Maiden King

Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races

Maiden Special Weight, 6-1/2 furlongs, Cal-bred fillies

Possible overlays                         Morning line

#2 Bell Canyon Road                        15/1
#5 Ruby Slippers                             20/1
#6 Irish Pepper                                5/2
#7 I Can Hear                                  5/1
#9 Champagneforchelle                  20/1

Because jockey Garrett Gomez chooses to ride #6 Irish Pepper it will probably go off at the unbettable odds of 5-to-2 or less. The filly looks like she has a pretty good chance to win first time out, but I won’t back her at anything less than 5-to-1.

Instead, I will be looking hard at debuters #2 Bell Canyon Road and #7 I Can Hear, who look just as good and should pay much better. Other first timers with an outside chance are #5 Ruby Slippers and #9 Champagneforchelle, but I won’t go for them if they’re dead on the board.

My bets are $250 to win on #2 Bell Canyon Road from 3/1 to 9/1 and $250 on #7 I Can Hear from 3/1 to 19/1. Also, if Bell Canyon Road drifts from 10-to-1 to 14-to-1, then I’m reducing my bet to $100. 

Finally, if somehow #6 Irish Pepper is 5/1 or more at post time, then I’ll bet $200 on her; and I’ll take $100 on both #5 Ruby Slippers and #9 Champagneforchelle, only in the unlikely scenario where they fall into the 10/1 to 19/1 odds zone.