Running Aces has a 12-race card with the feature rolling in Race 8, the Wiseman Memorial with a $35,000 purse. The Spot Plays are in Race 5, Race 8, and Race 9. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 5 (7:28 PM CDT)6-My Little Maverick (7/2)-This 3-year-old has been a bridesmaid to tonight's 3/5 morning line choice #7 Bang Bang Boogie all season. But has been close, should offer a square price and tries Lasix for the 1st time. Can get the jump on its nemesis and if Lasix makes a difference, it could be enough to finally take a picture.7-6-4Race 8 (8:34 PM CDT)7-Escaper (9/2)-Looking for a price and the Herrera trainee could be overlooked. The post draw makes the price and Rick Magee produces 35% winners for this barn. Came off the 3 big tries being used from the outside. Appeared to be driven more conservatively last time in the Elimination and that was the 2nd race within 5 days. Magee should be out and rolling with a bigger check on the line and with a smooth trip, could surprise this crew.7-3-6Race 9 (8:56 PM CDT)7-Minnesota Kid (3-1)-Dropped in last but was ice cold on the board. Did outrace its 26-1 odds but finished a beaten 4th. Drops again, now get a new set of hands in Nick Roland and the change in pilots can make a winning difference. Could roll by them all if within striking range at the top of the lane.7-5-1Check me out on X!

EXTRA INCENTIVES3 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split | Emerald Downs | early, all-stakes, late pick 4s10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Summer Sweep 5 (Gulfstream/Emerald Downs)Woodbine Mile Flyaway Sweepstakes | earn up to 4 entries today (final day)SCHEDULE NOTESEllis Park | early 11:00 am ET first post due to heat--note Louisiana Downs already has cancelled for Mon, Tues, WedSPECIAL WAGERSSummer Sweep Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 8-9, Emerald Races 9-10-11--$1 minimum, 15% takeout, no CAWTOURNAMENT TIME$800 Del Mar Pacific Classic Betting Challenge Qualifier | details$100 Saratoga Feeder | details$80 Del Mar Feeder | details$40 Canterbury Park Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSSuper Hi 5 | $4,952 | Ellis Park | Race 1 | 11:00 am ETKEY RACESWoodbine | Race 9 | 5:18 pm ET | Vice Regent StakesSaratoga | Race 9 | 6:06 pm ET | Mahony StakesDel Mar | Race 5 | 7:10 pm ET | Rancho Bernardo StakesEmerald Downs | Race 6 | 7:41 pm ET | WTBOA Lassie, presented by 1/ST BETEmerald Downs | Race 7 | 8:14 pm ET | WTBOA Lad, presented by 1/ST BETEmerald Downs | Race 8 | 8:47 pm ET | Emerald Distaff, presented by 1/ST BETEmerald Downs | Race 9 | 9:20 pm ET | Longacres Mile, presented by 1/ST BETEmerald Downs | Race 10 | 9:53 pm ET | Washington Oaks, presented by 1/ST BETEmerald Downs | Race 11 | 10:26 pm ET | Muckleshoot Derby, presented by 1/ST BETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXColonial Downs | Race 8 | 3:48 pm ETSaratoga | Race 8 | 5:31 pm ETDel Mar | Race 6 | 7:43 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHKevin Attard | Woodbine | 6 of 7 entrants 7-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Saratoga | trainer Linda Rice | 5 wins, 1 seconds from 8 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Saratoga Spot Plays for SundayJeremy Plonk: Del Mar Spot Plays for SundayScott Shapiro: Emerald Downs Longacres Mile Day AnalysisBrian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Later this afternoon marks the biggest day on the racing calendar at beautiful Emerald Downs in the Pacific Northwest where it is Longacres Mile Day. 1/ST BET and Xpressbet are proud partners of Emerald Downs and look forward to a great day. To help make it that much more fun, we have put 3 millioin 1/ST Rewards Points up for grabs over the course of the afternoon. 1M points will be split amongst those that connect on the early Pick 4, while the same is true for the All-Stakes sequence that starts with Race 6, and the late Pick 4 that commences with the feature at 6:20 PM local time. I dove into the late sequence below.