Handicapping: Price Plays Abound in May 22 Stakes

Horseplayers on the East Coast can sleep in without missing any stakes action May 22. There are just a handful of six-figure races: The Santa Maria Stakes (G2) and Honeymoon Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park; the Winning Colors Stakes (G3) and $110,000 Keertana Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs, where first post isn't until 6 p.m. ET; and the $100,000 Seek Again Stakes at Belmont Park. 

The Seek Again, scheduled for one mile on the Widener (outer) turf course, has the distinction of being the day's only stakes race for males in North America.

Nothing of stakes note gets underway until 4:35 ET, when As Time Goes By  seems a prohibitive choice in the Santa Maria against three opponents—and possibly just two if the connections of second choice Ce Ce  opt to wait for the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park June 5.

In chronological order, let's go spanning the nation for some potential value plays.

Seek Again (Bel, race 9, 5:12 ET): Perennial turf aces Chad Brown and Christophe Clement are off to typically strong starts this spring. Brown saddles morning-line favorite Flavius  (10), who gets some class relief after running in three straight grade 1/grade 2 spots; and Delaware  (6), who is fresh off a 10-1 upset score in the Danger's Hour Stakes in course-record time at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Clement sends out second choice Decorated Invader  (7), a three-time graded stakes winner, who is second back from a layoff after encountering traffic in the Danger's Hour and rallying for third.

Two potential price plays emerge from the Elusive Quality Stakes opening weekend: Tell Your Daddy  (3), who ran a close fourth at nearly 60-1 first time off a claim by Tom Morley; and Olympic Runner  (8), who trailed behind a slow pace and improved to get fifth with a fast quarter-mile finish.

Olympic Runner posted a series of competitive races in 2020, notably a close fourth in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T). The idea is to get him somewhere on the board with the other logical contenders.

A — 8

B — 7, 10

C — 3, 6

Honeymoon (SA, race 7, 7:19 ET): The favorites in this 1 1/8-mile grass race for sophomore fillies look perfectly plausible. The import Going Global  (6) is 6-5 as she shoots for her fourth win in as many starts in the United States. Madone  (7) has won four of five starts, the lone defeat in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). Quattroelle —like Going Global an Irish-bred by Mehmas —comes off a less-than-perfect trip behind Going Global in the Providencia Stakes (G3T) and may improve with blinkers on, as Jeff Mullins-trained runners are known to do.

The one we want to take a shot with is Golden  (3), a promising second to Madone in the Senorita Stakes (G3T) but was disqualified after altering course and impeding a rival. The Tapit   filly is bred to relish the added distance of the Honeymoon, as her dam has also produced Goldwaki , a group 3 winner at 1 1/2 miles, and Golden Attitude , a close second in the 2018 Zagora Stakes at the same trip. 

Picking up Umberto Rispoli is icing on the cake.

A — 3

B — 2, 6, 7

Winning Colors (CD, race 5, 7:57 ET): At the risk of knocking her right into the winner's circle, the idea here is a workaround concerning second choice Sconsin  (4), who made champion Gamine  dig deep in the Derby City Distaff Presented By Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1). That was at seven furlongs, though, and this race is at six. Sconsin is a closer who hasn't been this short since March of last year, and moreover, she could bounce coming back in three weeks.

Frank's Rockette  (2), has won or placed in 12 of 13 starts, the only blemish when pitted against males in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). She has won both local starts, beginning with a lengthy debut victory (without Lasix) in 2019, and will likely get the jump on Sconsin turning for home.

The equally consistent Headland  (6) boasts 16 in-the-money finishes from 18 outings at the distance. It may pay to draw a line through her most recent race going two turns in the mud.

Rising Seas  (1) won twice without Lasix at Churchill in 2019. She could end up loose on the lead and is in the third start of her current form cycle.

A — 2, 6

B — 1, 5

C — 4

Keertana (CD, race 9, 10:11 ET): We're looking to wake up a 20-1 shot here in Cambeliza  (9), who finished far back in the Bewitch Stakes (G3T) behind Delta's Kingdom  (8), Pass the Plate  (5), and Dalika  (10). Those three respectively ran second, third, and fifth, and they are the first three choices on the morning line.

The theory is that Cambeliza simply detests rain-softened ground. The Bewitch was the third time she has been off the board from as many attempts on going listed as something other than firm. On firm turf, she outfinished Delta's Kingdom for second last fall.

Also working in Cambeliza's favor is a switch back to James Graham. When paired with Graham on she is 2-1-1 from four starts, and her odds in those races ranged anywhere from 9-2 to 13-1.

Bombs away!

A — 9

B — 4, 5, 8, 10