Expert Pick of the Week: 2022 Chicago Stakes

Jun 23, 2022 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

An outstanding field of seven fillies and mares will go postward in Saturday’s $200,000 Chicago S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The seven-furlong dash features a loaded cast with some of the better one-turn distaffers in training to compete in the fascinating feature.

The Brad Cox-trained #3 Lady Rocket (5-2) has led to the top of the lane and tired in the stretch while participating in some fantastic fields in her last pair of contests, but she has the look of a dangerous pace player in this spot. By Tale of the Cat, the five-year-old will be controlling speed in the field and I expect her to lead in wire-to-wire fashion on Saturday. She is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Lady Rocket closed out 2021 with a dominant nine-length tally in the Go For Wand S. (G3) at Aqueduct and has tackled some fine foes from her two tries this campaign. She owns a win and a second from a pair of lifetime tries beneath the Twin Spires, and she comes in fresh off the short absence with a trio of solid morning drills on the surface. Lady Rocket will be at her peak while making a third run off the bench, and if Ricardo Santana, Jr. can get away with reasonable early splits while on the front end, I envision she will be very difficult to pass late.

The Churchill-loving #7 Sconsin (2-1) made her seasonal debut a winning one while bagging the Winning Colors S. (G3) here last time out for conditioner Greg Foley. By Include, the five-year-old sports a fine 8-5-2-0 mark in Louisville, and the mare figues to receive a favorable trip for jockey Mitchell Murrill while stalking the pace in the clear. Sconsin should also move forward in her second assignment since September.

Grade 1 heroine #4 Bell’s The One (7-2) is a one-run closer who fires nearly every time she races for trainer Neil Pessin. The genuine daughter of Majesticperfection boasts a strong 9-4-3-0 line on the oval, and she too could take a step in the right direction in her third outing off the bench. Regular pilot Corey Lanerie will be in the silks.

An exacta with #3 Lady Rocket on top of #7 Sconsin and #4 Bell’s The One in the Chicago Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.