How to bet With, and Against, Hong Kong Harry in the 2023 Shoemaker Mile

A fantastic field of 11 will travel one mile over the Santa Anita turf in Monday’s $500,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1). The deep event features an especially well-matched group with a trio of contenders hailing from the barn of the ever-dangerous Phil D’Amato. His #2 Hong Kong Harry(7-2), who finished a clear second in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, is the slight morning-line choice in the contest.

Hong Kong Harry was bred in Ireland and made his first appearance in the U.S. in March of 2022, where he powered home to a fine allowance score that started a run of five wins in six starts in the states. The dual Grade 2 victor has run well in both of his assignments this campaign when a close fourth in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1), which preceded his solid late run beneath the Twin Spires.

The six-year-old gelding is 3-for-4 at Santa Anita and owns two wins at the distance, as well, so the cutback from nine panels should pose no problem to the chestnut on Monday. Flavien Prat has the call and will have the favorite do his best work in the final furlong.

#7 Balnikhov (5-1), also from the D’Amato shedrow, possesses a potent turn of foot and is best at this distance, as evidenced by his 7-4-2-0 mark at one mile. Dark bay son of Adaay didn’t handle good turf in the Kilroe two back but comes in off a late tally at Golden Gate in advance of this tough assignment. The gelding could peak while making his third run of 2023, and I expect him to receive an honest pace to set up his rally with Umberto Rispoli retaining the ride.

French import #11 Salesman (8-1) lacks the credentials of many in the field, but he has been training in swift fashion in advance of his stateside bow and is worth a long look for Richard Mandella. The Dubawi six-year-old is a half-brother to the one of my all-time favorites, Solow, and while he has not yet reached the level that his brother achieved, I think the chestnut is sitting on a big race. Ramon Vazquez will guide the import.

Bob Baffert’s #3 Du Jour (6-1) didn’t run true to his style last time in the American S. (G3) on the course most recently, but I expect the talented son of Temple City to take back early while saving ground and make one run in the stretch on this occasion. The five-year-old gelding does his best work at Santa Anita, and a repeat of his Kilroe second will make him very dangerous at a fair price under Luis Saez.

• $8 exacta 2 with 3,7,11 ($24)
• 50-cent trifecta 2 with 3,7,11 with all ($13.50)
• 50-cent trifecta 2 with all with 3,7,11 ($13.50)

• 50-cent trifecta 3,7,11 with 2,3,7,11 with all ($40.50)
• $2 exacta box 3,7,11 ($12)