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7.18.2026:

1/ST POST: Why Play Today? Saturday, July 18, 2026

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7.18.2026:

Jeremy Plonk: Del Mar Spot Plays / $80K Pick 6 Carryover | Saturday, July 18, 2026

By Jeremy Plonk

Del Mar has more than $80,000 in the pick 6 carryover today. We'll look to build off a $28.20 top-pick return on $20 in plays from opening day, where favorites went just 1-for-10. Saturday’s card co-features the San Diego Handicap in Race 8 and the San Clemente in Race 9. The former includes Journalism in his likely prep to the Pacific Classic, a race in which he finished second a year ago during his sophomore campaign.The Day 2 program has a first post is 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT. Each day this summer at Del Mar, I’ll be handicapping the action with my top plays on the card – including full-card selections for a featured program each week.Del Mar: Race 1 | 5:00 pm ET#2 Gypsy Tears (6-1 morning line odds) has won 2 of his last 4 local starts and his return try in June at Los Alamitos can be forgiven as he has nearly never raced off a layoff in his busy, 31-race career. Veteran pairs beautifully with Tyler Baze (3 wins, 1 second in last 7 team efforts) and reunites with his favorite pilot. Sire Gem Heist has a fantastic $2.47 ROI for every $1 bet with his Del Mar dirt starters the last 5 years. Giving away some class here, so demand the morning line price or higher. Picks 2-3-5.Del Mar: Race 2 | 5:32 pm ET#7 Princess Luna (10-1 morning line odds) was heavily backed in her Los Alamitos debut third and catches a field lacking power barns in this Cal-bred maiden. Los Al form and poor speed figure might be questionable, but she’s by Cairo Prince, whose offspring have a $1.11 ROI for every $1 bet with 19% winners at Del Mar on dirt the past 5 years. Picks 7-6-2.Del Mar: Race 9 | 9:10 pm ET | San Clemente Stakes#5 Peanutbutterbombe (8-1 morning line odds) has been given plenty of time between starts and shows up in her first graded stakes for a potent team of Phil D’Amato and Antonio Fresu. Her Santa Anita form has been good in all 4 starts, but note sire Collected’s offspring win a ridiculous 29% on the Del Mar lawn in recent years with a $1.30% ROI for every $1 bet - and added another in Friday's finale. Expect a move up on this course. Should be in the mix throughout in a race without a huge finisher in the lineup #6 Light Won Up (10-1 ML) may also move up on this course and worth price inclusion. Picks 5-6-4Del Mar: Race 11 | 10:10 pm ET#3 Conquer We Must (4-1 morning line odds) put it together late in his turf sprint debut at Santa Anita and should be primed to mile here for a Simon Callaghan barn that annually aims for early Del Mar success. His $5.15 ROI for every $1 bet is off the charts at Del Mar during July the past several seasons with 7-18 in the exacta, coming into the weekend. Plus, this colt’s sire Starspangledbanner is a very strong 21% winner and nearly break-even ROI with all his Del Mar turf performers. Picks 3-8-5.

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7.18.2026:

