Hawthorne Racecourse has a 7-race card and the 0.50 Pick 5 starts the action. The sequence has a $3136 carryover, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 1 (7:10 PM CDT)3-Jewel's Legend (9/2)-This 4-year-old started to be tuned-up in late June. Then raced once in the summer and was put away. Came back on 11-7 and raced okay. This will be the its 3rd lifetime start, could bring a much better effort and there isn't much to worry about in this field.4-Lavender Haze (4-1)-Has only 1 win in 18 races but improved last time and came home with a .57 back half. Gets some post relief and faces the same kind. Juan Franco sticks and should be closer to the leader turning for the wire. Could be a player with a sharp steer.Race 2 (7:30 PM CDT)4-Lottie's Webb (3-1)-Has been racing with some of the better Ill bred 3-year-old fillies and should relish the company. Knows how to win, took 7 pictures in 32 starts and has won 3 times at Haw. Could add to that total if near the top turning for the wire.7-RK's Toni (3-1)-Drops down to the level of its last win that came 2 back. The Trigg barn has been ice cold, but Jordan Patton takes the lines and that might help. Should be main player but will need a smooth trip, and like the one above has to be close to the leaders heading down the lane.Race 3 (7:50 PM CDT)3-Precoious Macey (4-1)-Comes off a dull try versus better. Did win 2 back against this company but that was with Marcus Miller between the pipes. Andy Shetler takes over and if he can provide a smooth trip this mare could beat this kind again.4-Rollin In The Sand (1/1)-Not sure the 4-year-old should be even money but it needs to be used against this crew. Gerry Longo who is 80-years old, owns, trains and drives. Longo should have his horse in a position to win turning for the wire.Race 4 (8:10 PM CDT)3-Cheezy Mooss (6-1)-Willing to toss last, went off at 83-1 and raced like it. Now, gets some needed class relief and a positive driver change in Juan Franco. Should be a player at a square price with an alert start.5-Trevors Redhotgirl (5-1)-This filly competes and if the track is fast could surprise with a sharp steer by Travis Seekman. Raced evenly in its Haw debut, this will be the 2nd start for the Cante barn and when Seekman drives for this outfit they post 29% winners.7-Calico Sunset (2-1)-Lands in a good spot to cash the top check after being overmatched. Should be in the hunt at the wire but might be over bet.Race 5 (8:30 PM CDT)6-Fox Valley Reba (5-1)-Steps up off a win that was in dominant fashion on the engine. Raced well in both races in Stickney and does face better tonight. Using, expecting a better price than the morning line and should be put in play early on.8-Maypearl (3-1)-Won its last with a strong effort and should be a main player despite drawing outside. Will look for Brandon Bates to get a decent seat off the gate and then find a live cover flow. Should be rolling hard down the lane.0.50 Pick 53,4/4,7/3,4/3,5,7/6,8Total Bet=$24Check me out on Twitter!

Saturday marks the first Saturday of the meeting at Fair Grounds, which opened on Thursday afternoon in New Orleans. The 9-race card kicks off at 1:45 pm ET / 12:45 pm local time and is headlined by a trio of Louisiana-bred stakes events. Here are a few horses I plan to build my wagering around on Saturday in the “Big Easy.”Race 3My first play of the day comes in this $30k maiden claimer over the grass where I landed on class dropper #8 Edgerton. The son of Street Boss has made three starts, including two going long on the sod against maiden special weight competition. Not only does the Godolphin homebred get some significant class relief on Saturday, but he had legitimate excuses in both turf routes thus far. On September 11, in his grass debut, he was beaten out of the gate and up against it from there in a race dominated by those on the front end. Last time out, he was caught wide throughout in a race over the Laurel turf. Trainer Michael Stidham finds a softer spot and legs up jockey Axel Concepcion. Expect a big effort after a pair of maintenance drills over the main track since arriving in New Orleans.Play: #8 Edgerton (9-2 ML)Race 7: Andrew Ney MemorialOne of the stories to watch early on in the Fair Grounds 2025-2026 meeting is how veteran jockey Paco Lopez fares in New Orleans. I anticipate Lopez will find plenty of winners over the course of the winter. He should be able to work out a fantastic trip on #8 Not On Herb in this 6-furlong dash for Louisiana-breds over the main track. 2-1-ML favorite #1 Geaux Sugar is the likely pacesetter from his inside draw, but has not quite been the same horse over his last few starts. Hopefully, #3 Smash It off the long break amongst others at least keeps the chalk honest. Either way, I expect Paco to be sitting a few lengths off the early pace on this 8-time winner that comes in fresh for trainer David Terre. Terre appears to have pointed for this spot, so I expect his trainee to be ready to roll on Saturday afternoon.Play: #8 Not On Herb (9-2 ML)Race 9: Jacob V Morreale MemorialThe final stakes race of the afternoon is another state-bred affair, but this one at two-turns over the main track where early speed appears to be at a premium. I am hopeful #3 Letmikefigureitout can take advantage. The son of Daaher comes in fresh for trainer Alan Klanfer. Klanfer has only started 62 horses this year, but has won at a 27% clip with a positive ROI and finds his trainee in a wide-open spot in his first ever stakes try. Letmikefigureitout has won from just off the pace before, but also has won on the front end. Look for jockey Devin Magnon to get aggressive from his inside draw, take command early, and hopefully have enough left late to earn his fifth victory in six starts in 2025. He should offer solid value on the class hike in this field of 11 to close opening week at Fair Grounds.Play: #3 Letmikefigureitout (8-1 ML)Best of luck in the Big Easy!

