Expert Pick of the Week: 2024 Likely Exchange Stakes

Jan 11, 2024 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A well-matched field of 11 fillies and mares will run one mile on the Turfway Park synthetic surface in Saturday’s $125,000 Likely Exchange S. The lightly raced Silver Ticket didn’t fire on debut but showed vast improvement with the move to the all-weather at Gulfstream Park following that first showing. By Curlin, the four-year-old broke her maiden on Oct. 13 by 6 1/4 lengths, and the Kentucky-bred was next seen dominating allowance foes on the same surface by 3 3/4 widening lengths.

Silver Ticket faces a major class rise in her local debut, but the Todd Pletcher trainee has worked well leading up to her stakes bow, and the rail post might be a major benefit for the stalker, as well. Emisael Jaramillo, who has been in the silks atop the filly for two straight, retains the mount aboard the talented lass.

Flashy Gem has put in a trio of very good runs on the oval in her lifetime and comes off a dominant, 7 1/2-length allowance romp on this strip last time out. Trained by Brad Cox, the Bolt d’Oro four-year-old finished second to a really nice one in the Bourbonette Oaks here last season and could take another step forward on this occasion while making her second run off the layoff.

The Spendthrift Farm colorbearer has ample gate speed, a fine post to match her running style, as well as the turn of foot to be a major player with anything resembling her best performance. She posted a smart half-mile morning move leading up to this assignment and will always be well placed from the start with Axel Concepcion in the stirrups once again.

#3 Catiche runs away with the My Charmer Stakes @TurfwayPark at 6/1 odds!

Jockey: Gerardo Corrales
Trainer: @micks929
Owner: Scott Mawaka

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/dLrC9npgj4

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 10, 2023

Catiche exits a strong stakes win over the Turfway surface and dons a lifetime line of 8-3-4-0 on synthetic ovals. Purchased for $445,000 last season, the talented daughter of Arrogate clearly likes this locale and also has room to improve while making just her second start since the spring. Trained by Michael Stidham, she is a logical top-three inclusion with Gerardo Corrales taking the reins.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #1 Silver Ticket on top of #8 Flashy Gem and #2 Catiche in the Likely Exchange Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.