Scott Shapiro: Saratoga Spot Plays | Saturday, July 18, 2026

By Scott Shapiro

A big day of racing throughout the land not only includes the first Saturday of the Del Mar summer meeting, as well as Haskell Day at Monmouth Park, but of course another big weekend afternoon at Saratoga Race Course. The 12-race card in Saratoga Springs, NY kicks off at 12:35 PM eastern with a strong MSW event for 2YOS and is headlined by the Diana (G1) for older fillies and mares. Here are a few horses I like most on the Saturday afternoon Saratoga slate.Race 1:The opener marks the debut of highly regarded juvenile #4 Powerline. The son of Flightline commanded $1.8M at the FTS August ’25 sale and comes in off a strong series of drills in Kentucky before a pair of breezes over the Saratoga main track. The Steve Asmussen barn is off to a strong start to the summer at the Spa and this guy looks like the real deal. That said, I will take the experience edge with #7 Greenwell. The fellow Flightline colt was well-meant on debut going off at even-money against a live field of MSW foes at Churchill Downs in mid-June. He was beaten out of the gate that day and in a bit tight on the backstretch before holding on barely to earn second. The winner won in gate-to-wire fashion for trainer Jimmy DiVito that day in Louisville with third place finisher Midnight Still coming back to win going away earlier this meet at the Spa. The experience edge and added furlong make the $500k Keeneland September ’25 purchase by top choice in the opener.Play: #7 Greenwell (2-1 ML)Picks: 7-4-5Race 5: Diana (G1)The featured event for the day is for fillies and mares at 1 1/8-miles over the Inner Turf and if you are just waking up from a long nap you might not know that trainer Chad Brown has dominated this race over the years. Brown has won the last four, including last year with Excellent Truth and has captured the Grade 1 event a record ten times. Brown has a huge chance to defend his title since he has four entered this year, including the three ML favorites. I landed on 2-1-ML favorite #3 Kathynmarissa. The American Pharoah mare was caught four-wide into the first turn and was never able to save ground in her third-place finish in the New York (G3) last month. The inside draw and slight cutback should benefit her, as well as the fact she retains her elite regular rider, while the other Brown trainees will be using replacements for those riding the Haskell Day card at Monmouth Park. The stage is set for the former Richard Dutrow trainee to earn her first Grade 1 win later today.Play: #3 Kathynmarissa (2-1 ML)Picks: 3-2-6Race 9:My final play of the day in New York comes in this MSW event for 3YOs+ at 7-furlongs over the main track where I like second-time starter #9 Gadget Play quite a bit. The son of Into Mischief debuted at Churchill Downs in late May for trainer Al Stall, Jr. in an 11-horse MSW race that was dominated by those prominently placed in the early stages. The track appeared to favor speed that day and eventual winner McCann used it to his advantage with a narrow victory over Bob Baffert conditioned Campobasso. Gadget Play was never a factor on the win end, but was the only off-the-pace runner to put in a late run. Stall has always been trustworthy when shipping runners into Saratoga and that has continued over time evidenced by his $2.15 ROI over the last five years with his horses competing at the Spa. I expect a big move forward from the Spendthrift Farm homebred in career start #2.Play: #9 Gadget Play (7-2 ML)Picks: 9-6-1

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7.18.2026:

Al Cimaglia: Scioto Downs Spot Plays | Saturday, July 18, 2026

By Al CImaglia

Scioto Downs has a big 17-race program with Ohio Bred action throughout the card. The headliners are four $100,000 Stakes carded in Race 11-Race 14. The Spot Plays are in Race 12, Race 13, and Race 14. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 12 (10:00 PM EDT)1-Godusa (5-1)-Does break stride at times and that is the risk. Did go the back half in 55.3 but the slow .58 opening half hurt and came a neck short. David Miller is at the controls and the last time he drove was on 5-2. Took command then after landing in the 2-hole and drew off versus this kind. Should be racing near the top of the stack again and is main threat if minds its manners.1-Playing #1 Godusa in a Win Bet1-4-2Race 13 (10:20 PM EDT)1-Always B Naughty (8-1)-Going to swing for a price as the Todd Luther pupil ships back from M1 and never got rolling in the 2 races there. Does very good work on the ScD oval (18-6-3-3) and can benefit from the inside draw. Usual pilot Austin Hanners is in the bike, and this mare could benefit from a pair of familiar hands. Should be no worse than in the pocket around the opening turn. At the morning line price this feels like a live long shot and will look for a top effort.1-3-5Using #1 Always B Naughty in a Win BetRace 14 (10:45 PM EDT)4-Lou Hill (9/2)-Comes off a sharp win in the Haughton Final and was helped by a quick pace plus a perfect steer by Yannick Gingras. The versatile Per Engblom trainee does good work on this oval (8-4-1-2). Hasn't faced this heavy of a field at ScD but will start from the 2nd best post. Gingras will be aggressive and there is other early speed in this affair. Lou is sharp and doesn't have to lead every step of the way to take a picture. Not sure the morning line price holds up but should offer a nice return and could double up with another big try.4-6-1Playing #4 Lou Hill in a Win BetCheck me out on X!

