Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Mamzelle Stakes

May 08, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Kilwin wins the Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

A total of 17 sophomore fillies have been entered for Saturday’s feature at Churchill Downs, the $225,000 Mamzelle S. The 5 1/2-furlong turf test attracted an incredibly well-matched group with two from the barn of Rusty Arnold among those, including 2024 Untapable S. heroine Kilwin. By Twirling Candy, the Kentucky-bred was unveiled at Ellis Park in July and strode home a convincing, two-length winner in a 5 1/2-furlong dash on the lawn on debut.

She aced her initial black-type test at Kentucky Downs second time out when closing from far back to post a half-length win in the lucrative affair, prior to checking in fifth in the deep Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar in November to conclude her 2024 campaign. Kilwin made her three-year-old debut at Keeneland on April 11 in the Limestone S., and the filly traveled wide throughout in a sixth-place finish, falling 3 1/2 lengths short at the wire.

#8 Kilwin closes strong to win the Untapable S. at Kentucky Downs under Jose Lezcano for trainer Rusty Arnold! 💪

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/Ejt29VGrCI

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 8, 2024

The bay will improve in her second run off the long absence and is well drawn while much closer to the rail on this occasion. She has also posted two strong half-mile breezes in advance of her first run beneath the Twin Spires, led by a bullet move most recently. Edgar Morales will pilot the stout late runner and have her saving ground in the early stages of the event.

Godolphin homebred Civetta has run in six straight stakes events while holding her own and will cut back in distance for her local bow. Trained by Brendan Walsh, the bay daughter of Into Mischief has never run a bad one in her career and could relish the move to 5 1/2 panels on Saturday in a field with an abundance of early foot. The stalker will be energetic in the stretch with Gerardo Corrales in the controls.

Shisospicy has yet to be headed from a pair of lifetime tries on the sod and might be the one to catch and beat turning for home beneath Jose Ortiz. The Jose D’Angelo pupil has superb early speed and led at every call in the deep Limestone S. at Keeneland in her latest venture, and she is proven on both firm and good turf, too. Mitole gray is drawn well off the rail and will not be a surprise in her first try on this green.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #4 Kilwin on top of #9 Shisospicy and #12 Civetta in the 2025 Mamzelle Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.