Expert Pick of the Week: 2024 Pea Patch Stakes

Jul 04, 2024 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A full field of 12 sophomore fillies will speed 5 1/2 furlongs on the Ellis Park lawn in Saturday’s $125,000 Pea Patch S. The grassy dash lacks a clear standout in the well-matched field and appears to be a very good betting event from a value perspective.

Donamire Farm homebred Twirl Around failed as the favorite in a turf sprint at Churchill Downs last time out, but the three-year-old was a fine runner-up two back on the Keeneland green, and I think she is sitting on a big race in her local debut. Trained by Greg Foley, the daughter of Twirling Candy has always flashed ability and I feel that the lawn will ultimately be her best surface.

Twirl Around has good gate presence, but she doesn’t need the lead in order to succeed. The dark bay will benefit from sitting off of a fast and contested early pace in the race, as well. James Graham will take the reins for the initial time, and I envision him having the filly a few lengths behind the early leaders while saving ground from the outset.

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Field Lass led at every call in a sharp allowance tally on the Gulfstream Park sod most recently and will be a major threat with any improvement off of that triumph. Rusty Arnold pupil has been off since January, but she is working steadily in advance of her return, and the daughter of Munnings might come flying out of the gate while fresh. The $100,000 yearling purchase will have Colby Hernandez in the stirrups.

The Brad Cox-trained Ms. Tart ran just evenly in her 2024 debut in a dirt sprint beneath the Twin Spires most recently and will take a step forward second time back while switching to the lawn. Maximus Mischief filly was sharp in her lone sprint on the green leading up to this affair, and the Kentucky-bred has been training in swift fashion leading up to Saturday, as well. She will be doing her best work inside the final furlong under Axel Concepcion.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #3 Twirl Around on top of #8 Field Lass and #11 Ms. Tart in the 2024 Pea Patch Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.