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7.17.2026:

1/ST POST: Why Play Today? Friday, July 17, 2026

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7.17.2026:

Al Cimaglia: Hoosier Park Spot Plays | Friday, July 17, 2026

By Al CImaglia

Hoosier Park begins the weekend with a 14-race card. The Spot Plays are in Race 1, Race 9, and Race 10. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 1 (5:30 PM EDT)3-Revelry (8-1)-This 10-year-old went off at 17-1 last time but that was leaving from post 7. Still could be overlooked and can offer a very nice return. Has been stuck with outside post draws in the last 3 races. Did show some improvement when dropped to this level last time and off a wide trip cashed a small check. Went the back half in 54.2 and should be closer to the leader at the top of the lane with this post draw. Will look for a more efficient trip and to finish best of all.3-2-8Playing #3 Revelry to WinRace 9 (8:34 PM EDT)4-Book The Fight (9/2)-Bumps up after getting a nice pocket ride into spicy fractions and rolled by at 8-1. This is a fast horse who in 4 of the last 6 races has a win, plus losses by <1 length in 3 starts. Should fit nicely with this crew, draws the 2nd best post and could offer a square price. Jordan Ross can get a good early seat and it wouldn't be a shock if a trip out win happens again.4-5-1Using #4 Book The Fight in a Win Bet.Race 10 (8:57 PM EDT)4-Golden Bay N (7/2)-Got a nice trip in last but was no match against a well-meant winner who closed in 27.2 and stopped the clock 149.4. Now the Tyler George veteran drops, lands in a more comfortable spot, and the previous winner is not in the mix this time. Needs a smooth trip and should be able to land on the point without burning a lot of gas. Won't be 13-1 tonight but could take a picture at a fair price.4-5-1Will use #4 Golden Bay N in a Win BetCheck me out on X!

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7.17.2026:

Scott Shapiro: Saratoga Spot Plays | Friday, July 17, 2026

By Scott Shapiro

The thoroughbred action continues Friday afternoon in Saratoga Springs with a ten-race card that kicks off at 1:10 PM eastern. The slate is headlined by the $150k De La Rose conducted at one mile over the Inner Turf. Here are a few horses I am most interested in on the day as I try to find my footing in upstate New York after a couple of poor handicapping weeks to get the summer meeting started.Race 1:The opener is a 5.5-furlong turf sprint for MSW foes where #2 Red Square was made the 8-5-ML favorite by oddsmaker David Aragona. The Lael Stables gelding debuted at Churchill Downs in late June and put in a solid late run after getting out of the gate a bit slow. He was beaten that day by #3 Beijing who was making his second career start and saved ground throughout on a day where the inside was preferrable over the Churchill lawn. Both Kentucky based shippers are in with significant shots in the Friday lid lifter, but I prefer the value of #7 Frenchquarter Note. The son of City of Light showed solid speed between rivals in his debut at Aqueduct last month, but was forced to battle along the inside through the early stages before tiring in the lane. He has to run better in his second career start to find the wire first, but the move to an outside post against a field that for the most part has lacked speed out of the gate thus far gives him a shot for big improvement. Trainer George Weaver is off to a great start to the summer at the Spa winning with 3 of 13 for a $5.70 ROI. Hopefully, hot riding Ricardo Santana Jr. can find the front and set a more moderate pace than he was involved in on debut.Play: #7 Frenchquarter Note (6-1 ML)Picks: 7-2-5Race 6:This second-level allowance at 1 3/8-miles over the Inner Turf appears wide-open. Trainer Chad Brown brings a strong 1-2-punch in with #2 Right to Vote and #3 Arkhipov, but his barn is 0 for 22 at the Spa dating back to July 9 making him tough to endorse for the moment. The top four from a second-level allowance at Aqueduct on June 18 are also entered, but that race was underwhelming with four noses essentially hitting the wire together. That opens things up for long shot #8 The Hidden Chamber. The Nbs Stable colt returned to the grass after racing over the Turfway Park all-weather surface this winter on May 14 in a similar spot at Churchill Downs. The son of American Pharoah was in the process of making a run up the inside in that race won by Soleil Volant before Axel Concepcion was ejected from the saddle. Trainer Kelsey Danner brought the colt back in the Chorleywood in June where he raced against the flow and against significantly better competition than he encounters in this spot. Hopefully, the pace on paper leads to an honest early tempo. If so, I expect The Hidden Chamber to come with a strong late run at a big price.Play: #8 The Hidden Chamber (12-1 ML)Picks: 8-6-2Race 9: De La RoseThis restricted stakes event for fillies and mares 4YO+ at one-mile over the Inner Turf likely goes through one of those exiting the Just A Game (G1) last month. #3 And One More Time and #4 Sandtrap both had excuses when failing to hit the board against better competition last month. Sandtrap failed to relax in the early stages, which led to a lack of energy late when the real running started. And One More Time was caught three-wide throughout in her first start since mid-April and understandably tired in the lane. I prefer And One More Time in this spot. The Live Oak Plantation runner wired out a field of lesser competition in a non-graded stakes event at Aqueduct in mid-April and should find herself in a far better spot than she was in early on during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Hopefully she gets a much more favorable overall experience with Johnny V. taking over for the injured Javier Castellano.Play: #3 And One More Time (4-1 ML)Picks: 3-4-7

