We are nearing the end of this year’s Belmont Big A fall meet, but this Sunday is set for a blockbuster of a card which includes two ‘Win and your in’ Breeders Cup races – the 2022 Frizette Stakes and Pilgrim Stakes.
As well as these two exciting races we will also take a look at the Grade 2 Fasing-Tipton Waya Stakes.
Here is everything you need to know.
Frizette Stakes
Grade 1, 1 mile, raced on dirt, open to two year old fillies. Total prize pool $400,000. Winner qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
The first big race in our preview comes in the form of the Frizette Stakes. First run in 1945, the winner of this race will not only land one of the most prestigious prizes for two year old fillies but also qualify for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies that will be held later this year. An important race, three of the last four winners of the Juvenile Fillies have won this race.
Seven horses will be hoping that they can repeat the feat this year and this race certainly has plenty of intrigue and looks to be a tight betting heat.
One horse that will be at the top of the market will be Chocolate Gelato. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by the excellent Irad Ortiz, this will only be her third start. Things took a while to get going as she could only finish third on debut, but then put the record straight with a dominant eight length victory last time out. The speed figure that day was impressive and a repeat of that performance will certainly see her in the final picture.
Another horse who won by a similar margin is The Great Maybe. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, this will only be her second run but her debut couldn’t have been more impressive as she cruised to an easy victory. During that performance she clocked the best speed figure out of any horse in this race and after producing such a devastating performance she can’t be ruled out.
The Great Maybe is one of three horses that won on debut with the other two being Raging Sea and You’re My Girl.
Raging Sea is trained by Chad Brown and despite only winning narrowly on debut, the rule of thumb is that Brown’s horses often take a huge leap forward for their second run so she is certainly a contender here.
You’re My Girl is arguably the most intriguing horse in the field. No horse in this contest has won a race by a greater distance than the John Terranova fillie, but that race came in a contest that only contained New York bred fillies. Wins for Raging Sea and The Great Maybe came in Open company and represents slightly better form. Despite running against inferior opposition, the nature of her win last time out can’t be overlooked and she could be a player at an attractive price.
Butch Reid will send Vedareo to this year’s Frizette and will be hoping that she can go one better than her sister Vequist who could only finish second in this race last year. A winner of the Sorority Stakes last time out, that represents really good form and with Jose Ortiz on board she has a jockey that has won this race two times previously.
Leave No Trace for the Phil Serpe yard is looking to extend her unbeaten record to three following two convincing wins to start her career. Likely to be a danger to all, she has been handed the dream draw up the rail and is bred to handle the distance. She is one that has to be really considered.
The outsider of the field could be American Rockette. A winner on debut, she could only finish fourth next time out and the general consensus is that this race might be too hot for her. She is expected to want further, so could have stamina to burn. If the race turns into a slog, she can be a player at what is bound to be a big price.
| HORSE | JOCKEY | ODDS BY JAZZSPORTS |
| Leave No Trace | Jose Lezcano | +450 |
| American Rockette | Junior Alvarado | +600 |
| Raging Sea | Flavien Prat | +600 |
| Chocolate Gelato | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | +180 |
| Vedareo | Jose L. Ortiz | +1500 |
| The Great Maybe | Javier Castellano | +350 |
| You’re My Girl | Joel Rosario | +500 |
2022 Frizette Stakes Betting Prediction
This is such a hard race to call and there are plenty of chances. One horse that has superstar potential could be The Great Maybe. She boasts the best speed figure in the contest and looks to be the one to beat.
Pilgrim Stakes
Grade 2, 1 mile and a sixteenth, raced on turf, open to two year old horses. Total prize pool $200,000. Winner qualifies for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Our second preview comes in the shape of the Pilgrim Stakes. A turf race, the contest will take place just over a mile – twelve horses are expected to take their chance on Sunday with the winner bagging a spot in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
In what looks a tight race to call, the likely favourite for the race looks to be I’m Very Busy who hails from the Chad Brown barn. Regarded as the best turf trainer in the States, Brown last won the Juvenile Turf back in 2019 and will be hoping he can repeat the feat with this horse this year.
His charge has just had the one start, but the manner of his victory couldn’t have been more impressive and with expected improvement on the cards he could be the one to beat.