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 9: Longacres Mile, presented by 1/ST BETGrade: B-Main Ticket: 5 Executive Chef; 1 TouchyBackups: 3 Si That TigerForecast: The featured event goes through 7-5-ML favorite #1 Touchy. Trainer Wesley Ward has not started a horse at Emerald Downs over the last five years, but ships this colt into Washington where he draws the rail. He is likely to have company on the front end if attempts to take them gate-to-wire, so a pocket trip is probably the likeliest scenario for the Three Chimneys Farm homebred that is class of the field. I will use him, but also include long shot #5 Executive Chef. The Virginia-bred will probably be hard pressed to run by this entire field if the speed horses fire their best shot, but if not, he is the one I trust most at this stage of their career to come with a strong rally late at a playable price. Hopefully, he gets the pace to chase.Picks: 5-1-3Race 10: Washington Oaks, presented by 1/ST BETGrade: B-Main Ticket: 8 Bewitching JoyBackups: 4 TipitapForecast: The top four from last month’s Kent Stakes return in this $50k event for 3YO fillies at 1 1/16-miles where I will hope for a contentious battle in the early going. Last time, it was #5 Alluring Valentine and #6 Falling Leaves leading early through moderate fractions and eventually running 1-2 around the track, but there appears to be more speed signed on in this spot. This should benefit #8 Bewitching Joy. The 6-5-favorite in the aforementioned Kent was in a good spot along the inside much of the way, but was forced to steady when beginning to make her move at the two speed horses. She ended up falling flat in the end, but moves outside and should get a more favorable race shape and trip for in the Washington Oaks. I expect her second two-turn trip to go better than that first one. #4 Tipitap is the other runner who should benefit if I am correct about the race dynamics. She had a cleaner trip last out than my top choice and beat her a head. The daughter of Tacticus makes her third local start for trainer Blaine Wright.Picks: 8-4-6Race 11: Muckleshoot Derby, presented by 1/ST BETGrade: C+Main Ticket: 8 Chase; 1 Robin RacerBackups: NoneForecast: The top four from last month’s Seattle Slew Stakes headline this full field 1 1/16-miles event for 3YOs where #1 Robin Racer was made the 8-5-ML favorite. The son of Connect has done little wrong since returning to Washington after a try in the Turf Paradise Derby in March. He got a great trip last out under Frank Alvarado to get the best of first-time router #8 Chase in the lane. On paper, he should get a similar trip as last time making him tough to toss. That said, Chase ran too good to lose in his first try at two-turns. He is likely to have to settle off an honest pace once again and have enough left late to hold off the chalk, but a move forward is certainly within the range of outcomes. He seems like the better bet of the two at his far higher ML offering.Picks: 8-1-3Race 12:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 2 Bobs HoneyBackups: NoneForecast: I like #2 Bobs Honey in the finale. The California-bred makes her second start of the summer after competing at Santa Anita Park this winter and spring for trainer Tim McCanna. She comes off an off-the-pace second to a dominant stalking winner at this level on July 26 and should get a great mid-pack trip along the inside under veteran jockey Kevin Krigger. Hopefully, Krigger saves ground early and gets the best of this group late to close down Longacres Mile Day at Emerald Downs!Picks: 2-5-1

The racing week in Saratoga Springs concludes on Sunday afternoon with a ten-race card that gets rolling at the normal 1:10 PM eastern start time. The card is headlined by the $225k Mahony (G3) conducted at 5.5-furlongs over the grass, which goes as Race 9. Here are a few horses I like most on the afternoon.Race 4:This MSW for 2YOs over the Inner Turf is one of the more intriguing races on the Sunday agenda from a wagering perspective because I lack trust in 5-2-ML favorite #9 Greenwell. The Flightline colt ran a good second on debut at Churchill Downs as the even-money favorite before running poorly in his subsequent start over the Saratoga dirt on July 18. No doubt the dam side pedigree screams turf, but this guy was clearly well-meant sprinting over the main track on debut, so with an outside draw I am willing to fade him in his first two-turn trek.I will try to beat Greenwell with second-time starter #2 Suspend. The son of Tapit is bred on both sides to relish a route of ground and while he was even throughout with an inside mid-pack voyage last month over this course and distance, he should improve this afternoon. Trainer Bill Mott is 0 for 15 over the last 3 years at Saratoga with 2YOs making their first start in a turf route, but is a much-stronger 3 for 14 with a $2.54 ROI with those making their second start. The Claiborne Farm homebred draws favorably along the inside and should offer fair value after his mid-pack finish at first asking.Play: #2 Suspend (8-1 ML)Picks: 2-5-7Race 6:The sixth is a similar spot for 2YOs over the Inner Turf where the betting is expected to more spread out through the field by