RACE 9: G3 WINSTAR MATCHMAKER

Derby Bill’s using: 4-5-6-7-8

The Matchmaker is a wide-open affair going nine furlongs on the turf… Favored #6 Fluffy Socks is a tepid 5-2 for trainer Chad Brown after a middling fourth-place finish in the Eatontown over the strip… #5 Flighty Lady (7-2) and #8 Core Values (8-1) warrant consideration after pretty good efforts last out in the G1 New York. The former was third by three-quarters of a length, the latter sixth but only by two… Bred in Great Britain, #4 Lady Rockstar (3-1) is 2-for-2 since coming to North America and gets her biggest test to date…

RACE 10: G3 MOLLY PITCHER STAKES

Derby Bill’s using: 3

Pretty good field that’s set to contest this 1 1/16 mile test on the main track. But Derby Bill’s going to single with #3 Search Results (3-2). The Chad Brown trainee was a good third last out in the G1 Ogden Phipps behind Clairiere and Malathaat — pretty nice company to keep — and has never been worse than third, including five wins, in nine career starts. Lasix goes on today… If the pace heats up, one who’ll be coming late is 2020 Black-Eyed Susan runner-up #7 Bonny South (3-1). The Brad Cox trainee makes a bit of a habit of being too late but usually is running at the end… Curious to see #2 Pennybaker (5-1) back in action; she impressed in the Heavenly Cause at Laurel but showed little last out in the G3 Chicago.

RACE 11: G1 UNITED NATIONS

Derby Bill’s using: 1-4-10

A pair of millionaires top the U.N. in the form of defending champ #4 Tribhuvan (5-2) and #10 Gufo (3-1). The former, like #1 Adhamo (3-1), is trained by top turf trainer Chad Brown. Last time out at 19-1, Tribhuvan went to the front and kept right on going to an easy win in the G1 Manhattan and, with his front-running style, is a bit of an all or nothing horse. His last five finishes are first, fifth, 13th, fifth, and first… Gufo will benefit if there’s pace pressure on Tribhuvan and is a classy five-year-old with nearly $1.6 million in the bank.

RACE 12: G1 HASKELL

Derby Bill’s using: 2-7

The Haskell’s a two-horse race, from where Derby Bill is sitting. If #7 Jack Christopher (3-2) can carry his speed two turns, he likely wins. If not, #2 Taiba (7-5) most likely does. Taiba won the G1 Santa Anita Derby two back, and though he was up the track in the Kentucky Derby, asking a horse to run in that event in just his third career start was quite a lot to ask… Jack Christopher is undefeated after four career starts, two in Grade 1 company, but has never been beyond one mile or around two turns…

THE TICKET

• RACE 9: 4,5,6,7,8
• RACE 10: 3
• RACE 11: 1, 4, 10
• RACE 12: 2, 7
• COST: $15 (50-cent unit)