SCHEDULE NOTEDel Mar | cancelled due to weatherNOTABLE CARRYOVERSSuper Hi 5 | $5,771 | Churchill Downs | Race 2 | 1:29 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $93,377 | Gulfstream Park | begins Race 4 | 1:49 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $162,119 | Churchill Downs | begins Race 5 | 2:57 pm ETJackpot Super Hi 5 | $150,585 (CAN) | Woodbine | Race 11 | 7:38 pm ETKEY RACESFair Grounds | Race 7 | 4:45 pm ET | Ferguson Memorial StakesWoodbine | Race 5 | 4:50 pm ET | Ashbridges StakesWoodbine | Race 6 | 5:18 pm ET | Lake Ontario StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXLaurel | Race 5 | 1:55 pm ETAqueduct | Race 9 | 4:09 pm ETFair Grounds | Race 6 | 4:15 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJose D’Angelo | Gulfstream | 5 of 6 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Churchill Downs | jockey Jose Ortiz | 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third from 8 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli: Fair Grounds Pick 3 Play for FridayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Saturday’s racing action in Maryland includes a trio of Laurel Park stakes races. The featured events go in succession, Races 6-8, and make up an all-stakes pick 3. Dry skies and temps in the low 50s are forecasted for Saturday.Laurel: Race 6 (2:23 pm ET) | $100,000 Willa On the Move StakesParx-based Michael Moore has been stellar with limited Laurel raids in recent years and has once-beaten #4 Takethemoneyhoney working sharp for her May return. This filly is 2-for-2 over the track and may benefit from some big-name barns present (Joseph, Rice, Amoss) and helping the price. Moore also adds #12 Alani, who is 4: 3-1-0 at Laurel and in excellent recent form. I’ll hone on these stablemates.Laurel: Race 7 (2:52 pm ET) | $100,000 Dave’s Friend StakesA strongly contested pace is forecasted here and the patience displayed by #1 Subrogate should pay dividends. This sprinter has gone 3-for-3 when making the second start of his form cycle as he’ll be making on Saturday. He catches morning line favorite #8 Prince of Jericho at a shorter trip than that one’s best off the layoff. #1 Subrogate stands out as a single to this eye.Laurel: Race 8 (3:22 pm ET) | $100,000 Richard W. Small StakesNot only did the 3-year-old #5 Barbadian Runner give local superstar Post Time the only loss of his Laurel career in the Maryland Million Classic, but third-place finisher Blue Kingdom since won an Aqueduct allowance for his fourth win in his last 5 starts. Barbadian Runner is a legit favorite here over the same 9 furlongs he negotiated last month, but the recipe to beat him would be with early speed. #6 Secret Zipper looks like potential lone speed, which takes on even greater upset potential with a small field size like this. The race runs through these two.The Tickets:4-1-5 largest amount12-1-5 medium amount4-1-6 medium amount12-1-6 smallest amount

The Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park is rapidly approaching. In fact, it kicks off on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, and runs until March 29, 2026. To get 1/ST BET and Xpressbet customers ready for the big meeting in the Sunshine State, we have a $5,000 Hit & Split on Saturday. $2500 is up for grabs in the Pick 5 sequence that gets started in Race 7 with the other $2500 for the Pick 4 that begins in Race 8. Make sure 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 7:Grade: C+Main Ticket: 5 One of One; 2 Tinta RojaBackups: NoneForecast: Six of the nine entered for this $10k open claimer over the all-weather exit a similar spot on November 1 where it was #5 One of One and #4 Love Mami Love running 1-2 around the racetrack from start-to-finish. It is unlikely that the race plays out exactly the same three weeks later, but there is little early speed signed on once again making it tough to get to the late runners that were no match earlier this month. The wild card is though #2 Tinta Roja. The daughter of Vino Rosso drops out of a $20k claimer and moves back to the all-weather for trainer Beau Chapman. I give him the best chance of beating One of One to get the sequence started.Race 8:Grade: C+Main Ticket: 2 Duty; 5 Uncle’s GoldBackups: NoneForecast: A MSW at two-turns over the all-weather is next where I will lean on a pair of lighter raced horses with several of those likely to take money having far too many chances against similar already. #2 Duty is my top choice, but hard to fully