The twice-weekly Winter Winner-Land promotion rolls through Fair Grounds on Thursday. Bet $100 on the card and get $10 when you play with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. I’ve got a couple of potential plays on the card for a barn that’s been on point in recent days in New Orleans.Fair Grounds | Race 2 | 2:15 pm ET#4 Becky’sgottahaveit (3-1 morning line odds) gets a much more favorable draw after being hung wide against slightly tougher competition on November 28. Trainer Sam David popped $9 and $24 turf winners last week when 5: 2-1-1 locally. Win bet #4.Fair Grounds | Race 5 | 3:45 pm ET#3 Remi (5-1 morning line odds) showed solid improvement from his first to second start and now makes an important, second start after a layoff. Middle-move while wide last time, but inner-draw here can be a big edge if he breaks running. Another for trainer Sam David, who popped $9 and $24 winners last week when 5: 2-1-1 locally. Win bet #3.

The Lead:After catching a winner over the Gulfstream turf in this space last week in the Tropical Park Derby, let's go back to the South Florida green for Saturday's Grade 3 $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes. This prep for next month's Pegasus World Cup Turf is 1 of 5 stakes races on an 11-race card. The Fort Lauderdale will be Race 11 with a schedule post time of 5:18 pm ET.​​Field Depth:Defending Fort Lauderdale champion MAJOR DUDE is a multiple Grade 2 winner. CUGINO, STEAL SUNSHINE and WOLFIE'S DYNAGHOST also are Grade 2 winners above this race's grade. CHASING THE CROWN is Grade 1-placed. MAJOR DUDE and DIVIN PROPOS have kept the most consistently strong schedules in the field.​Pace:WOLFIE'S DYNAGHOST and QUATROCENTO are most likely to set the tone. BEACH GOLD and MAJOR DUDE figure to be in closest pursuit of what looks to be a fair, but not overlay fast, pace for 1-1/8 miles on turf.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.#1-STEAL SUNSHINE: Primary dirt runner seeks his first turf win with only 4 starts prior on grass. Curious spot given this one was third in the Harlan’s Holiday last year on this same card. Jockey Edgard Zayas was aboard for recent dirt victory around 2 turns and returns to the saddle for Bobby Dibona. Devoid of any speed, saves ground early in hopes of late launch.#2-WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST: Former synthetic star has been all turf in 2025, winning 3 of 5 while splitting between Jonathan Thomas and Brian Lynch barns. Lynch won the Fort Lauderale in 2016 with Heart to Heart. Grade 3 River City winner aims for third straight win, though jockey Luis Saez is off to Oaklawn and is capably replaced by Irad Ortiz Jr. Inside speed to catch, but could be an underlay price for red-hot barn.#3-CHASING THE CROWN: Rallied last to third in the Pegasus World Cup Turf in January and hopes to get back to that spot with a good effort Saturday. Millionaire cashed big check at Kentucky Downs in August in a very light campaign that has him fresh for winter. Mike Maker won this race in 2018 with Shining Copper.#4-SIEGE OF BOSTON: Jimmy Toner trainee snapped a 15-race losing skid last time with a November 15 victory at Laurel. Deep closer ran fifth in this race last year when beaten 1-1/2 lengths. Just 1-for-8 lifetime over the Fort Lauderdale’s 9-furlong turf trip, but has run well over this course.#5-BEACH GOLD: Took 9 tries to break his maiden but then proceeded to win 4 of 5 starts, notching 3 of those scores on the Gulfstream lawn. Patrick Biancone charge wasn’t up to the Grade 1 test at Keeneland as expected at 43-1 that day but comes back to a winnable level and course he likes. Junior Alvarado rides.#6-CUGINO: Solid, though light, 4-year-old season with 3 wins in 4 starts for Shug McGaughey. Exits back-to-back wins in the Red Bank and Red Smith at Monmouth and Aqueduc, respectively, but won the Tropical Park Derby over this course last year. Highly consistent around this class level and gets ace pilot Flavien Prat back.#7-NAPTOWN: $40,000 claim in June by Jose Magana has won 2 of 7 for the new connections, while fourth in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile and second in the Knickerbocker. Maryland-based gelding is cross-entered in Sunday’s Prairie Bayou at Turfway Park.