oddsmaker David Aragona. The two ML favorites make their first start for top-tier turf barns, but have yet to prove themselves, so I will take a big swing with #6 Hilts. The son of Vekoma is out of an Illinois-bred Congrats mare that never ran on the grass and only win in nine starts came in a state-bred $15k maiden claimer, but her first foal commanded $300k at the FTS sale a year ago to Spendthrift Farm. Spendthrift opted to give this one to longtime trainer Al Stall, Jr., who brought him to Saratoga in July and has worked him four times, twice over the grass. Despite the lack of pedigree, Stall opts to make the decision to debut him going two-turns over the lawn. He might just be a horse that is getting started today with a longer-term goal in mind, but for the most part Stall means business when shipping runners to Saratoga. I will take my chances that Luis Saez can get this guy to the front or into a prominent spot early and outrun his odds if not much more.Play: #6 Hilts (12-1 ML)Picks: 6-2-10Race 9: Mahony (G3)The featured event for 3YOs sprinting over the sod certainly goes through even-money favorite #2 Outfielder. The $850k son of Speightstown is 4 for 7 thus far, but two of those losses came in Grade 1 races overseas with the third one coing when trying two-turns for the only time in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) last Halloween. We have not seen the Wesley Ward trainee since his mid-pack finish in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Ascot, so he is a bit difficult to get excited about backing at the windows at his price despite being the likeliest winner.I will take a small shot against Outfielder with the lightly-raced #5 Big Destroyer. The son of Midshipman won nicely on debut at Aqueduct on June 12 under jockey Flavien Prat before shipping to Monmouth Park for his first start versus winners where he ran a solid second in the My Frenchman to #1 Rebel With a Cause. I prefer him today given the fact that was just his second career start while Rebel With a Cause had more experience and was the recipient of a much more favorable trip along the inside that July afternoon at the Jersey Shore. A move forward and regression from Outfielder gives this Miguel Clement trainee a shot to spring the upset.Play: #5 Big Destroyer (5-1 ML)Picks: 5-2-6

Big day Saturday produced 4 winners from 9 plays for $35.60 and pushed us further into the black at the meeting through 17 days. I can’t wait to see the matchup in Sunday’s Race 5 featured Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo. Thermal caught my eye in video workout study a few weeks ago and she could give 2-time defending champ Sweet Azteca every ounce of what she can handle. In fact, Thermal gets my nod in multi-race singles with a bold step (see ticket with Race 1 analysis).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 (this week’s full-card was Saturday).Del Mar: Race 1 | 5:00 pm ET#1 Royal Rumor (3-1 morning line odds) takes advantage of the turf course inner chute with a pseudo 3-turn race after being involved early last time. Carla Gaines trainees are totally locked in the last 3 weeks at Del Mar (9: 4-0-2) and another one delivered for us Friday. Heavy ML favorite Bull Shoals hasn’t had the knockout punch with 3 seconds from 4 starts back east – but hopefully can hold the price up for our runner just a touch. Win bet #1. Focused Early Pick 5 ticket today 1 with 4,5,7,8 with 1,7 with 5,8,3,1 with 1. Picks 1-4-5Del Mar: Race 6 | 7:43 pm ET#4 War Artist (20-1 morning line odds) takes a huge class drop and gets back to a preferred dirt surface. His only bid on dirt was finishing on the heels of King of Success at Los Al and that return rival has already finished second at this class level at the current Del Mar meet. He fits on matchup and speed figures if that’s your thing. First time routing on dirt and the Munnings offspring won 21% on Del Mar main track in recent years. Win-place bet #4. Exacta key-box 4 with 2,7,3. Daily Double working back from Race 5 super-worker Thermal, 1-4. Daily Double 4-1 to next play. Picks 4-2-7Del Mar: Race 7 | 8:18 pm ET#1 Goodies (3-1 morning line odds) is among a long line of Collected offspring to blossom on this turf course, breaking her maiden July 17 and capable of winning right back. Phil D’Amato and Hector Berrior win 36% in tandem, she’ll be forward throughout from the rail and this modest field size of 7 lacks any real early pace punch. Love the rider change after a mistimed move last out from #5 Yoga Master and this one completes the exacta at 8-1 morning line. Win bet #1. Exacta 1-5. Picks 1-5-7.

