Expert Pick of the Week: 2023 Pea Patch Stakes

Jul 12, 2023 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A
competitive field of 11 three-year-old fillies will go postward in the $100,000
Pea Patch S. at Ellis Park on Sunday. Lael Stables’ homebred Daring Do will make her local bow for
conditioner Wesley Ward, and I am expecting a big effort from the daughter of
Into Mischief. She is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Daring
Do was unveiled in January at Turfway Park and led to midstretch prior to
checking in third versus maiden special weight foes on the all-weather. She
graduated at that venue second time out in March when winning in wire-to-wire
fashion, and the bay made good in her initial attempt on the lawn when beating
allowance foes at Keeneland on April 20. The Kentucky-bred was a close third
beneath the Twin Spires in a second-level allowance dash on the green in her
latest showing.

The
sophomore filly faced her elders in her last two engagements, and I feel that
the move back in with fellow three-year-olds will be a very good thing for the
talented lass. Daring Do has natural early speed and will be forcing the tempo
from the opening bell with regular pilot Walter Rodriguez in the stirrups.

Matron
S. (G3) victress American Apple has
faced stakes runners in five straight and has given a nice account of herself
on each occasion for trainer Daniel Leitch. By American Pharoah, the homebred
held for second in the Soaring Softly S. (G3) at Belmont Park behind a dynamic
winner most recently, and a repeat of that performance will make the bay a
logical top-three contender with Gerardo Corrales in the pipes.

Godolphin
homebred Twice as Sweet graduated on
this lawn in her second career start and has yet to race on the turf since that
victory for conditioner Brendan Walsh. The Candy Ride chestnut is a stakes
vixen with a versatile running style, and I like the move from these
connections to put her back on the sod, as well. She will save ground while
being forwardly placed in the dash under the guidance of Declan Cannon.

Expert Pick

An
exacta with #3 Daring Do on top of #1 American Apple and #2 Twice as Sweet in the Pea Patch
Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.