The action returns in a big way on Friday at Santa Anita Park for the start of another 3-day racing week. Not only is there a $69,685 carryover in the Sunset Pick 6, but there is a massive $198,741 carryover in the traditional $2 Pick 6. The sequence kicks off with a tricky maiden claimer in Race 4 and concludes with a full field event over the grass. Let’s get to it!Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.Race 4:Grade: CMain Ticket: 2 Bossing Mo; 5 Oswald, 1 BandoleroBackups: NoneForecast: I wish I had a stronger opinion in this state-bred maiden claimer at two-turns over the main track, but this group is simply tough to trust. I suppose I am taking the easy way out by using the three logicals. #2 Bossing Mo is likely to set the pace on the stretch out, but ML favorite #1 Bandolero is also going to search for prominent early position. If they go at it early, it should set things up for #5 Oswald. The Turf Paradise shipper ran second with a favorable flow in Arizona in late January. His trainer Don Schnell is 3 for his last 9 when shipping into Santa Anita for a $2.31 ROI making him difficult to toss against these.Race 5:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 1 Quantum Innergy; 7 She’s a JokerBackups: NoneForecast: I will fade the ML choice in this state-bred first-level allowance event for the ladies at one mile over the sod. #2 Mayacama has been consistent finishing first or second in 6 of her last 7 starts, but returns to the races after losing without an excuse at even-money versus similar on January 31. The speeds drawn to her outside are likely to make things more difficult on Friday afternoon for this Klimt mare. I will use two in hopes of running by the 5-2-favorite in the lane. #7 She’s a Joker was beaten on the square by Mayacama last out, but has 3 wins over this course and is capable of a move forward in her second try off the freshening. I slightly prefer #1 Quantum Innergy. The daughter of Clubhouse Ride is winless dating back to the start of 2024, but consistently comes with a strong rally from the back. If the pace is as hot as it looks on paper, she could be the one making the final move.Race 6:Grade: XMain Ticket: 3 Tiger FireBackups: ManiaeForecast: I am formful in this non-winners of three at 5.5-furlongs over the main track where 8-5-ML favorite #3 Tiger Fire looks like the horse to beat. The Smiling Tiger filly heads back to the Great Race Place after trying allowance foes at night at Los Alamitos. She raced against the flow battling 3-wide before tiring late two-back in her most recent start at Santa Anita, but should control the tempo from start-to-finish here for a barn that has had a strong meet with limited starters thus far. Armando Aguilar will jump aboard for the first time.Race 7:Grade: BMain Ticket: 10 Son of a BirchBackups: 1 Nesso’s Lastharrah; 9 Charlie’s to BlameForecast: #10 Son of a Birch should be tough in this second-level allowance at 6-furlongs over the grass. The son of Temple City made his Southern California debut last month in a compact group going half a furlong longer. The 6YO gelding put forth a solid third that day with a less- than-ideal trip and moves to a favorable outside draw in his second start off the bench. Jockey Florent Geroux should have him in a perfect spot throughout. #1 Nesso’s Lastharrah and #9 Charlie’s to Blame both cutback to one-turn and could be rolling late for the Peter Eurton barn. They will be my backups, but I will be leaning mostly on the Robert Falcone trainee.Race 8:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 3 Cherokee NationBackups: NoneForecast: I will take a stand in this MSW at one mile over the main track where for the most part I lack trust in this entire field. Of those with a chance on paper, I landed on #3 Cherokee Nation. #1 Latitude has had his chances against lesser and 9-5-ML favorite #2 Winston Ave was too poor last out to support, so I will give one more shot to this Keeneland September ’24 purchase. Cherokee Nation underwhelmed in his last start, but it came against Grade 3 competition. The $1.15M colt ran well enough to beat this group two-back and is capable of improvement if he can fix the gate issues that have plagued him thus far. Hopefully, Emisael Jaramillo has the keys to this pricey son of Not This Time.Race 9:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 7 Prime Artist; 10 KeagmanBackups: 8 Mendel’s Tune; 2 NezhaForecast: I will fade 3-1-ML favorite #4 Biggiebiggiebiggie in this $50k maiden claimer at one mile over the turf to close the sequence and card. The son of Maclean’s Music has had 8 chances and quite frankly was outperformed by #10 Keagman last time out despite getting past him at the wire. Keagman was forced to chase lone speed winner Classico, while Biggiebiggiebiggie sat back and made a non-threatening run to pass horses who tried to actually win the race. Keagman also has had plenty of chances, but only one thus far with blinkers against maiden claimers. He is a must use, as is #7 Prime Artist. The Leonard Powell trainee drops in class after racing against the flow against protected maidens on January 25. The European import should find this group more to his liking.

