A superb discipline was entered for Saturday’s $500,000, Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs. It could be a small discipline, with solely six entrants, however these half-dozen fillies and mares comprise a extremely completed group.
Living proof? 5 of the entrants are confirmed graded stakes winners. They embody #4 Scylla, a superbly bred 4-year-old filly whose 4-for-6 lifetime report features a excellent 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 (identical sire [father] and dam [mother]) to Tacitus, a three-time Grade 2 winner who positioned within the 2019 Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes.
It’s taken time for Scylla to seek out her greatest type, 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 up to defeat #6 Xigera — winner of the Grade 2 Mom Goose Stakes and Grade 3 Falls Metropolis Stakes final yr — by 3 1/4 lengths.
Scylla is progressing in the suitable route for Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott, and her unblemished Churchill report is a compelling cause to help 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 Lady, might have a critical likelihood to upset Scylla and declare a breakthrough graded win in her fortieth profession begin.
A 5-year-old Louisiana-bred mare, Free Like a Lady has proven extremely sturdiness since her debut as a juvenile in Could 2021. She raced 10 instances in 2021, 11 instances in 2022, 11 instances in 2023, and has made seven begins already this yr. Alongside the best way, she’s received 15 stakes races and positioned in half a dozen graded stakes.
Fairly frankly, Free Like a Lady has been a bit unfortunate to not win a graded stakes. She ran second within the 2022 Charles City Oaks when going through next-out Grade 1 winner Society. She completed second once more within the 2022 Remington Park Oaks whereas coming residence forward of Grade 1 winner Juju’s Map. She was crushed solely a neck within the 2024 Houston Girls Basic Stakes by Bellamore, who had beforehand positioned in a number of Grade 1 races. And in her final two begins, Free Like a Lady completed third within the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap and second within the Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton La Troienne Stakes.
Free Like a Lady confronted robust competitors in each these Grade 1 contests. Within the Apple Blossom, she was crushed 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 Lady fared even higher competitors within the La Troienne, which came about at Churchill Downs. She was crushed solely by champion Idiomatic (who received 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 Lady’s report this yr, it’s clear she’s quietly improved by leaps and bounds. She not too long ago 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 likelihood 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 Lady to win and enjoying her on high of Scylla within the exacta. The “safer” technique could be boxing Free Like a Lady 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 discipline, the return on funding for a boxed exacta utilizing Scylla could be modest. That’s why we’ll intention to catch a much bigger payday by backing our opinion that Free Like a Lady is the most certainly winner.
Wagering Technique on a $10 Funds
$5 to win on #1 Free Like a Lady
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 Funds
$15 to win on #1 Free Like a Lady
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!
