Turfway Park: Horse racing pick of the day for Dec. 9

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Wednesday, Dec. 9

Turfway Park, Race 6: Allowance/optional claiming (6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta, 8:42 p.m. ET)

#8 Stillwater Cover (4-1 on the morning line) hasn’t finished better than fifth in two runs this season, but there are reasons to believe this stakes-winning daughter of Quality Road can improve on Tapeta.

Trained by Wesley Ward (who has three wins from six starts at this Turfway meet), Stillwater Cove never factored in a Nov. 15 allowance sprint on dirt at Churchill Downs, but previously ran OK (seventh) against a deep field in Keeneland’s Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. (G3) on grass.

Stillwater Cove has tactical speed and should appreciate easier company at Turfway, where she’ll be guided by high-percentage jockey Gerardo Corrales (five wins from 12 races to start the meet).

Let’s key Stillwater Cover in the exacta, with logical favorites #3 Dixieincandyland (3-1) and #9 Jeannie’s Beepbeep (5-2).

$6 exacta: 8 with 3,9 ($12)
$9 exacta: 3,9 with 8 ($18)
Total: $30

Good luck!