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7.16.2026:

Scott Shapiro: Monmouth's Haskell Day Full-Card Selections / Analysis | Saturday, July 18, 2026

By Scott Shapiro

The summer racing schedule heats up this week not only with the opening of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Friday, but also with one of the biggest cards of the summer at the Jersey Shore on Saturday. Monmouth Park plays host to another Haskell (G1) with a plethora of additional stakes on the undercard. Here are my thoughts on all-14 races, including those involved in our $5000 Hit & Split. Just register for the promotion, connect on the late Pick 4 or late Pick 5, and share cash winnings with other Xpressbet and 1/ST BET customers able to do so. Head on over to the promotional landing page for more details.Grade Descriptions: A= Highest Degree of Confidence, B= Solid Play, C= Least Preferred or Pass, X= Likely Winner but at odds probably too short to wager on.Race 1:Grade: CUse: 1 Tall Risk; 3 Funky See Funky DoForecast: I landed on a pair of horses that competed last in New York in this $16k maiden claimer at two-turns over the grass. #1 Tall Risk did not do much running last out, but it came against better. The Florida-bred passed a number of tiring rivals late at Aqueduct before entering the Lindsay Schultz barn. He draws the rail and lures Paco Lopez. #3 Funky See Funky Do makes his second start of the form cycle for Chad Summers. He should find a prominent spot early on the stretch out to two turns and inside draw.Race 2:Grade: C+Use: 9 Admiral MoForecast: Most of the top contenders in this first-level allowance over the main track are drawn to the outside, including my top choice #9 Admiral Mo. The son of Uncle Mo sold at the FTD August ’25 sale for the low price of $34k, but has run five solid races on the dirt since moving into the Kelly Breen barn. He needs to avoid getting caught wide early to handle the class hike, but his confidence is up and he meets a few runners with big last numbers, but questions on whether they will repeat it on Haskell Day.Race 3:Grade: C+Use: 6 He’s Got This/1 Bar FourteenForecast: #1 Bar Fourteen moves into the Timothy Hills barn after a pair of tough beats on the front end. The 8YO gelding controlled the pace throughout in back-to-back races only to be nailed in the final strides. He should be there again at the wire, but might take too much heat from #9 Tocayo, so I prefer #6 He’s Got This. The son of Tapiture has not raced on the turf since a third-place effort against better at Aqueduct in October ’24. I like that trainer Chris Englehart lures Irad Ortiz Jr, who should have him in a perfect mid-pack spot early. Hopefully, he has the turn of foot I expect on the move back to the sod.Race 4: Monmouth Cup (G3)Grade: B-Use: 5 Skippylongstocking/1 Money GameForecast: The first stakes race of the afternoon is this 1 1/8-mile test over the main track where #4 Knightsbridge and #5 Skippylongstocking will likely to take the lion’s share of the public action. Knightsbridge heads south to the Jersey Shore after a runner-up effort to Nysos in the Met Mile (G1). He is likely to control the early pace, but has never travelled further than one-mile. I simply do not trust the son of Nyquist to get the added ground. Skippylongstocking on the other hand is 7 for 19 at the nine-furlong distance. He has been given a freshening since losing a tough one in the Alysheba (G2) and draws right outside Knightsbridge. He is my top choice, but #1 Money Game is not without a chance. The Brad Cox trainee lacks early speed, which easily could leave him too far back to win this, but if the pace is contentious he should be finishing full of run under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.Race 5:Grade: XUse: 5 Midway MemoriesForecast: #5 Midway Memories put in a dud last time as the 9-5-ML