If you played the Sunset 6 wager this month, don’t be flustered that you didn’t win. No one else picked the last three winners at Gulfstream and Santa Anita either, so this week’s $1 wager begins with a $69,000 carryover pool.GP 8th race (3:50 p.m. EST) -- WIN WITH FAITH rallied for minor awards in his last three starts on turf, earning 81 to 84 Beyers each time. He was the beaten favorite in two of them and is overdue for his first victory in a year at a distance which he stands 9/2-3-1. JAVA BUZZ completely blew the first turn while racing against WIN WITH FAITH, but he settled into ground saving position on the backstretch and finished willingly between rivals too late. He hails from a hot barn and should be on the ticket. JACK KEROUAC is 0-for-8 on the Gulfstream lawn, but he was gelded since his last start in October and ran well enough at the onset of 2025 to perhaps factor here at a big price for his new barn.GP 9th race (4:20 p.m. EST) -- SALVATTORE PRINCE tracked a slow pace and made an eye-catching, last-to-first move on the final turn to surpass $100,000 in synthetic track earnings. He faces better rivals today but could pay off immediately on an $8,000 claim with a duplicate move. UNCLE JOHN had five wire-to-wire victories in seven starts before he chased the pace last out and was out-dueled in the final sixteenth by hard-hitting starter allowance rival LONGBRANCH LOU in a longer route race.GP 10th race (4:50 p.m. EST) -- Speed types have fared well on the Gulfstream lawn and that should help the Pletcher-trained XCEL, who stalked the pace 4-wide at 7-1/2F and gave way in the stretch in a debut race loaded with upper-70 Beyer types. URGENCY was turned back by the winning 3-to-2 favorite in his first one-mile turf test, then finished behind three next-out winners (average 73 Beyer) while earning his top speed figure last out at the same distance.SA 7th race (6:35 p.m. EST) -- DHITJARI, a consistent allowance runner in Germany while often carrying 128 pounds or more in crowded fields, won off a similar layoff last year at age 3. New trainer John Sadler won with 35 of his last 204 turf sprinters over two years with an average $7.80 payout. The late-running CUBAN CONFUSION is a model of consistency and shows a fastest-of-58 workout to begin preparation for his first start since October.SA 8th race (7:05 p.m. EST) -- WINSTON AVE, 6-wide on the backstretch and 4-wide on the turn from post 10, couldn’t reach the 38-1 winner in a promising 6-1/2F debut. The winner, So Happy, came back to win the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes and the favorite, Blacksmith, ran second in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity next out. WINSTON AVE failed as the 1-to-5 favorite in a follow-up try, but the son of multiple Grade 1-winning router Quality Road, appears back on track with a series of strong workouts for his seasonal debut.SA 9th race (7: 35 p.m. EST) -- BIGGIEBIGGIEBIGGIE got a needed break from Maiden Special Weight company and ran second to his pace-setting stablemate under today’s conditions. The race timed faster than a same-day, $16,000 starter allowance won by Please Focus (28/5-6-1, $243k on turf). LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE broke slowly in two dirt sprints at Oaklawn Park, but he had no such problems while posting three sizzling workouts at San Luis Rey since arriving in California. His dam, Lunar Rille, was 11/3-3-0 with $97k in turf earnings and broke her maiden the first time she ran on the surface. He’s worth using at 10-1 on the morning line. Suggested $1 TicketGP 8th Race: 2, 3, 6GP 9th Race: 1, 3, 5GP 10th Race: 2, 10SA 7th Race: 5, 6SA 8th Race: 2SA 9th Race: 4, 6Cost: $72

One of the best cards in North America this year takes place at Gulfstream Park on Saturday afternoon headlined by the Fountain of Youth (G2). The Derby prep is the finale on a stacked 14-race extravaganza that gets started at 11:30 AM eastern. Amongst the plethora of horizontal wagering opportunities is an all-stakes Pick 4 that covers the final four races on the slate. The marketing team at 1/ST Bet and Xpressbet has opted to make that the final $2M rewards points Hit & Split of the month. For those that have not taken part during the previous cards, remember to register on the promotional landing page.Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.Race 11: Davona Dale (G2)Grade: B+Main Ticket: 8 She Be Smooth; 7 Swing VoteBackups: 9 On Time GirlForecast: There is no doubt that #9 On Time Girl is the one to beat in this one-turn mile event for 3YO fillies, but the tote board is all but certain to show that. The Albaugh Family Stables homebred overcame adversity in the Forward Gal (G3), is 4 for 5 in her career, and draws favorably to the outside, but the value will not be there. I give a pair of young females a legitimate shot to beat her, including top choice #8 She Be Smooth. The Calumet Farm filly was very impressive on debut winning over this same surface and distance last month. She not only relaxed professionally on the inside before finishing full of run late, but ran by a filly that won by 8 in her next start. It is not easy to win over these one-turn mile configurations on debut and I love the move to an outside