A 7 ¼-length victory at Churchill Downs in June and a seven-length win at Ellis Park in August have Manuka Honey touted as the one to beat in the $300,000 Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at Churchill on Saturday.
The 2-year-old filly is the 9-5 favorite in a field of nine going a mile in the race that opens the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1). The top five finishers are awarded 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points on a descending scale for the Oaks on April 30.
Manuka Honey, trained by Brian Lynch, won her debut at 5 furlongs and the Ellis Park Debutante at 7 furlongs. The distance increases to a mile, but Manuka Honey, with regular rider Luis Saez aboard, leaving for post 2, looks like the extra distance won't be an issue.
The powerfully built Upstart filly should race just off the pace, then close with a kick that has seen her win both of her starts with ease.
Miss Anna, the 7-2 second choice for trainer Brendan Walsh, broke her maiden by six lengths at second asking at Ellis Park in August. Tyler Gaffalione has the call from post 7, and her closing style could pay off with the added distance.
Pierette at 9-2 can't be overlooked despite her clunker (sixth) in the Adirondack Stakes (G3) at Saratoga on Aug. 2. The Girvin filly is trained by Mark Casse and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz. She won her first two starts, including the Debutante Stakes, both at Churchill Downs. A stalker who could duel with Manuka Honey in the stretch if she gets a good break from post 1.
Stripe Show (12-1) won in her only start so far, by a neck at a mile at Ellis Park in July; Sweet Kathleen (30-1) is making her first start; Betty Sue (12-1) steps up after breaking her maiden at second asking by 10 lengths at Parx; Scarlett Begonia (4-1) ran third in the Adirondack for trainer Brad Cox; For the Win (15-1) was second to Manuka Honey in the Ellis Park Debutante; and Tahaluf won in her debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Aug. 24.
Post time for the Pocahontas is 4:26 p.m. ET.
Also on the card is the $300,000 Iroquois Stakes (G3), the first of 36 Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races offering qualifying points of 10-5-3-2-1 to the first five finishers.
| 1 | Pierette (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | Mark E. Casse | 9/2 |
| 2 | Manuka Honey (KY) | Luis Saez | Brian A. Lynch | 9/5 |
| 3 | Stripe Show (KY) | Jaime A. Torres | John C. Servis | 12/1 |
| 4 | Sweet Kathleen (KY) | Chris A. Emigh | Brittany A. Vanden Berg | 30/1 |
| 5 | Betty Sue (PA) | Assael Espinoza | Reed C. Bryner | 12/1 |
| 6 | Scarlett Begonia (KY) | Flavien Prat | Brad H. Cox | 4/1 |
| 7 | Miss Anna (KY) | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan P. Walsh | 7/2 |
| 8 | For the Win (KY) | Axel Concepcion | George Weaver | 15/1 |
| 9 | Tahaluf (KY) | Declan Sheehy | Andrew McKeever | 15/1 |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
