Player Quick Pick: G3 Bourbonette Oaks for 3/22/2014

Turfway 10 | 5:42 pm ET G3 Bourbonette Oaks for 3yo F going 1 mi. (A)

Though not the “A-list” for Kentucky Oaks hopefuls, the G3 Bourbonette Oaks should prove to be a competitive race for young three-year old fillies, with Wayne Catalano ruling the day…

MOST PROBABLE WINNER:  7-Aurelia’s Belle

The classiest filly in the race should be the post-time favorite. Having hit the board in three straight graded stakes races, this Lemon Drop Kid daughter (out of Aurelia) has already been a proven winner on a synthetic surface,winning her maiden race at Keeneland last October.    Channing Hill piloted her to victory in Lexington, where she also fired a bullet work this week.  Hill is up again on Aurelia’s Belle, who is cutting back from a 1-1/16 mile distance to race 1 mile here.  At anything over 2-1, she is the best bet to win.  She should also be played on top of exotics, and in all multi-race bets.

VALUE HORSE:  3- Cheerful Contender

This Mark Casse-trained filly also has a synthetic track victory under her belt, breaking her maiden at Woodbine last November.  Although she performed poorly in her only stakes race (6th, 9-½ lengths back in the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn last month), it was her first race off the layoff.  She corrected her poor start the next race out, winning at Oaklawn at a mile and 1/16.  This will be her third race off the layoff, is primed to hit the board, and should be a contender to win.  Key this horse in exotic bets, and play with the #7 in multi-race bets.

OTHERS TO CONSIDER:  4- Sloane Square & 6- Super Sky

These Todd Pletcher-trained fillies should both be in the hunt to win the Bourbonette Oaks.  Sloane Square was unraced as a 2-year old, but has won both of her races this year, as a heavy favorite in each.  Pletcher puts Johnny Velazquez up on Sloane Square, even though he has guided Super Sky to victory (on Keeneland’s synthetic track last October).  Sloane Square will be racing in the longest race of her short career, having gone 5-½, then 7 furlongs this year. Of the two Pletcher horses, this one gets the nod.  Super Sky will have Luis Saez aboard, as she comes off the turf for only the second time in her career (the other being the previously-mentioned victory at Keeneland).  Although the Sky Mesa filly might be a turf horse, she is one of the better bets to hit the board here.  Play both Pletcher horses in exotics.

WAGERING OPTIONS FOR $20 PLAYERS $2 Exacta 7 over 3,4,6 ($6) $1 Trifecta 7 over 3,4,6 ($6) $4 Win/Place 3 ($8--$20 total)

WAGERING OPTIONS FOR $50 PLAYERS $20 WIN 7 ($20) $2 Exacta 7 over 3,4,6 ($6) $1 Trifecta Box 3,4,6,7 ($24--$50 total)

MULTI-RACE BETS TURFWAY R9 $1 Pick-4: 1,7 with 3,7 with 8 with ALL ($44) TURFWAY R10 $5 Daily Double 7 with 8 (Wayne Catalano Bourbonette Oaks/ Spiral double--$10)