favorite at Churchill Downs for trainer Chad Brown, but prior to that finished second beaten less than a length to Belmont Oaks (G1) runner-up Faithful Departed. She gets some class relief in this spot and should get a favorable voyage under Flavien Prat. If not today, it might be time for the claiming ranks for this $300k Keeneland September ’23 purchase. The price is likely to be too short to jump in on, but I do not have much interest in trying to beat Midway Memories in this first-level allowance over the lawn.Race 6: Molly Pitcher (G2)Grade: XUse: 7 SplendoraForecast: It appears trainer Bob Baffert has found a good spot for #7 Splendora. The Audible mare was scratched out of the Fleur de Lis (G2) after handling the 1 1/16-mile test on May 30 in Louisville. She draws to the outside in this compact group, which gives Flavien Prat options out of the gate, but I expect him to use her speed early. I am not sure if we have seen the best of the Maryland-bred yet or not, but she should have no issue getting the 8.5-furlongs against this bunch.Race 7: Matchmaker (G3)Grade: B+Use: 1 Sweet TreasureForecast: I like the chances quite a bit of #1 Sweet Treasure in this 1 1/8-mile event for fillies and mare over the grass. The Twirling Candy filly has shown strong versatility of late winning from well off-the-pace two-back at Keeneland before taking advantage of a slow early pace when wiring out the field in the Mint Julep (G3). She draws the rail in a race where there is limited speed signed on. Whether Irad goes to the front or opts to save ground early and come with a big run late, this Brad Cox trainee heads to Monmouth Park in the best form of her career.Race 8:Grade: B-Use: 1 Pogi/3 Roma ArtForecast: I am writing before morning lines are out, but I expect #11 Superfractor to take a lot of money. The son of Golden Lad has done little wrong on the dirt thus far, but comes off a non-effort in a Colonial Downs turf sprint on June 28. If that effort was only because of the surface switch and he is able to replicate his win over this surface on May 30, he will win this for fun. However, I am unwilling to completely toss his run at 8-5 in Virginia, so I will take a swing against with #1 Pogi. The 8YO gelding moves back into the Jersey-bred allowance ranks after tackling tougher in his four starts since being claimed by trainer Silvino Ramirez. He will need a good ride from low profile jockey Carlos Rojas, but I like the way he went and got the lone speed in his open company allowance victory on May 9. A repeat of that could be good enough.Race 9: Wolf HillGrade: BUse: 5 Alogon/7 Amoudi BayForecast: #5 Alogon was beaten by #1 Souper Quest last time in the Get Serious, but it is not difficult to argue Alogon was significantly better. Souper Quest saved ground mid-pack without an excuse, while Alogon bobbled a bit at the start, found himself in last, and was forced to make a wide move into the lane in his first start off the bench. The son of California Chrome moves to the outside and gets a big rider upgrade to Flavien Prat. He should run big. #7 Amoudi Bay is the speed horse I like most. The Ten Strike Racing gelding has been freshened up by Lindsay Schultz after a pair of races in Kentucky in April. He should be able to sit just off the hip of likely pacesetter #6 Nothing Better in this 5.5-furlong turf dash.Race 10: RegretGrade: B-Use: 11 Unsolved MysteryForecast: A pair of graded stakes winners as 3YOs for trainer Rusty Arnold are expected to make their first start since September in this $100k 6-furlong affair over the main track. #9 Kilwin and #5 Echo Sound ran big races at Saratoga last summer, but are coming off significant layoffs making them tough to trust. I can understand going several deep to kick off the Hit & Split Late Pick 5 opportunity taking stands against the two Arnold runners, but I am going to go