draw.Race 12: Honey Fox (G3)Grade: BMain Ticket: 1 Silver Moonlight; 3 Classic QBackups: 10 Crevalle d’OroForecast: This one-mile turf event for older fillies and mares marks the return of #9 Lush Lips. The Brendan Walsh trainee had an outstanding 3YO season earning nearly $900k, but I am not in love with her off the break. The 4YO drew poorly to the outside and takes on older runners for the first time. She has the upside to get to the wire first, but I prefer a pair that were done more favors at the draw. #1 Silver Moonlight has been freshened up by Saffie Joseph since rattling off 3 consecutive victories to end her 2025 campaign. She loves this course and should get a dream run along the inside under Flavien Prat. #3 Classic Q also is worth a look. Toss her last when she was beaten to the lead and fought the rider through the early stages. I expect the Mark Casse trainee to make the front under John Velazquez, which makes her dangerous over this course.Race 13: Mac Diarmida (G2)Grade: C+Main Ticket: 2 Without; 3 LayaboutBackups: 6 Anegada; 9 Tank; 7 ZverevForecast: I lack a strong opinion in this 1 3/8-mile test over the Gulfstream sod, but will roll with #2 Without on top. The son of Lope De Vega is eligible for a first-level allowance, but trainer Graham Motion opts to send him out in this spot after a solid runner-up effort last out instead. He draws favorably along the inside and very well could have been sent here from France with this spot always on the mind. #3 Layabout aims to make it 3 wins in a row, but will almost certainly not be on the front end like last time out. The presence of #9 Tank should have jockey David Egan happy to stalk a bit off the pace in this gelding’s eleventh career try. He has proven versatile though giving him a big shot to make it 4 straight.Race 14: Fountain of Youth (G2)Grade: B-Main Ticket: 6 Chief Wallabee; 7 Napoleon SoloBackups: 4 Commandment; 3 TalkinForecast: I am not overly confident in any particular horse, but it is very likely that one of the top three choices on oddsmaker Brian Nadeau’s morning line gets to the wire first in this year’s Fountain of Youth. #4 Commandment is as likely as anyone, but at 2-1, he is tough to get excited about trying two-turns for the first time. On the other hand, I do not know what to expect from #7 Napoleon Solo since it has been nearly five months since we have seen him compete in the afternoons, but clearly his “A” game is very good. #6 Chief Wallabee has major questions to answer as well, but was uber-professional in his debut over this course on January 10. He should handle the two-turns. #3 Talkin is my wild card. He ran in three live races as a 2YO and is likely to try to make a run from off the pace given the rider change from Kendrick Carmouche to Joel Rosario. His last in the Remsen (G2) is an obvious toss. He should be a big price.

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Oaklawn | today’s racesTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Gulfstream Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $77,323 | Gulfstream Park | begins Race 5 | 2:20 pm ETPick 6 | $14,968 | Oaklawn | begins Race 4 | 3:03 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $86,435 | Fair Grounds | begins Race 4 | 3:15 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $79,397 | Turfway Park | begins Race 5 | 7:55 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXOaklawn | Race 4 | 3:03 pm ETFair Grounds | Race 6 | 4:15 pm ETTurfway Park | Race 2 | 6:25 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHRonney Brown | Charles Town | 4 of 5 entrants 3-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Turfway | trainer Mike Maker | 3 wins from 4 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Oaklawn Bet $100, Get $10 Promo PicksFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The “Love at First Bet” promotion this February at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet offers a $10 bonus when you bet $100 or more at select tracks each Tuesday and Thursday. Oaklawn will be the track spotlighted for this Thursday. Hope you caught both winners offered here earlier in the week at Turf Paradise. Here’s how I’ll approach Oaklawn with the help of the Betmix Angler database.Oaklawn: Race 8#1 Spitfire (8-1 morning line odds) never got uncorked in the Martha Washington and a slow pace did her no favors. Trainer Kenny McPeek’s barn has hit 25% winners and a $1.28 ROI for every $1 bet over the past month at Oaklawn. He reaches to get a rare pairing with Francisco Arrieta, battling at the top of the meet standings, which feels significant. The other McPeek, Authentic Cat, and favorite Sticker Shock, for a colder-than-usual Brad Cox barn, will take plenty of money to hold our price. Win-place #1. Daily Double 1-2 to next play.Oaklawn: Race 9#2 Ghost Money (8-1 morning line odds) forces you to forget the Dec. 12 debut in order to be interested, but a lot has changed since then. Trainer Abel Ramirez-Rodriguez put in a claim and has been off-the-charts successful with new acquisitions ... and over the past month at OP is on fire. Add in top pilot Ramon Vazquez, whose 6-furlong sprint prowess at this meet is unrivaled: 21% wins, $1.30 ROI for every $1 bet. Win-place #2.