#8-MAJOR DUDE: Neck winner of this race a year ago at 2-1 odds, this 5-year-old looks to give trainer Todd Pletcher a fifth Fort Lauderdale victory (2012, 2015, 20202, 2024). John Velazquez guided him to the Artie Schiller Stakes win at Aqueduct in October and returns. Should be in contention throughout and is 2-for-3 over the race’s 9 furlongs.#9-QUATROCENTO: Fausto Gutierrez trainee arrived in South Florida last week and returns to the scene of his 2024 maiden-breaking victory. Pace player wired a Kentucky Downs mile in September before leading most of the way in the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile. Regular rider Julien Leparoux will try to nurse this miler farther than his most-successful efforts to date.#10-DIVIN PROPOS: French export went 2-for-3 upon arriving in California but has lost 8 straight races since. Moved from Phil D’Amato to Saffie Joseph’s barn over the summer, dropping 2 decisions for the current regime while falling far off the early pace. Could drop far back again from this outside post as Tyler Gaffalione tries to save any grown that he can.Most Likely Exotics Contender:CUGINO is 10-13 in the exacta lifetime (3-3 at Gulfstream) and has missed only 2 superfectas in his career.Best Longshot Contender:CHASING THE CROWN was 64-1 when third in the Pegasus Wold Cup Turf over this course and a poor effort last time in the River City at Churchill Downs likely inflates his price here. At 8-1 morning line, he's a fair chase.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$90 win CUGINO. $5 exacta box CUGINO with CHASING THE CROWN ($10).

SCHEDULE NOTEParx | cancelled due to weatherRemington Park | Wednesday racing added closing week of meetNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $144,549 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 4:09 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $102,925 | Turfway Park | begins Race 5 | 7:55 pm ETSuper Hi 5 | $41,790 | Turfway Park | Race 10 | 10:25 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXTampa Bay Downs | Race 5 | 2:19 pm ETDelta Downs | Race 1 | 5:45 pm ETTurfway Park | Race 8 | 9:25 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJuan Arriagada | Tampa Bay Downs | all 4 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Current Meet | Turf Paradise | favorites won 46% of Thoroughbred racesPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Mahoning Valley | today’s racesSCHEDULE NOTEParx | cancelled due to coldNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $125,236 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 4:10 pm ETKEY RACESZia Park | Race 1 | 1:45 pm ET | Lea County StakesZia Park | Race 2 | 2:12 pm ET | Hobbs Fall ClassicLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXMahoning Valley | Race 4 | 1:39 pm ETZia Park | Race 7 | 4:27 pm ETTurf Paradise | Race 6 | 5:34 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHDick Cappellucci | Zia Park | 4 of 5 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Turf Paradise | favorites won 6 of 8 races on the cardPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Mahoning Valley Bet $100, Get $10 picks for TuesdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Our Winter-Winner Land promotion continues Tuesday with Mahoning Valley in the spotlight. Bet $100 on the card and get a $10 bonus with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Monday’s card from Ohio was victimized by Mother Nature, but let’s hope to heat things up on Tuesday.Mahoning Valley: Race 5#2 Cool Couple (4-1 morning line odds) should appreciate the subtle difference between 6 furlongs and the 5-1/2 furlong dash trip last time that left him flat-footed and farther back than usual. His form over a fast track moves him up even more if things dry out. Win bet #2. Exacta 2-4 bigger, 4-2 smaller.Mahoning Valley: Race 8#4 Finally Friday (10-1 morning line odds) steps up in class off an allowance win and should be close enough to the sprint pace to be a factor even on the cut-back in trip. Trainer Jevon Crumley can’t miss of late, winning with 5 of 11 starters beginning with this gelding’s Nov. 3 win. Those scores included $11 and $44 winners. Win-place bet #4.