Another horse likely to head the market is the Claude McGaughey trained Battle of Normandy. He was a narrow runner up in his first ever Stakes appearance last time out in the With Anticipation Stakes and that represents some of the best form in the field. Had he been granted a cleaner passage he would have won that day and at an attractive price he could be the value bet of the race.
Fly Right out of the Leah Gyarmati yard is another horse who heads into the Pilgrim with a great chance of victory. He has just had the one run and although that ended in defeat, he picked up the idea late and ended his race with real promise. Bound to be an attractive price he could be one to watch out for.
Major Dude represents the fearsome duo of Todd Pletcher and Flavian Prat and has to be respected. An impressive winner on his debut, ultimately he was disappointing last time out, only managing to finish sixth in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes. This will be his first run on turf and he will have to show real improvement to come out on top here.
LaChaise is looking to keep his unbeaten record in tact following a facile victory on debut. That win came against fellow New York bred horses so the form is slightly questionable. However, there can be no doubts over the manner of his maiden victory but more will certainly be needed here.
| HORSE | JOCKEY | ODDS BY JAZZSPORTS |
| Fly Right | Javier Castellano | +600 |
| Noble Huntsman | Dylan Davis | +2000 |
| Major Dude | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | +800 |
| Bramble Blaze | Madeline Rowland | +3000 |
| Battle of Normandy | Kendrick Carmouche | +450 |
| Dataman | Joel Rosario | +1500 |
| Ramblin’ Wreck | Manuel Franco | +1500 |
| Vacation Dance | Luis Saez | +3000 |
| Lachaise | Jose L. Ortiz | +800 |
| I’m Very Busy | Flavien Prat | +140 |
| Torigo | Junior Alvarado | +2000 |
| Movisitor | Trevor McCarthy | +3000 |
Pilgrim Stakes Betting Pick
In what is a tricky contest to call, we will side with Battle of Normandy to narrowly get the job done. His second place finish in the With Anticipation Stakes is amongst the best form on offer and we think he can just poke his head in front here.
Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes
Grade 3, 1 mile 3/8, raced on turf, open to horses three and over. Total prize pool $200,000
At the time of writing eight horses are expected to canter down to post for this year’s Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes. In what looks a really tight betting contest there are several horses who head into the race with a strong looking chance.
Likely to head the betting is Flirting Bridge who hails from the Brendan Walsh yard. A four year old, Flirting Bridge has done the majority of his racing in Europe with esteemed Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead. He has just had two starts since moving Stateside and is yet to get his head in front. However, his European form stacks up well and he looks set to go close.
When it comes to high quality US turf racing it’s likely that Chad Brown will have a live contender and that is certainly the case with Capital Structure. A horse that has shown real glimpses of quality throughout his career, his career has been blighted by several long absences. A tune up in the Listed All Along Stakes didn’t quite go to plan as he finished last. However the intention was to blow the cobwebs away and he arrives with a big chance based on his previous exploits.
Brown has two entered in the race with his second entry Rocky Sky also having a great chance. Like others in this race, Rocky Sky has mostly been campaigned in Europe and has only recently made the move to the US. This will be his fourth American appearance and Brown will be hoping he can win his first race. His runs haven’t been without promise as he has two second place finishes to his name. With a bit more luck he could break his duck here.
Cherie DeVaux will be hoping for a big day and has several chances across the card. In this contest she is represented by Coastana who heads into this contest following a career best performance in the Grade 2 Flower Bowl Stakes. A huge 33/1 runner that day, he finished in a highly respectable third and a repeat of that will see him play a major part in proceedings.
Credible outsiders in this field are Gladys and Flying Fortress. Both have yet to taste success this season but do have placed form at this level. Things will need to fall their way but at bigger prices they are not without a chance.
| HORSE | JOCKEY | ODDS BY JAZZSPORTS |
| Capital Structure (GB) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | +350 |
| Flirting Bridge (IRE) | Flavien Prat | +200 |
| Gladys | Luis Saez | +800 |
| Lovely Lucky | Dylan Davis | +3000 |
| Flying Fortress | Joel Rosario | +1000 |
| Coastana | Jose Lezcano | +300 |
| Tass | Javier Castellano | +1500 |
| Rocky Sky (IRE) | Manuel Franco | +500 |
Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes Betting Prediction
in what could be the trickiest betting contest of the day, we will take a chance on Coastana backing up his third place finish in the Flower Bowl Stakes. Clearly thriving he looks to be the solid option of the race.
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