Today’s Skinny:Day 4 of 5 from the prestigious Royal Ascot stand is headlined by Group 1 co-features, the Commonwealth Cup and the Coronation Stakes. Sprinters are spotlighted in the Commonwealth Cup, where Venetian Sun is a standout favorite among a field of 22 that includes Wesley Ward’s Outfielder, winner of Churchill Downs’ William Walker Stakes in May. Irish 1000 Guineas winner Precise is the odds-on choice in the Coronation for 3-year-old filly milers.The Americans also will be in action the finale, the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Wesley Ward sends out Churchill turf sprint winner Bacio while George Weaver returns with Sandal’s Song, third in last year’s Norfolk at Royal Ascot.Free Wagering Guide:Download the free Sky Sports Racing Royal Ascot Wager Guide for today’s full card. ACCESS THE GUIDE Extra Incentives:Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet can enjoy a 15% boost on successful win bets – up to $25 total per day per player – during each race of the Royal Ascot meeting. VIEW OFFER Today’s Lineup:9:30AM ET | Albany Stakes | 6 furlongs10:05 AM ET | Commonwealth Cup | 6 furlongs10:40 AM ET | Duke of Edinburgh Stakes | 1-1/2 miles11:20 AM ET | Group 1 Coronation Stakes | 1 mile12:00 PM ET | Sandringham Stakes | 1 mile12:35 PM ET | King Edward VII Stakes | 1-1/2 miles1:10 PM ET | Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes | 5 furlongsFeatured Races | This WeekFriday | Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, Group 1 Coronation StakesSaturday | Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee StakesWagering Particulars | Commingled World Pool17.5% takeout Win & Place17.5% takeout Quinella17.5% takeout Omni (2 of 3 must finish top 3)19.5% takeout Exacta25% takeout Trifecta25% takeout Pick 326% takeout Place Pick 427% takeout Place Pick 630% takeout Superfecta

It’s a Bet 3 bonanza at Gulfstream Park this Friday, June 19. Pick any 3 races in order, bet a dollar on a winning combination and your weekend will be off to a fast start. We picked races 4 through 6, spanning three distances, two surfaces and the featured 7F allowance. With two selections in each leg, we upped the ante to $3 for a total $24 wager listed below.Gulfstream Park 4th Race (1:56 p.m. EST)Speed abounds in this 5-1/2F sprint, so look to a pair of closers in a field that is a combined 63/13-15-8 on synthetic surfaces. HONOR HER upstaged a string of five in-the-money finishes with a winning 5F rally and career-best 77 Beyer at this level in March. She sheds 11 pounds in her second start off the re-claim by trainer Daniel Hurtak and is a tempting 10-1 on the morning line. SCHNITTKER, a steady upper-60 Beyer type nearing $100k in synthetic track earnings, fits the winning profile, but he was plagued by slow starts in better company recently, hence the equipment change to “blinkers on.”Gulfstream Park 5th Race (2:28 p.m. EST)Going price-shopping in the second leg of the Bet 3. ANTILLEAN steps up off the claim and is 3-for-46 with a slow-starting habit. But he has two wins and three seconds on fast tracks at one mile since October and can’t be discounted in this 7F test. CAPTURE THE TIME backed off a fast pace from the rail on a day when 3 of 6 winners on the dirt track went wire-to-wire. He ranged up on the turn and seemed poised to strike in the stretch, only to tire badly. He met three next-out winners and a pair of winners with $200,000 bankrolls in his two previous starts for a higher tag.Gulfstream Park 6th Race (3:00 p.m. EST)Four of the six entrants in the featured optional claimer test the Tapeta track for the first time. BOJACA BLESSING is a deserving favorite off her race two back, when she raced 3- to 5-wide throughout, drifted in the lane and was disqualified from an upset victory against several proven synthetic-track rivals. STARSHIP MELODY has two wins and two seconds in six starts on Tapeta. She will have to step it up a notch in here but could do so for a red-hot barn.Suggested $3 Bet 3GP 4th Race: 3, 5GP 5th Race: 5, 8GP 6th Race: 2, 4Cost for a $3 Ticket: $24

Saturday afternoon marks the biggest day on the racing calendar at Thistledown Race Track. The 12-race card is headlined by the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3). The 1 1/8-miles event over the main track is one of five stakes races slated for the back half of the afternoon with the main event scheduled to go to post at 6:20 PM local time.In addition, to the many wagering opportunities offered on the Ohio Derby slate, 1/ST BET and Xpressbet customers will earn 10x rewards points on all wagers made on Saturday at Thistledown. Just register for the new promotion and you will automatically earn the bonus points. Here are a few of my plays in the stakes races, including my long shot play in the feature.Race 8: George Lewis MemorialThe first of three stakes for Ohio-breds is this 1 1/16-mile event where the pace should be fast, as well as