The 25th edition of the $300,000 Springboard Mile brings the 2026 Remington Park racing season to a close on Saturday night. The finale on a 12-race card anchors a program that includes 6 consecutive stakes races on the back half. A field of 12 has entered, which barring scratches would be the 13th capacity lineup in the race’s history. Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be on the line.Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet be sure to take part in a Bet $100, Get $10 promotion for Saturday’s card at Remington Park.Let’s meet the contenders for the Springboard Mile (Race 12):#1-ARCTIC BEAST: Undefeated New York-bred exits off a Saratoga debut win and a pair of restricted stakes at Finger Lakes. The son of sprint sire Yaupon has yet to race beyond 6 furlongs, but benefits from the rail under 2-time Springboard Mile winner Ricardo Santana Jr. Trainer Mike Maker appears for the Springboard Mile for the first time since 2018, but has won with 3 of 5 stakes shippers to Oklahoma City since 2024.#2-TIME FOR MUSIC: Trainer Steve Asmussen’s first of 3 chances in this year’s Springboard Mile as he looks for a record-padding eighth win in this race. $750,000 Not This Time colt has won 1 of 4, a Keeneland maiden sprint, and exits a Churchill Downs allowance runner-up. Jockey Erik and trainer Steve Asmussen have combined for 42 wins at the current Remington Park meet, striking at 30% wins. Dam was a multiple stakes winner at age 2.#3-ESSENTIAL TIME: 12-1 upset winner of the Clever Trevor Stakes around 1 turn, while adding 2-turn experience in a turf allowance third since. Son of Champion 2-Year-old Essential Quality tries to give trainer Danny Pish his first Springboard Mile score after 13 prior attempts (twice third). Regular rider Iram Diego is aboard.#4-ROYALAMERICAN: Season’s top Oklahoma-bred freshman has won the Oklahoma Classics Juvenile and the 2-turn mile Don McNeill Stakes in recent starts. C.R. Trout trainee tries open company for the first time and is the barn’s first Springboard Mile starter since 2015. Trout has a second and third in 5 prior attempts in this race. David Cabrera once again rides.#5-MY DREAM ZAPPER: Ghostzapper colt raids from Colorado’s Arapahoe Park, where he won 2 straight prior to a runner-up bid as favorite in the Gold Rush Futurity. Five prior starts at Prairie Meadows and Arapahoe give him foundation for his first start beyond 6 furlongs. Trainer Stetson Rushton goes to local pilot Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez.#6-SUPREME GOOD: Trainer Kenny McPeek brings this Aqueduct maiden graduate to Remington Park from his Oaklawn winter base. Colt by Supremacy was not competitive in 2 starts at Saratoga this summer, but found the competition more to his liking at the Big A over a 1-turn mile. Has won at the distance, but yet to try 2 turns. Christopher Elliott takes the mount for the first time and will leave the gate next to his father, Stewart, aboard Spice Runner.#7-SPICE RUNNER: Morning line favorite won the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs (pictured) and owns the field’s signature win to date. Second of 3 Steve Asmussen trainees looking to give the barn an eighth Springboard Mile trophy. Gun Runner colt was outrun twice in more recent starts around 2 turns in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity and Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club. Six-start veteran has the deepest resume in the lineup and pairs with Stewart Elliott for the first time.#8-WAY BEYOND: Third and final Steve Asmussen trainee in the lineup, this one takes the path of last year’s Springboard Mile winner Coal Battle – via Delta Downs’ Jean Lafitte Stakes. Has 1 win in 5 starts, a noise victory for a $150,000 claiming tag at Churchill Downs. Twirling Candy colt matches with current Remington Park meet leading jockey Ramon Vazquez.#9-WESTERN MAN: Most lightly raced Springboard Mile entrant won his career debut November 28 in a Remington Park maiden sprint. That 9-1/4 length score prompted veteran local trainer Joe Offolter to enter just his second Springboard Mile starter in the event’s 25 years. Oklahoma-bred by Code West gets tested for class and distance under Richard Eramia, who guided Long Range Toddy to victory in the 2019 edition of this race.#10-BIG APPLE PATRICK: Churchill debut winner October 29 followed that with a 2-turn starter allowance third. Kentucky-based trainer Daniel Leitch brings regular rider Wilson Rodriguez along for the ride. All-day pedigree sees Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags as sire and Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid as damsire.#11-JETS RIO: November 20 local maiden graduate over the same trip, this Candy Ride colt looks to get the Ron Moquett stable over the Springboard Mile hump. Moquett’s 2 previous bids in this race produced the runner-up in 2021 as well as 2024 with Speed King a year ago. All 3 starts have come around 2 turns and could have a future on turf or dirt. Rene Diaz has the return mount.#12-EXPRESS KID: Prairie Freshman Stakes runner-up has had mixed reviews since arriving at Remington. No threat in the Clever Trevor vs. Essential Time, but bounced back to win his first try around 2 turns in a November 6 turf alllowance. Wad Rarick trains the son of Bodexpress, who gets Jose Alvarez to ride for the first time.