The Lead:One of the biggest days of the Gulfstream Park Championship Meet returns Saturday for Fountain of Youth Day. Kentucky Derby hopefuls look to follow Sovereignty's footsteps in the Race 14 finale. The undercard is loaded with stakes, and the late pick 5 kicks off with the Grade 3 The Very One in Race 10.Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet be sure to take part in the 2 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split on Saturday's late pick 4 (Races 11-14) at Gulfstream. And, there's up to a $10 money-back special in the Fountain of Youth Stakes if your win bet finishes second or third.​​Field Depth:Grade 3 winners include VENENCIA and CANDY QUEST. JUST BASKING is a listed stakes winner and Grade 1-placed, while NO SHOW SAMMY JO is a listed stakes winner and Grade 3-placed. VENENCIA and NO SHOW SAMMY JO have kept the consistently strongest schedules.​Pace:Limited speed expected over 1-3/8 miles on turf. VENENCIA may be sent forward while FOR FLYING and FANTASY PERFORMER are candidates but not blazers. NO SHOW SAMMY JO has run some good races when hustled and from an outside draw might be asked to show more pace than recent starts. But it's guesswork on this pace map.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.#1-GALLANT GRETA: Closer seems to run her race consistently, just a matter of how it stacks up with the competition. She was a no-match second for No Show Sammy Joe over this course and distance Dec. 24 and then placed too deep last time in the Grade 3 Clement. Jockey Luis Saez piloted Beach Bomb to The Very One stakes success a year ago and assumes a new mount for Mike Maker.#2-JUST BASKING: Lightly raced 5-year-old has a thin turf resume with one dull effort at Fair Grounds in her only start of 2025. Her 1-turn mile allowance on dirt was a promising, old-school prep by Ian Wilkes and she’s well-drawn under Javier Castellano for this 3-turn journey. Distance should suit and she’s had multiple BRIS late pace figures to brag about up to 10 furlongs. Big change in trip, but not without intrigue.#3-VENENCIA: Her October victory in Keeneland’s Grade 3 Dowager feels a bit 1-hit wonderish when surrounded by her races around it. She’s changed trainers 4 times since August and hasn’t show much in a couple of Saffie Joseph Jr. appearances. Tyler Gaffalione seeks his second The Very One win in the past 3 years, winning in 2024 aboard R Calli Kim. May be near the lead with a good draw and lack of other pace.#4-CANDY QUEST: 4-year-old return bid in Tampa’s Grade 3 Endeavor was thwarted by a waltzing pace, but her 104 BRIS late pace figure showed that she came back running to be second. That’s not even her best late fig, getting a 107 in the Dueling Grounds Oaks. Consistent form at shorter trips and Mark Casse’s stakes success nationally has been remarkable of late. Irad Ortiz Jr. is a 3-time The Very One winner (2018, 2019, 2022) and takes the mount for the first time.#5-FOR FLYING: First of 2 in here for trainer Graham Motion, who won The Very One last year with Beach Bomb. 6-year-old mare has just 15 starts and is 0-8 since winning 4 of her first 7. A return to turf may help, but her recent synthetic form doesn’t inspire confidence.#6-DONA CLOTA: Former Chilean star melted down in the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf and made only 1 summer start at Saratoga since, finishing fifth in an allowance. She’s on her third trainer in 3 domestic starts, and perhaps Saffie Joseph Jr. has found something Chad Brown and Nacho Correas didn’t. Interesting to see Flavien Prat take the mount.#7-FANTASY PERFORMER: Synthetic has been her best surface and there’s some concern with this level of competition, though she did best The Very One rival For Flying on New Year’s Day. But that one looks like a longshot here, too.#8-LOVE SONG: Jockey John Velazquez takes aim at a fifth The Very One title and his first since 2015. That would match Jerry Bailey’s all-time wins record in this race. This impeccably bred Ghostzapper-Music Note filly has come nowhere close to her pedigree’s promise and mustered only 1 stakes start in 11 races to date, a third at Turfway last out. The longer aces have been among her best, but 6: 0-3-0 on turf doesn’t endorse her.#9-NO SHOW SAMMY JO: 6-year-old has won 6 of 14 in a stop-and-start career but seemed to hold together well through a 7-race 2025 campaign that saw her win 2 listed stakes. Her victory over the course and distance Dec. 24 in the Via Borghese makes her an obvious threat. Trainer Graham Motion seeks a third victory in The Very One and second straight after Beach Bomb a season ago. Wide post and weaker-than-you’d-think late BRIS pace figures do caution against taking a short price.Most Likely Exotics Contender:CANDY QUEST is a course winner in a field that's 2-17 combined locally. She's 7-10 in the exacta and 9-10 in the superfecta lifetime and has the best late move in the lineup.Best Longshot Contender:JUST BASKING isn't a turf marathoner, but I love the old-school prep path for a trainer in Ian Wilkes who isn't one to placea horse wildly over her head.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$75 win CANDY QUEST. $10 exacta box CANDY QUEST and JUST BASKING ($20). $5 exacta CANDY QUEST over DONA CLOTA.