contentious. With a number of sprinters stretching back out to two turns, it is hard to imagine things not being a bit chaotic during the first half mile. This should set things up beautifully for #9 Villian. The son of National Flag has won 12 of 27 throughout his career, including 9 of 13 over this surface, and should get a perfect setup with the best rider on the continent into ride. Jockey Jose Ortiz has been aboard the Tim Hamm trainee twice with both resulting in wins, including this race a year ago. He will not be a big price, but makes for a potential single to kick off the All-Stakes Pick 5 sequence.Play: #9 Villian (9-5 ML)Picks: 9-8-7Race 11: Lady JacquelineThe biggest race of the summer for fillies and mares comes right before the Ohio Derby and drew a competitive field of nine. I like #2 Nerazurri most in this 9-furlong affair. The daughter of Protonico had an outstanding winter at Oaklawn Park for trainer Mark Casse, including a pair of restricted stakes scores and a runner-up finish to stablemate Nitrogen in the Bayakoa (G3). Casse tried Grade 1 competition in both the Apple Blossom (G1) and La Troienne (G1), but the 4YO filly was in over her head, so the veteran conditioner opts to get a bit more realistic in this spot. I like that she was given a legitimate freshening after taking on the best of her division, especially since she raced in the La Troienne off of relatively short rest. Expect to see Nerazurri get back to her best with Flavien Prat set to take the call for the first time.Play: #2 Nerazurri (7-2 ML)Picks: 2-3-1Race 12: Ohio Derby (G3)This year’s featured event in the state of Ohio drew a solid field led by a pair of colts from big barns. This includes the first Bob Baffert trainee set to compete in the Ohio Derby since Whiskey Ticket in 2015.#1 Desert Gate brings one of the strongest resumes into North Randall, as well as Preakness third-place finisher #3 Chip Honcho for North America’s all-time leading trainer. Both Desert Gate and the Steve Asmussen trainee loom large in this prospective group of 10 and are not tosses for me, but I like 30-1 shot #6 Zihnal enough to build a few wagers around the lightly-raced gelding. The Augustin Stable runner has not encountered anything close to the level of competition he will in the Saturday feature, but has been entered ambitiously and scratched already by trainer Jonathan Thomas. Some barns are more than willing to get aggressive with their flesh early in stakes races, especially given the current landscape, but this barn does not strike me as one that spots their horses in over their heads too often. Being entered in a stake on Preakness Day before being scratched turn my head and despite a poor turf run in late May, Thomas presses on with this son of Quality Road who raced just ten days ago at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The win came despite being three-wide, it was more than 11 lengths back to third, and now he is entered in a Grade 3 event. He very well could be overmatched against this level of competition, but the price will be right to take a swing. I will bet on him to win and tie him up with Desert Gate, Chip Honcho, and #4 Trendsetter.Play: #6 Zihnal (30-1 ML)Picks: 6-3-8

The Lead:Saturday’s Gulfstream Park feature is the $100,000 Azalea Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters. It’s a survivor of the former Summit of Speed program that stands alone these days. The 7-furlong test goes as Race 10 and has attracted 7 sprinters, including a pair each for trainers Joe Orseno and Saffie Joseph, Jr.​​Field Depth:All 7 runners seek their first stakes wins, while FLOWKO and WIN BET ONLY are stakes-placed. Prime race for a rise in class.​Pace:Early speed should come from the inside grouping of FLOWKO, WINPLACEANDSHOW and LATE NIGHT NEXT. The tempo seems reasonable to all running styles.​Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.1-WINPLACEANDSHOW: Sharp break last out and allowed to settle from an outside draw but should be capable of continuing that early interest here from the rail. Her late margin increase last out was more a product of her dueler stopping than it was her solid, but not spectacular visual and 88 BRIS late pace figure. Sire Win Win Win’s progeny score 21% in GP 7-furlong sprints with a $1.15 ROI for every $1 bet, so she’s built for this.2-FLOWKO: Florida-bred is 0-7 in open-company races but does exit a state-bred allowance score. That she was hammered to 1-2 odds in that one signifies a weak bunch based on just 1 victory in 11 prior starts. May be fastest of these in the initial stages but has been more effective at shorter trips.3-LATE NIGHT TEXT: Failed to find the finish line first in 5 tries with Nolan Ramsey but immediately got the right script for Saffie Josephn when breaking her maiden April 23. That win came over this track and distance and notable earned a boastful 96 BRIS late pace figure. Pressed 3-wide in that last