trust. The Kinsman Stable gelding competed twice in Hallandale Beach back in late winter and early spring, but has not been seen since. He does though come in off a steady series of drills over the Belmont training track and one local move at Payson Park. His speed is a major weapon. #5 Uncle’s Gold comes in with better form, but has never competed over a synthetic surface. That said, he should be tough if able to translate his grass form over to the all-weather for trainer Michael Trombetta.Race 9:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 10 Street ViewBackups: 1 PuckeredForecast: There is a ton of early speed signed on in this first-level allowance at the tricky 7-furlong distance. I am hopeful #10 Street View can use the outside draw to her advantage after chasing and tiring against much better in the Gallant Bloom (G2) in late September. The outside draw should allow jockey Micah Husbands to play the break and settle just off the plethora of early zip to his inside. If Husbands can avoid getting caught up in the early tussle or getting caught too wide throughout, this daughter of Street Boss should be tough. If not, #1 Puckered has a shot to make the last move. The Constitution filly was unable to take advantage of a really fast pace last out, but it came off of just 12-days rest. She can finish. Edgar Perez takes the call this time around.Race 10:Grade: BMain Ticket: 7 And UWishBackups: NoneForecast: The last time #7 And Uwish raced over this surface and distance it was a neck win over #3 Sosua Summer at this same condition. Both are entered in this 5.5-furlong sprint over the all-weather where I expect And Uwish to get to the wire first once again. The Joe Orseno trainee has raced twice since his win on July 6, once at five furlongs on the grass where he finished a length behind serious turf sprinter Reef Runner. After that, Orseno opted to try him at two-turns, which did not go well. The 4YO gelding has been given time and should get a similar outside stalking trip on the cutback to the one he got in his victory this summer. Regular rider Edgard Zayas is back onboard.Race 11:Grade: C+Main Ticket: 2 Hard CircleBackups: 4 Astin Style; 5 Broken Sound; 1 English Rocker; 6 Depth PerceptionForecast: The finale goes through a number of runners dropping from MSW into the maiden claiming ranks for the first time. Of the class droppers, I like #2 Hard Circle most. The son of Hard Spun moves into the Jose D’Angelo barn after a number of starts against better competition for Mike Maker. He has a steady series of works since arriving in Florida and should be on the lead under jockey Emisael Jaramillo. He had no chance to get to the front in his last this spring at Keeneland when a long shot ran off. I expect him to get back to showing speed from the gate.

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Fair Grounds | today’s racesSCHEDULE NOTEFair Grounds | Opening Day | first post 1:45 pm ETNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $153,419 | Churchill Downs | begins Race 5 | 2:57 pm ETJackpot Super Hi 5 | $139,675 (CAN) | Woodbine | Race 8 | 8:53 pm ETKEY RACESFair Grounds | Race 5 | 3:45 pm ET | Valene Memorial StakesFair Grounds | Race 6 | 4:15 pm ET | Peluso Memorial StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXFair Grounds | Race 4 | 3:15 pm ETAqueduct | Race 9 | 4:09 pm ETDelta Downs | Race 2 | 6:15 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJoe Sharp | Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds | 8 of 9 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Churchill Downs | trainer Brad Cox | 2 wins, 2 seconds from 4 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Fair Grounds Bet $100, Get $10 Spot Plays for ThursdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The 2025-'26 Meet at the Fair Grounds begins this week with large and competitive fields throughout. Louisiana-bred 2-year-old fillies will be featured in the $100,000 Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial Stakes on Friday, Nov. 21, the leadoff leg in the Late Pick 3. Here’s a closer look and a suggested $1 ticket that costs $40.FG 7th race (4:45 p.m. EST) -- Favorites dominated in the first three runnings of the Ferguson Memorial. Not sure if LITTLE MISS CURLIN will assume that role off a smashing debut victory at Delta Downs, but she is worthy as a solo play in the Pick 3 off that effort. She accelerated inside rivals on the backstretch to secure the lead position, was pressed