SCHEDULE NOTESParx, Mahoning Valley | cancelled due to weatherNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $105,925 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 4:15 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXTurf Paradise | Race 4 | 4:45 pm ETZia Park | Race 8 | 4:54 pm ETTurf Paradise | Race 6 | 5:45 pm ETZia Park | Race 10 | 5:48 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJorge Rosales | Turf Paradise | 4 of 6 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | favorites won 25 of 52 Thoroughbred races in US & CanadaPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Yonkers Raceway has a 10-race card, and the $1.00 Pick 5 begins in Race 5. The sequence has a $10,000 guaranteed pool. The $2.00 Late Pick 4 starts in Race 7, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 7 (8:45 PM EST)1-Racing Rampage (5/2)-Rallied in a big way to finish 2nd against better and that effort came from post 8. Now, moves into the 1-hole and drops. Logical play and Matt Kakaley should work an efficient trip.4-Mulinax (9/5)-Beat easier in Philly, steps up but should fit with this field and Bartlett gets the call. Not loving the short price but should bring speed off the car.Race 8 (9:05 PM EST)4-Jumpingjackmac N (2-1)-Dilloian trainee was 0-12 before the last 2 starts and now is riding a 2-race win streak. Recent form has been too good to ignore and should get another on the point or in the pocket trip with Yannick Gingras at the controls. Steps up and could keep winning.5-Lou Hill (5/2)-If the Per Engblom pupil is all systems "go" he could be posing. But is only 1-22 and 0-2 at Yonkers and hasn’t race since 11-24. Bartlett does stick and Lou should be on the engine or in the 2-hole following the program choice Jumping Jac Mac. Need to use in what appears to be a chalking leg.Race 9 (9:25 PM EDT)1-Manferno (9/2)-Won and then moved up to face similar and came 3rd. Draws the 1 hole, same as in the 152.4 win that came 2 back. Should be racing at the top of the stack and will fade #3 Sugar Man the 8/5 choice. Has been the favorite in the last 2 efforts and can offer more value here.6-Blue Lou (7/2)-Lou was the runner-up 2 back against this kind and then won last time against easier. This is the 3rd start since shipping in from Stga and Kakaley has good gate speed to use. It appears its best chance to win is to leave hard, land on top or in the pocket and that can happen even from post 6.Race 10 (9:45 PM EST)4-Yorokobi N (8-1)-Will take a swing for a price. This is the 3rd start off the bench and has closed nicely to hit the board in both races. Has beat better than this at Yonkers in the summer. Has trouble winning (1-27) this year, but with an inside post draw should be in the hunt at a large price.5-Santana Hanover -Drops and has been close versus better, that's the good news. Bartlett will have the 5-year-old in a position to win and is a must use but can't completely trust.$2 Late Pick 41,4/4,5/1,6/4,5Total Bet=$32Check me out on Twitter!