Northfield Park has a 15-race card Saturday and the headliner comes in Race 12, the Carl Milstein Memorial with a $300,000 purse. My Spot Plays are in Race 5, Race 8, and Race 12, they will be used in Win Bets. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 5 (7:28 PM EDT)6-Angelatyourfeet (4-1)-Hoosier invader didn't wait long to take to the smaller oval at ScD, drew off by 5 lengths and now steps up. The 4-year-old likes to win (21-7-4-3) and gets the services of Aaron Merriman. Taking a swing the Henry Graber trainee will take to this oval and makes its Nfld debut a winning one.6-3-4Race 8 (8:34 PM EDT)8-Helium N (7/2)-Took about 5 weeks off, and came back against the kind. This is the 3rd race off the bench and in the 2 starts had post 8, and post 6 in last. Put in a no-move mile 2 back, then started slowly and finished a beaten 2nd. Didn't have hot fractions to close into and will look for a different set-up this time at a fair price. Was off over 3 weeks between the last 2 races and now comes right back in sequence. Dan Noble should take the wrapper off tonight, will look for an aggressive steer and could be tough to beat despite the post draw.8-1-3Race 12 (10:02 PM EDT)5-Myboypank (6-1)-The Tony Alagna pupil needs the right trip and could be overlooked. Driver Marvin Luna has gate speed to use and if he leaves hard a pocket ride could be in the cards. The competitive 3-year-old hasn't missed a check in 3 starts at Nfld (3-1-0-1). Hopefully won't be bet down and is a use in gimmicks as well.5-2-6Check me out on X!

EXTRA INCENTIVES$3,000 Exacta-Thon | Woodbine | today’s races$10 Money-Back Special | Woodbine’s King’s Plate Race 10 | win bets10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Summer Sweep 5 (Gulfstream/Woodbine)Woodbine Mile Flyaway Sweepstakes | earn up to 4 entries todaySCHEDULE NOTESEllis Park | early 11:00 am ET first post due to heatFairmount Park | racing cancelled due to heatSPECIAL WAGERSSummer Sweep Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 8-9-10, Woodbine Races 9-10--$1 minimum, 15% takeout, no CAWTOURNAMENT TIME$1,000 Woodbine King’s Plate Challenge | details$800 Del Mar Pacific Classic Betting Challenge Qualifier | details$125 Fun in the Sun (Saratoga/Del Mar) | details$100 Saratoga Feeder | details$80 Del Mar Feeder | details$40 Canterbury Park Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $91,666 | Charles Town| begins Race 3 | 8:02 pm ETKEY RACESMonmouth | Race 5 | 2:57 pm ET | Iselin StakesWoodbine | Race 6 | 3:11 pm ET | Soaring Free StakesWoodbine | Race 7 | 3:46 pm ET | Bold Venture StakesColonial | Race 8 | 4:07 pm ET | Find StakesColonial | Race 9 | 4:37 pm ET | All Brandy StakesWoodbine | Race 8 | 4:40 pm ET | Canadian StakesGulfstream | Race 9 | 4:42 pm ET | Sheer Drama StakesSaratoga | Race 9 | 5:06 pm ET | Christophe Clement StakesWoodbine | Race 9 | 5:20 pm ET | Catch a Glimpse StakesSaratoga | Race 10 | 5:44 pm ET | Galway StakesWoodbine | Race 10 | 6:12 pm ET | King’s PlateCanterbury | Race 2 | 6:40 pm ET | Minnesota DerbyWoodbine | Race 11 | 7:00 pm ET | King Edward StakesDel Mar | Race 6 | 7:41 pm ET | Solana