How to bet the 2025 Perryville Stakes

A compact and talented field of six sophomores will dash seven furlongs on the Keeneland main surface in Saturday’s $350,000 Perryville S. (G3). Five of the six signed on have achieved stakes success in their respective careers, making this one of the better renditions of the event in recent memory.

Perryville Wagers

• $15 Exacta: 5 with 3,4 ($30)
• $5 Trifecta: key 5 with 3,4 ($10)

The game runner-up effort from #5 Captain Cook (6-5) in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. (G1) at Saratoga in his first attempt for Todd Pletcher gives him the slight nod in the heat. A winner of the Withers S. in February, the son of Practical Joke ran a trio of pretty good races while facing strong opposition following his stakes triumph, but he took his game to a new level last time out.

Running with the blinkers off for the first time at The Spa, the $410,000 purchase forced a fast pace and fought gamely to the wire while finishing well clear of third. He has posted a handful of morning drills in the interim, and while I’m not enamored with his morning-line price in such a competitive cast, I still feel that he will be the one. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will take the reins.

Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner #4 Owen Almighty (4-1) made his first run since finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Charles Town on Aug. 22 and showed little, but the Brian Lynch pupil is much better than he showed on that day and will rebound on this occasion. The Speightstown colt proved to be a very good middle-distance performer earlier in this campaign, and he fits well in this spot with his best showing. The Kentucky-bred possesses good early speed, and he should be dead fit after posting five morning moves in anticipation of this heat. Luis Saez has the assignment.

#3 Barnes (5-2), one of two in the field for Baffert, had a troubled trip after breaking last in the Gallant Bob S. (G2) at Parx last time but showed life in the lane to finish fourth, defeated by 3 3/4 lengths at the wire. The $3.2 million son of Into Mischief is a Grade 2 winner at seven panels and ran a quality third in the Jerkens in his other voyage at the distance, as well. The bay colt is working in swift fashion in advance of his local debut and will have Jose Ortiz in the stirrups.