Five of nine entrants in the Grade 3 $300,000 Gotham Stakes are Triple Crown nominees, a subtle sign that this 1-turn mile is more a crossroads race than a tried-and-true Kentucky Derby prep. After all, it’s been since Secretariat, yes THE Secretariat in 1973, that a Gotham alum has worn the roses. But 50 qualifying points for the first Saturday in May are in line for the winner – making it a veritable automatic qualifier.Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet take advantage of up to a $10 money-back special promo on Triple Crown prep race win bets, featuring Saturday’s Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream and Gotham at Aqueduct, as well as Sunday’s Rebel at Oaklawn. Get up to $10 back if your win bet finishes second or third when you bet with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet.Let’s meet the contenders for the Gotham Stakes (Race 10):#1-BALBOA: He scratched from last week’s Miracle Wood at his Laurel Park home base in exchange for this spot. The Brittany Russell trainee returns to the Big A for a third time: third in the Remsen, second in the Jerome and looking to notch his first graded stakes victory. The $875,000 Not This Time colt began his career with Bob Baffert in California before hitting the transfer portal.#2-HAMMOND: Gulfstream-based sprinter stretches out beyond 7 furlongs for the first time. Exits a third-place try in the Swale behind Saffie Joseph Jr. stablemate Solitude Dude, arguably the top 3-year-old sprinter in the country. Hammond is from the first crop of sire Charlatan, an elite speedster who extended to 1-1/8 miles in winning the 2020 Arkansas Derby.#3-CROWN THE BUCKEYE: Ohio-bred speed merchant set the pace but failed to sustain in the Gun Runner and Lecomte this winter at Fair Grounds. Trainer Mike Maker gets the colt by top-class sprinter Yaupon back around 1 turn for the first time since winning last August’s Cleveland Kindergarten by more than a dozen lengths. Early pace pilot Ricardo Santana has the return mount.#4-FOURTH AND ONE: Rank early in the 2-turn Withers before wilting, this Jeremiah Englehart trainee cuts back in trip. He broke his maiden at the Big A in a mile and was third over the same trip last year in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes. The Maxfield colt must prove his mettle in open company under Jose Lezcano.#5-RIGHT TO PARTY: Jan. 10 maiden graduate steps up in class but returns to the same track and distance as his successful second start. A $325,000 Constitution colt, this Kenny McPeek trainee debuted a distant third at Aqueduct behind Gotham return rival Iron Honor. That was over 6 furlongs, and his backers will hope the longer distance can help make up 9 lengths on the horse who breaks next door.#6-IRON HONOR: Chad Brown’s debut winner Dec. 13 since has seen that form flattered with his second and third-place pursuers returning to win next out. By Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and out of a Blame mare, the stamina should be there to think his 6-furlong unveiling was a feather in his cap – winning a fast race at what likely isn’t his optimal trip. Manny Franco has the return ride.#7-EXHIBITION ONLY: Trainer Rudy Rodriguez blew up the Withers Feb. 6 with maiden-to-stakes leaper Talk To Me Jimmy and looks for a second NYRA prep trail notch with this fellow, last-out maiden romper for the same ownership. Exhibition Only didn’t make much headway on turf at 2, but flipped a switch Feb. 5 a the Big A, wiring a 1-turn mile by nearly 8 lengths with the addition of Lasix. That medication won’t be in play for the Gotham, so we’ll soon find out more answers about this Complexity colt.#8-CREOLE CHROME: Fair Grounds-based colt also was cross-entered in Saturday’s Star Guitar Stakes vs. Louisiana-breds on his home track. Trainer Joe Sharp would be sending him on the road to face open company and make his first start beyond 6 furlongs if they head to the Gotham. He’s won 2 of 3, finishing third in the Louisiana Juvenile in his only stakes bid. Expected to remain at home.#9-DIRTY RICH: Well-traveled sprinter has raced in Kentucky, California and Arkansas and looks for another road test. Peter Miller trains the $35,000 Thousand Words colt who has overachieved to win Oaklawn’s Advent Stakes. He was most recently third to Obliteration, who since ran a bang-up second in the Saudi Derby. Ramon Vazquez, battling at the top of the Oaklawn standings coming into the week, makes the journey with him.