Beach StakesDel Mar | Race 8 | 8:43 pm ET | CTT and TOC StakesCanterbury | Race 7 | 9:10 pm ET | Minnesota OaksPrairie Meadows | Race 9 | 9:25 pm ET | Prairie Meadows Freshman StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXDelaware Park | Race 3 | 1:26 pm ETColonial Downs | Race 10 | 5:12 pm ETDel Mar | Race 10 | 9:45 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHMark Casse | Saratoga | all 3 entrants 7-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Del Mar | trainer Doug O’Neill | 2 wins, 2 seconds from 7 startersYesterday | favorites won 45% in North American Thoroughbred racesPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Woodbine Exacta-Thon Stakes PlaysJeremy Plonk: Race of the Week – King’s Plate from WoodbineScott Shapiro: Saratoga Full-Card Picks for SaturdayJeremy Plonk: Del Mar Full-Card Picks for SaturdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Take down exactas in at least 5 races Saturday at Woodbine and claim your share of $3,000 in bonus cash with the 1/ST BET and Xpressbet Exacta-Thon. The 13-race program on King’s Plate Day gets underway at 12:30 pm ET. Players can make as many exacta wagers as desired in any races but note promotion minimums are $2 per combination.Here are the big-stakes approaches I’ll be looking at for the Exacta-Thon.Woodbine Race 6 | $150,000 Soaring Free StakesLoved the finishing flair by #7 De la Renta in her debut on Tapeta and she’s bred for the turf. Trainer Kevin Attard won this race last year with a similar Tapeta debut winner and can press repeat. Exactas 7 with 2,6,8.Woodbine Race 7 | $175,000 Bold Venture Stakes#8 Notorious Gangster gets a fantastic pace set-up to kick home late and note he’s won 3 of his last 4 starts around 1 turn. Exactas 8 with 2,5,6.Woodbine Race 8 | $200,000 Canadian StakesThere’s a reasonable chance #1 Lupa gets loose on the lead from the rail and it could be a big day for trainer Josie Carroll’s barn. Like this one’s chances to hold first or second. Exacta key-box 1 with 6,7,4.Woodbine Race 9 | $150,000 Catch a Glimpse StakesPricey winners at 11-1 have won this race 2 years in a row, so don’t be afraid to step out. #1 Liberty Beach showed excellent improvement in her second start and first against the gals and has trained well on turf since. That 6-1 morning line appeals. Key to a price here with #3 Meloni and #5 Ghost Me respected. Exactas 1,3 with 1,3,5.Woodbine Race 10 | $1 million King’s Plate StakesEven-money chalk #1 Luster could continue a strong run for fillies in the Plate, but the 10-furlong distance is the question that will keep me from accepting a short price. Her trainer, Josie Carroll, has route-gened longshot #6 Don Ique on my radar after a big gallop-out in the Plate Trial. At 30-1 morning line, have to get some win money there. As for exactas, 6-1 box bigger; smaller key-box 6 with 5,8,10,12.Woodbine Race 11 | $200,000 King Edward StakesDefending champ #3 Gas Me Up makes her annual summer pilgrimage back from California to the Kevin Attard barn. Not wild about the 8-5 price on top but from an Exacta-Thon standpoint, that’s not the concern. Exactas 3 with 2,4,1.