A wonderful subject was entered for Saturday’s $500,000, Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs. It is perhaps a small subject, with solely six entrants, however these half-dozen fillies and mares comprise a extremely achieved group.
Working example? 5 of the entrants are confirmed graded stakes winners. They embrace #4 Scylla, a superbly bred 4-year-old filly whose 4-for-6 lifetime report features a good 3-for-3 tally at Churchill Downs.
A daughter of three-time main North American sire Tapit out of champion Shut Hatches, Scylla is a full-sister (similar sire [father] and dam [mother]) to Tacitus, a three-time Grade 2 winner who positioned within the 2019 Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes.
It’s taken time for Scylla to seek out her greatest kind, however she’s been on hearth at Churchill Downs in latest weeks. On Could 4, she smashed an $80,000 allowance-optional claimer by seven lengths going one mile. Then on June 1, she pressed a modest tempo within the Grade 3 Shawnee Stakes earlier than taking on to defeat #6 Xigera — winner of the Grade 2 Mom Goose Stakes and Grade 3 Falls Metropolis Stakes final 12 months — by 3 1/4 lengths.
Scylla is progressing in the proper path for Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott, and her unblemished Churchill report is a compelling purpose to assist her on Saturday. However you already know what? The one Fleur de Lis entrant who has but to win a graded stakes, #1 Free Like a Woman, might have a critical probability to upset Scylla and declare a breakthrough graded win in her fortieth profession begin.
A 5-year-old Louisiana-bred mare, Free Like a Woman has proven extremely sturdiness since her debut as a juvenile in Could 2021. She raced 10 occasions in 2021, 11 occasions in 2022, 11 occasions in 2023, and has made seven begins already this 12 months. Alongside the way in which, she’s gained 15 stakes races and positioned in half a dozen graded stakes.
Fairly frankly, Free Like a Woman has been a bit unfortunate to not win a graded stakes. She ran second within the 2022 Charles City Oaks when dealing with next-out Grade 1 winner Society. She completed second once more within the 2022 Remington Park Oaks whereas coming dwelling forward of Grade 1 winner Juju’s Map. She was overwhelmed solely a neck within the 2024 Houston Women Traditional Stakes by Bellamore, who had beforehand positioned in a number of Grade 1 races. And in her final two begins, Free Like a Woman completed third within the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap and second within the Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton La Troienne Stakes.
Free Like a Woman confronted robust competitors in each these Grade 1 contests. Within the Apple Blossom, she was overwhelmed solely by seven-time graded stakes winner Adare Manor and six-time stakes winner Flying Connection whereas ending forward of Bellamore and in addition #2 Shotgun Hottie and #3 Taxed, two of the opposite Fleur de Lis entrants.
Free Like a Woman fared even higher competitors within the La Troienne, which befell at Churchill Downs. She was overwhelmed solely by champion Idiomatic (who gained her fourth straight Grade 1 race) and completed forward of Xigera and champion Fairly Mischievous, winner of the 2023 Longines Kentucky Oaks.
Free Like a Woman’s report this 12 months, it’s clear she’s quietly improved by leaps and bounds. She lately defeated three of the 5 rivals she’ll face within the Fleur de Lis, so who’s to say she will’t conquer Scylla whereas dropping from the Grade 1 ranks right into a Grade 2? She labored out good ground-saving journeys within the La Troienne and Apple Blossom and has each probability to take action once more whereas breaking from the rail within the Fleur de Lis, particularly since jockey Corey Lanerie (a talented rail rider) is retaining the mount.
We’ll take a shot betting Free Like a Woman to win and taking part in her on high of Scylla within the exacta. The “safer” technique is perhaps boxing Free Like a Woman and Scylla within the exacta in order that we win in the event that they run 1-2 in both order, however on this small subject, the return on funding for a boxed exacta utilizing Scylla is perhaps modest. That’s why we’ll intention to catch a much bigger payday by backing our opinion that Free Like a Woman is the most probably winner.
Wagering Technique on a $10 Price range
$5 to win on #1 Free Like a Woman
What to say on the betting window: Churchill Downs, Race 8, $5 to win on 1
$5 exacta: 1 with 4
What to say on the betting window: Churchill Downs, Race 8, $5 exacta 1 with 4
Wagering Technique on a $30 Price range
$15 to win on #1 Free Like a Woman
What to say on the betting window: Churchill Downs, Race 8, $15 to win on 1
$15 exacta: 1 with 4
What to say on the betting window: Churchill Downs, Race 8, $15 exacta 1 with 4
Good luck, and benefit from the race!
