How to bet the 2025 Dowager Stakes

Duvet Day scored a breakthrough in the Astra S. at Santa Anita (Photo by Benoit Photo)
A super competitive field of nine fillies and mares will run 1 1/2 miles on the Keeneland grass in Sunday’s $350,000 Dowager S. (G3). Conditioner Brendan Walsh has been on an excellent run at the current meeting, leading up to this tilt, and will saddle a trio of major threats in the deep affair. Of his three, I have a preference for #2 Spanish Eyes (4-1) with Tyler Gaffalione in the silks.
The German import was Group-1 placed as a sophomore and purchased for more than $1.3 million in December prior to coming to the States. She has been a bit uneven since arriving, but the Zarak four-year-old also proved her class when runner-up in the Beverly D. S. (G2) at Colonial Downs two back. The bay didn’t fire over good turf at the unique Kentucky Downs surface in her latest endeavor, but she has trained well in the interim and will also stretch out to 12 furlongs, which will benefit her.
Walsh’s #9 Bless My Stars (8-1) ran twice in the winter for trainer Todd Pletcher and will be saddled by this outfit for the initial time off the shelf. The South African is a Group 2 heroine who also owns a Group 1 placing. Although she will be making just her fourth start in the last 23 months, the six-year-old has appeal to me at a price for a crafty layoff conditioner. Gimmethegreenlight mare has not missed a beat in her morning drills since early August and wouldn’t surprise with John Velazquez in the controls.
Michael McCarthy’s #4 Duvet Day (9-2) is an accomplished stayer capable of big things on her best day. The Starspangledbanner six-year-old has won or placed in four of her five career attempts at 12 furlongs, and her form is pretty consistent coming into this feature. She often leaves herself with a lot to do turning for home, but the Irish-bred bay possesses a strong turn of foot and has to be considered for the exotics in the very least. I’ll be using her with Axel Concepcion in the saddle.
Dowager Wagers
TwinSpires Jury - ep.#114 | Live Stream
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 16, 2025
Jurors @AshleyAnd502, @atTheTrack7, and @_KyleHampton provide picks for weekend stakes action at Keeneland, featuring the Perryville, Raven Run, and Dowager Stakes. https://t.co/6z9Pq1tnI5
ADVERTISEMENT