outing and could get an identical trip just outside a pair of speed horses in the 1-2 posts. Runner-up was promising $550K Brad Cox trainee who came back to break her maiden next out. Sire Into Mischief is 16: 4-2-3 in 7-furlong Gulfstream stakes races the last 5 years – right in his offspring’s wheelhouse. Biggest concern is 3-week break in the workout tab late May into early June. One to beat if she’s fit.4-SOROKIN: Most lightly raced filly in the field won her second outing March 27 and hasn’t been seen since. Her graduation runner-up has come back to run out of the money twice at Churchill Downs for Chad Brown and is now an 0-4 maiden. Second of 2 Saffie Joseph Jr. trainees in the entries and the barn’s A-rider Micah Husbands winds up on Late Night Text.5-WIN BET ONLY: Tough record for a horse with this name, offering just a 1-for-13 mark. The Florida-bred had a stiff, 9-race juvenile campaign but hasn’t shown anything at age 3 against open company or state-breds to indicate a big move forward here. Second of 2 Joe Orseno trainees entered (both by Win Win Win) but looks to be the least-talented of the pair.6-PERMIAN BASIN: Tampa Bay Downs shipper exits a 7-furlong allowance win across the state and is 2-for-2 at the specialist’s distance in play Saturday. Finishes up well in her starts, posting 89-96-91 BRIS late pace figures in his last 3 starts. The worst start of her career came in her debut at Gulfstream in October, so there’s some concern about transferring her solid Tampa form. Trainer Chad Stewart is 0-9 on the Tampa to Gulfstream move the last 5 years, but did have a third-place stakes finisher last year. Jockey Diego Herrera has been riding lights-out locally and picks up the mount.7-WANDER WOMAN: Owner-trainer Tareq Moubarak tried this one twice at Saratoga last summer to minor placings before going to the sidelines. Her return May 24 at Gulfstream netted an easy maiden score over 6 furlongs. But she didn’t come home fast (92 BRIS late pace figure) and adds an additional furlong while facing stronger competition. Probably looks like a threat with a move on the turn but could flatten out through the lane.Most Likely Exotics Contender:LATE NIGHT TEXT just won over the track and distance and looks the part with a great trip.Best Longshot Contender:No major prices expected with a 7-horse field.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$100 win LATE NIGHT TEXT.

Thursday evening marks the second-to-last Twilight Thursday card of the Churchill Downs spring meet with racing in Kentucky moving to Ellis Park at the beginning of July. The penultimate 8-race slate kicks off at the normal 5PM eastern time and is headlined by a first-level allowance event over the sod. Here are the horses I like most.Race 4:This $30k maiden claimer at one-mile over the main track kicks off the early Pick 5 where #5 Susan’s Boy was made the heavy 6-5-ML favorite by oddsmaker Nick Tammaro. The $850k Keeneland September ’23 purchase has certainly not panned out as planned, but drops in for a tag for the first time. He is capable with the decrease in competition, but his lack of early speed is concerning. I will try to get the jump on him with #2 Kuch. The son of Silver State debuted in a two-turn grass race at Horseshoe Indianapolis 16 days ago for Brendan Walsh. Kuch sped to the early lead that day, but set honest fractions in a race that absolutely fell apart late. Now, Walsh cuts him back in distance, drops him in class, and legs up his main man Tyler Gaffalione. He should finish a lot stronger against these.Play: #2 Kuch (7-2 ML)Picks: 2-5-4Race 7:The pace should be contentious in this $50k starter at 7-furlongs over the main track with the three potential speed horses lined up next to each other along the inside. #2 Sharons Beach, #3 Attersee, and #4 Social Hour are all three likely to be prominent early given clean breaks, which should set things up perfectly for #6 Palacios. The son of Enticed makes his first start in the Blue Grass State and since entering the Will Walden barn. When we saw Palacios last, he was coming from off-the-pace to finish second to a runner at Laurel Park that would likely be a significant favorite in this spot. The fact he moves into the white-hot Walden barn and should get a great setup for his late kick make him the clear one to beat. Hopefully, the presence of Irad Ortiz Jr. does not deflate his price too much.Play: #6 Palacios (5-2 ML)Picks: 6-8-9Race 8:My final play comes in the finale, which will be conducted at 1 1/8-miles over the lawn where #5 Supercharger is expected to take a lot of public support based on Nick Tammaro’s morning line odds. The 8-5-choice comes in off a win going away over this surface and distance for Cherie DeVaux, but got a huge setup and a ground saving voyage throughout from jockey Jose Ortiz. This could happen again considering Ortiz is riding as well as he ever has, but the price will be too short for me. I will try to best him with #7 Rothschild. The son of Uncle Mo makes his first start since entering the Norm Casse barn and while he has not won since the summer of ’23, he has turf races to go back to that put him squarely in the mix. This is a horse that was 2-1 in a Grade 2 at Santa Anita in the fall of 2024 and just has not raced a lot since. His last in the money run over the grass came at Gulfstream Park last March when Luis Saez was aboard. Saez will be back in the saddle for the first time in this one and should have the 5YO in a good spot early. His upside is too high for me to pass him up at his likely off-odds.Play: #7 Rothschild (6-1 ML)Picks: 7-8-5

