2023 Chicago Stakes Preview & FREE Picks | Matareya Faces Society, 4 Others At Ellis Park

Aaron previews the 2023 Chicago Stakes (G3) from Ellis Park, then gives his top picks & long shots. Multiple Grade 1 champion Matareya takes a major class drop for trainer Brad Cox, but could fellow Grade 1 winner Society spring an upset? Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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The press release:

Godolphin’s Derby City Distaff (Grade I) winner Matareya headlines a field of six fillies and mares that entered Saturday’s 33rd running of the $225,000 Chicago Stakes (GIII) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

The Chicago Stakes will be run at seven furlongs on the main track and was carded as Race 9 of 10 with a post time of 3:55 p.m. First post is 11:45 a.m. 

Matareya, trained by Brad Cox, is a two-time Grade I winning sprinter. Prior to her Grade I glory in the $750,000 Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery, Matareya won last year’s Acorn Stakes (GI) as a 3-year-old.

Matareya has one prior start at Ellis Park when she broke her maiden as a 2-year-old by 4 ½ lengths. Jockey Flavien Prat, who’s been aboard Matareya for her last six starts, will be in the saddle from post No. 2.

Another Grade I winner that entered the Chicago Stakes is Peter Blum Thoroughbreds’ Society. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Society won last year’s Cotillion Stakes (GI) at Parx.

In her last start, Society faded to ninth in the 1 1/16-mile La Troienne Stakes (GI) but will cut back in distance in the Chicago Stakes with Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle from post 5.

Here is the complete field for the Chicago Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

    1. Hidden Connection (Luis Saez, Bret Calhoun)
    2. Matareya (Prat, Cox)
    3. Be Like Water (Brian Hernandez Jr., Vicki Oliver)
    4. Stella Noir (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux)
    5. Society (Gaffalione, Asmussen)
    6. Drifaros (Martin Garcia, Teresa Pompay)