The final Saturday of the 21st season of the Xpressbet Beat the Host handicapping contest provides extra sizzle this week. Contestant Greg Lesko has successfully outplayed 8 hosts to date, and after a pair of rivals went by the wayside last week, is the lone combatant left with a chance at the $6,500 Sweep the Host bonus. He’ll need to topple Gulfstream Park handicapper Ron Nicoletti, who will be in the host chair for the final week of the contest’s regular season.As part of the tournament prize structure, Lesko already has netted $4,000 as the last player remaining in the “knockout” format for sweeping all the hosts. He’ll get the full $6,500 with a Week 9 victory over Nicoletti.The Week 8 results saw Larry Klingensmith top all players with a $165.00 bankroll good for the $1,000 weekly first prize. He nosed out John Williams’ $162.50 total that netted second prize money of $750. Jerry Larsson was a close-up third at $158.50 and tallied a $250 prize. Only 15 eligible players topped host Zoe Cadman of Santa Anita last week to earn berths into next Saturday’s Beat the Host Championship Round tournament. That brings the current number to 568 players in the hunt for that title.The $65,000 Beat the Host competition encompasses 10 races each contest Saturday, split between the final 5 Gulfstream Park races and first 5 from Santa Anita. Contestants place $5 win bets on the Xpressbet platform for each of the 10 Beat the Host races, earning their parimutuel winnings as well as prize pools.All contestants who beat the cumulative bankroll total of the host each Saturday qualify for the Beat the Host Championship on March 7. Weekly prize pools of $2,000 are also in play for the top-3 finishers, while a $6,500 Sweep the Host bonus split is in store for those sharp enough to top the host totals all 9 weeks of the contest – which is now down to just Greg Lesko.A check-in for the season-long leaderboard in contest earnings shapes up this way: Christopher Cupples has continued to lead for several weeks, now with $583.25. John Souza sits second with $544.25. He’s followed by Steven Busching ($536.75), Steven Dalbec ($529.00) and Ron Watson ($514.50). Note that Sweep the Host candidate Greg Lesko ranks seventh in season bankroll ($503.25).The BTH Championship pits all weekly winning players against one another in pursuit of seats in the lucrative Pegasus World Cup Betting Challenge, Xpressbet Santa Anita Derby Challenge and Xpressbet Florida Derby Challenge tournaments.Last season, 496 of 711 Beat the Host players were able to top the host total at least once during the season. Glenn Gulden paced all players in the cumulative season totals last year, while George Blanchard took down the top prize in the Beat the Host Championship round finale.Tournament & Host Schedule:Saturday, January 3, 2026 - Pete AielloSaturday, January 10, 2026 - Millie BallSaturday, January 17, 2026 - Michelle YuSaturday, January 24, 2026 - Scott ShapiroSaturday, January 31, 2026 - Brian NadeauSaturday, February 7, 2026 - Tom QuigleySaturday, February 14, 2026 - Samantha PerrySaturday, February 21, 2026 - Zoe CadmanSaturday, February 28, 2026 - Ron NicolettiSaturday, March 7, 2026 – Beat the Host Championship Round LEARN MORE ABOUT BEAT THE HOST