by the 17-1 runner-up to the top of the stretch and exploded in the final 1/8 of a mile to win by 4-1/4 lengths in :58-3/5, less than a second off a 5F starter allowance for the boys on the same card. She breezed a 4F bullet workout in :47.3 since the win.FG 8th race (5:15 p.m. EST) -- The possibilities abound in this 5-1/2F Maiden Special Weight turf sprint, so go 8-deep on the ticket. MORE SWEETER worked fast between her two starts but was no factor either time. Her debut race, however, produced Grade 2 winner Miss Grillo and two follow-up MSW winners. ACQUAZURRA, a $300,000 sales buy, exited a double ‘key’ dirt sprint and pressed the pace from post 11 while 3-to 5-wide last out. She gets Lasix for her grassy debut. NELSON’S PENNY exits a pair of six-figure turf sprints that produced follow-up stakes winners. STRESS TEST rallied to finish third behind a speedy winner in her debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis. WOOTEN WARRIOR’s sire, Wootton Bassett, was 5-8 and a multiple turf stakes winner of $843k. AL MUHEERAH debuts for trainer Brendan Walsh, whose debut 2-year-olds are 20-for-125 the last two years with a positive return on investment. More than half of those starters were dismissed at single-digit odds. The son of Kitten’s Joy is out of the dam, Musawaah, a stakes-winning grass router in France. MY BLUE LINE and BUGS MALONE will try to enhance trainer Michael Stidham’s strong numbers with first-time starters on the turf, but they are uncoupled in the wagering. MY BLUE LINE’s sire, Blue Point, was 10-for-20 and a multiple Group 1 winner of $2.9 million overseas. BUGS MALONE is out of the dam Maya Princess, whose siblings are 34/6-5-6 in turf sprints. (Note: Use #14 SPRING IN PARIS if she draws into the race.)FG 9th race (5:45 p.m. EST) -- MY MAN BRANDON (8-1) gets pace to run at and gets the top call in a wide-open, 6F MSW sprint. He sustained a strong 4- and 5-wide rally in a 5F sprint at Delta Downs but couldn’t reach the rival he bumped at the break. MISTER BANDERAS dueled with the second favorite in a race dominated by deep closers. He shortens up for the high-percentage claim barn of trainer Tom Amoss and is a must use off a bullet 5F work over the track. SHOT GUN SHACK ran loose on the lead in his March debut at Fair Grounds and finished second, 1/2 of a length ahead of FREE SCRIM, his closest pursuer, who didn’t change leads in the stretch. The race produced three MSW winners with an average 58 Beyer and a stakes runner-up. SHOT GUN SHACK tired in his return at Churchill Downs and FREE SCRIM starts off an eight-month layoff. MUSICAL BAND also merits price-play consideration, returning to the main track for the first time since a much-improved second in a productive long sprint at Louisiana Downs in May.Suggested $1 TicketFG 7th Race: 2FG 8th Race: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (AE-#14)FG 9th Race: 1, 7, 9, 10, 11Cost: $40

Fair Grounds opens its 2025-’26 racing season Thursday and once again 1/ST BET and Xpressbet open the Cornucopia of Cash. Another Bet $100, Get $10 offer will be in play for the Fair Grounds card, which gets underway at 1:45 pm ET. Forecast is for temps nearing 80 degrees and mostly sunny skies.Fair Grounds | Race 3 | 2:45 pm ET#3 Butcher Holler (8-1 morning line odds) represents trainer Keith Bourgeois, who has been a tremendously fast starter to the Fair Grounds meetings the past 2 years. He’s won 6 of 19 November starts locally in 2023-’24, popping $24, $45 and $56 prices in that span. Two of those huge prices came via Delta Downs like Butcher Holler, who is in excellent form currently. Win bet #3. Daily Double 3-12 to our next play.Fair Grounds | Race 4 | 3:15 pm ET#12 South Side (12-1 morning line odds) is the second of 2 Keith Bourgeois trainees on the card (see FG meet-opening stats above in Race 3 comments). This one runs second off the layoff and can be excused for the dirt performance last out. He’s back on the FG turf, where he won at 27-1 to open last year’s meet at a big price in a similar form cycle under Mitch Murrill and reunites. Win-place bet #12.Fair Grounds | Race 7 | 4:45 pm ET#5 Quick Kiss (3-1 morning line odds) looks to continue an early tear trainer Larry Rivelli set forth at Fair Grounds last year. He won with 4 of his first 5 two-year-olds at the meet (2 of 3 with debut runners like this). Quick Kiss is a well-meant $200,000 purchase who figures to be well put together given the more modest pedigree for that price. Win bet #5.