mesa homebred, but if he can stay in range early, then I have confidence his fine closing burst will be enough to win in his local debut. Tyler Bacon will be in the stirrups. 

I’m a bit surprised that #5 Sharp Swinger (8-1) was not claimed in his latest run at Churchill Downs off the long layoff, where the gelding dominated a $50,000 claiming group like a good one. The Mike Maker trainee is one of the quickest horses from the gate in a field without an abundance of pace in the mix, and the son of Practical Joke could enjoy a very favorable voyage if he comes out running. The Kentucky-bred gelding has great value with Santana in the controls. 

Ron Moquett’s #7 Hymn (10-1) comes in fresh and has good experience on the course from earlier in the season. The dark bay son of McKinzie lacks consistency, but he gets a pass for his last when racing over a sloppy, sealed strip in Louisville last time. Jaime Torres will guide the homebred. 

A pair of runners are coming off solid showings in a tough allowance tilt at Churchill Downs last time out, and both will be included in the vertical plays, too. The Phil Bauer-trained #3 Kalahari Dreams (5-2) was a clear runner-up in that recent contest and will be a factor with even minor improvement on this occasion. The Country House gelding is not super consistent, but he’s good on his best day and has finished in the exacta in 8 of 11 lifetime runs on the dirt. 

#4 U Devil You (7-2), who was third in the aforementioned contest, has strung together three smart efforts in succession and will grab a share with another step in the right direction on this occasion. The bay son of Daredevil has a versatile running style and will be in good position turning for home with Rosario in the irons.