How to bet the Wilton Stakes

A well-matched field of six sophomore fillies will go postward in the $125,000 Wilton S. at Aqueduct on Sunday. The one-turn mile event figures to have a good amount of pace in it, and I expect the tempo to be a contested one from the early stages of the affair. 

Wilton Wagers

• $25 win #6 Sweet Seraphine ($25)
• $2 trifecta 6 with 2 with all ($8)
• $2 trifecta 6 with all with 2 ($8)
• $1 trifecta 2 with 6 with all ($4)

Two-time graded stakes placed #1 Liam in the Dust (9-2) chased strong early splits in the Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) at Pimlico before throwing in the towel in the lane last time out, and I envision the Brisset pupil to be sent to some extent from the rail on Sunday. 

Bill Mott’s recent graduate #3 Mazayaat (8-5) led at every call in a victory on the course most recently and has shown a measure of early interest in each of her trio of outings to date. The Chad Summers-trained #4 Dry Powder (6-1) has dueled for the lead in two lifetime runs to date and comes off a good second on the strip, while #5 Pink Ruby (10-1) won in gate-to-wire fashion in a pair of races in succession for conditioner Lindsay Schultz. 

The pair of late runners in the field will receive a great setup in the affair, and I will base my plays around the duo. My top play breaks from the outside and exits a game maiden win from off the pace at Churchill Downs. #6 Sweet Seraphine (2-1) brought $900,000 as a yearling and finished a solid third in a dash at Ellis Park in August. The Cherie DeVaux-trained filly returned in Louisville on May 24 and wore down a clear one in the stretch at this distance most recently, and I envision her moving forward second time off the break. The Quality Road three-year-old picks up Irad. 

Mark Hennig’s #2 Cat Chat (6-1) has won a pair of races in succession by open lengths, led by a facile triumph over an allowance runner in an off-the-turf test in her latest venture. The $325,000 daughter of Flatter has little early foot and defeated only two foes last out, but I like her progression and feel that she will make one run in the lane to grab a share under the wire with Kendrick Carmouche on board.