thin against them with #11 Unsolved Mystery. The Goldencents mare has rattled off six straight against lesser and has only lost once over this surface. Hopefully, she does not regress too much off of that dominant win on June 20.Race 11: United Nations (G2)Grade: B-Use: 6 Uncle’s GoldForecast: #4 Program Trading and #7 Just a Touch hold the class edge and go to the gate for this year’s United Nations for some of the top outfits in the country. Both are capable of winning the first leg of the late Pick 4, but I prefer #6 Uncle’s Gold. The Florida-bred has to prove himself at this level, but has overcome a less-than-ideal trip in all three of his recent victories. Three-back at Tampa he was caught three wide throughout and finished well in his first start going nine-furlongs before overcoming a brutal trip to beat lesser at Delaware Park. He crushed a much lesser group in late June at Colonial and enters this spot in the best form of his career. Now he has to prove he can overcome his third race since June 4 in his first try going this long and that he is classy enough to beat this level of competition. I will need him to be the clear third choice at least to jump in on the Win end, but he is a very nice Live Oak Plantation homebred regardless of his off odds.Race 12: Haskell (G1)Grade: BUse: 4 The Puma; 6 Napoleon Solo; 5 Iron HonorForecast: This year’s Haskell lost some intrigue when Bob Baffert star sprinter Crude Velocity needed time off after a tough race at Saratoga during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. That said, they drew a competitive field of seven where I will try to beat 2-1-ML favorite #2 Further Ado. The Gun Runner colt has run some big races in Kentucky, especially Keeneland, but has yet to run a big race outside the Blue Grass. Plus, he has struggled to put back-to-back races together. That along with an inside draw are enough for me to take a swing against the likely chalk.#5 Iron Honor and #6 Napoleon Solo are probably more likely to fire in Monmouth’s premier race than #4 The Puma, but The Puma’s upside is higher. Often times, I would question a horse making his first start since scratching prior to the Kentucky Derby, but not in this case. The connections have said all along that this was the goal and they have put six solid works into him down at Gulfstream Park. There is a good chance we see his best, but if not I anticipate one of the top two finishers from the Preakness getting to the wire first.Race 13:Grade: B-Use: 2 Copper Ghost/4 Spanish NobleForecast: I landed on #2 Copper Ghost in this first-level allowance over the grass. The Ghostzapper gelding has not lived up to his $375k sales price yet, but should get a far better trip than he did last out when he made an underwhelming four-wide move on the far turn. He attracts Paco and gets an inside draw against a modest group. If he fails to put in a strong run for the second time this meet, the 7YO gelding #4 Spanish Noble is in with a big chance to earn his sixth career victory. He has won two straight over the grass and is a stronger finisher than most of his competition. Veteran conditioner Kathleen O’Connell has had a strong 2026 and has a live one entered in the start of the late Double.Race 14:Grade: B-Use: 1 Complex Music; 7 Dragonite; 5 Guapo AgainForecast: Trainer Panagiotis Synnefias has won 3 of his last 8 heading into Haskell week and brings #1 Complex Music into the finale. The son of Complexity returned on quick rest before his win over this surface on June 6 and then was wheeled back on just 11 days for his most recent start at Delaware Park. The Kentucky-bred has now had a full month’s rest and draws the rail in his second career start at Monmouth Park. He should be a fair price in with a big shot to close out both the late Pick 4 and Pick 5.

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