EXTRA INCENTIVES15% Win Boost | Royal Ascot | all races this weekBet $100, Get $10 | Canterbury Park | tonight’s racesSCHEDULE NOTESRoyal Ascot | meet daily through Saturday | first post 9:30 am ET | Wager GuideTOURNAMENT TIME$100 NYRA feeder | details$40 Canterbury feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $79,742 | Churchill Downs | begins Race 3 | 5:58 pm ETKEY RACESRoyal Ascot | Race 4 | 11:20 am ET | G1 Ascot Gold CupLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXAqueduct | Race 8 | 4:47 pm ETChurchill Downs | Race 1 | 5:00 pm ETEvangline Downs | Race 8 | 9:24 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHLarry Rivelli | Hawthorne| all 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Churchill Downs | jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. | 5 wins, 1 second from 7 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Churchill Downs Thursday Spot PlaysJeremy Plonk: Canterbury Park Bet $100, Get $10 Key PlaysFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Throughout June, Tuesdays and Thursdays heat up at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet with our Summertime Scores promotion. Bet $100, Get $10 on select tracks this month. Next up Thursday will be Canterbury Park. Here’s how I’ll approach the night card in Minnesota with an assist from the Betmix Angler database.Canterbury Race 7 | 9:04 pm ET#6 Kentucky Starlet (12-1 morning line odds) has a price look as the longest shot in the morning line. Solid dirt effort upon her Canterbury return. She’s 0-2 on turf but certainly bred for it. Trainer Bruce Riecken may be 1-15 at the current meet but note he’s 50% in the money with his 10 prior grass starters and all 10 have been in the superfecta (average odds more than 8-1). Win-place bet #6. Exacta key-box 2,4 with 6. Picks: 6-2-4Canterbury Race 8 | 9:34 pm ET#1 Crew Dragon (7-2 morning line odds) goes first-off-the-claim for the red-hot tandem of trainer Jose Silva and jockey Manuel Americano. They’ve hit 35% together at the meet, and the barn is 13-17 in the exacta locally over the past 2 weeks. The 8-year-old doesn’t win often and has been sprinting on dirt the past few years but began his career with John Sadler successful on grass, a neck runner-up in Del Mar’s Oceanside on turf at age 3. Use with late-running #5 Brit Blitz at a square price. Win bet #1. Exactas 1-5 bigger and 5-1 smaller. Picks 1-5-6

Today’s Skinny:Day 3 of 5 from the prestigious Royal Ascot stand is headlined by Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup for the true stayers. The 2-1/2 miles test has 6 millionaire earners in the 11-runner lineup, including Coolmore’s 2025 St. Leger classic winner Scandinavia, a son of Justify, and defending champ Trawlerman for Godolphin, who seeks a fifth straight victory while making his first start since October. Meanwhile, Epsom Oaks runner-up Legacy Link should be solidly favored in the Group 2 Ribblesdale.No American-based runners are entered on the Thursday program, but several still to come Friday and Saturday during the stand.Free Wagering Guide:Download the free Sky Sports Racing Royal Ascot Wager Guide for today’s full card. ACCESS THE GUIDE Extra Incentives:Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet can enjoy a 15% boost on successful win bets – up to $25 total per day per player – during each race of the Royal Ascot meeting. VIEW OFFER Today’s Lineup:9:30AM ET | Chesham Stakes | 7 furlongs10:05 AM ET | King George V Stakes | 1-1/2 miles10:40 AM ET | Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes | 1-1/2 miles11:20 AM ET | Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup | 2-1/2 miles12:00 PM ET | Brittania Stakes | 1 mile12:35 PM ET | Hampton Court Stakes | 1-1/4 mile1:10 PM ET | Buckingham Palace Stakes | 7 furlongsFeatured Races | This WeekThursday | Group 1 Ascot Gold CupFriday | Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, Group 1 Coronation StakesSaturday | Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee StakesWagering Particulars | Commingled World Pool17.5% takeout Win & Place17.5% takeout Quinella17.5% takeout Omni (2 of 3 must finish top 3)19.5% takeout Exacta25% takeout Trifecta25% takeout Pick 326% takeout Place Pick 427% takeout Place Pick 630% takeout Superfecta