After a summer focus on Del Mar, it’s been a while since we have ridden the stakes express. Let’s hop aboard this Saturday for the fastest preview – with bottom-line choices – for 20 of North America’s most-important stakes races.

Bet with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet Saturday and take advantage of a 15% win bonus (up to $25) on all Churchill Downs win bets. Plus, the $5,000 Exacta-Thon returns for Woodbine Mile Day. Take down winning $2 exactas in at least 4 races on the card to stake your share of the additional prize money.

2:11 pm ET | Delaware Park | Race 4 | DTHA Governor’s Day Handicap | Picks 3-1-6
Favorite #1 Cadet Corps (7-5 ML) smoked #3 Majorca (7-2 ML) last out at Colonial, but the latter is the play over a Delaware track she loves and preferring the trip that’s 150 yards shorter.

2:25 pm ET | Gulfstream | Race 5 | Umphrey Turf Sprint Stakes | Picks 2-6-5-8
Tough call here, but among the 3 Joe Orseno trainees entered, it’s jockey Edwin Gonzalez’s presence on #2 Extendo (12-1 ML) that interests me most at the price.

2:40 pm ET | Laurel | Race 6 | Sensible Lady Turf Dash | Picks 3-10-1-4
Longshot look to #3 Obstreperous (15-1 ML), who projects to sit a dream trip inside third early with a chance to pounce on duelers for an upset.

3:05 pm ET | Woodbine | Race 5 | Natalma Stakes | Picks 7-4-6
#7 Ebouteillage (5-1 ML) had no business winning at 5-1/2 furlongs in her debut with that route pedigree, so don’t be surprised if she can swat away no less than 5 contenders from Mark Casse’s barn after trainer Graham Motion went 14: 5-0-3 in August stakes.

3:21 pm ET | Churchill Downs | Race 6 | Open Mind Stakes | Picks 1-3-2
Captain Obvious says the inside trio dominate this 6-runner affair as #1 Usha (5-2 ML) has the class edge on #2 Cash Call and the recency edge on #3 Look Forward.

3:37 pm ET | Woodbine | Race 6 | Vigil Stakes | Picks 4-1-7
For a synthetic sprint stakes, there’s only 1 true synthetic sprint specialist in the lineup and that’s top choice #4 Souped Up (5-1 ML), winner of the Bold Venture last out at 10-1 odds.

3:42 pm ET | Laurel | Race 8 | Laurel Dash | Picks 3-4-2
A real lack of pace in this turf sprint could see #3 Senbei (6-1 ML) fire fast early while freshened 11 months, but don’t take a short price just because it’s Miguel Clement from NY.

3:54 pm ET | Churchill Downs | Race 7 | Louisville TB Society Stakes | Picks 2-5-1
Classy value play #2 Here Mi Song (12-1 ML) was second in this race last year to Bentornato, and while beatable 6-5 chalk #5 Built is good, he’s not Bentornato.

4:04 pm ET | Gulfstream | Race 8 | Ginger Punch Stakes | Picks 9-8-2
Saffie Joseph Jr. takes 3 swigs from the punch bowl here, but it’s the ridiculously fast middle splits that #9 Miss Mary Nell (7-2 ML) nearly survived last time that empties this group for Carlos David.

4:12 pm ET | Woodbine | Race 7 | Summer Stakes | Picks 9-11-8
The European 2-year-old route colts typically are best at the Breeders’ Cup and this Juvenile Turf prep runs through #9 Al Hudaiba (2-1 ML) with longshot #11 Speaker’s Speech (12-1 ML) the price key underneath in exotics.

4:26 pm ET | Churchill Downs | Race 8 | Pocahontas Stakes Picks: 7-9-6-2
As these 2-year-old fillies stretch out to a mile, #7 Miss Anna (7-2 ML) finished with the most flair last out with an 88 BRIS late pace figure, while #9 Tahaluf (15-1 ML) outsprinted her route pedigree in her debut and should improve with distance.

4:33 pm ET | Gulfstream | Race 9 | Princess Rooney Stakes | Picks: 5-2-1-3
More details available in the Xpressbet Race of the Week analysis, but some additional pace pressure on #2 Kerry’s Kiss (5-2 ML) might allow #5 Indy Bay (3-1 ML) to turn the tables in a third rematch of stablemates.

4:44 pm ET | Delaware Park | Race 9 | Rosenberger Memorial Stakes | Picks 10-9-7-6
Conditions of this race are the key read and Paco Lopez-piloted #10 Super Willawaw (3-2 ML) cruised locally in the 1 race attempt that made her eligible for this spot.

4:45 pm ET | Woodbine | Race 8 | Ontario Matron Stakes | Picks: 1-7-3
Hotter pace than you’d think for a 7-runner synthetic route, which sets the table nicely for logical #1 Fantastical (8-5 ML) to notch his second straight local stakes win for Joe Sharp.

4:58 pm ET | Churchill Downs | Race 9 | Locust Grove Stakes | Picks: 1-4-3
With star mare Nitrogen skipping this race and #2 Simply Joking scratching to run elsewhere, #1 Splendora (3-5 ML) should chalk-out and top #4 Immersive just like she did in May’s Shawnee at CD.

5:20 pm ET | Woodbine | Race 9 | Woodbine Mile | Picks: 1-3-4
Mass respect for defending champ #3 Notable Speech (1-1 ML), but a modest pace projection, rail draw and speed jock Kendrick Carmouche all put top-pick #1 Deterministic (2-1) on a no-excuse mission as he seeks 7 wins in a row.

5:29 pm ET | Churchill Downs | Race 10 | Iroquois Stakes | Picks 2-7-1-6
#2 Blessed Flyer (9-2 ML) scoffed at doubters winning his first 2 starts at 13-1 and 31-1 and appears to have been pointed for this spot all summer while training sharp.

5:55 pm ET | Woodbine | Race 10 | E.P. Taylor Stakes | Picks: 3-4-8-2
Sign me up for price play #3 Jancis (12-1 ML) after facing one of the world’s best milers, Blue Bolt, twice in the UK, and knowing her easily best Timeform rating lifetime was when getting additional ground.

7:45 pm ET | Louisiana Downs | Race 7 | Super Derby | Picks: 7-4-5-8
#7 Trendsetter (6-5 ML) stands over a tap-in putt against a field far beneath those he’s faced this spring and summer.

8:17 pm ET | Los Alamitos | Race 9 | Becca Taylor Stakes | Picks 3-6-4
Over the past 3 years, Bob Baffert (#3 Dainey, 9-5 ML) is a 40% Los Al winner while John Sadler (Mohaven, 2-1 ML) hits 35% locally, making it very difficult to see this 6-runner affair getting beyond the obvious top contenders.