Day 2 of the Kentucky Downs season Sunday brings the 1/ST BET and Xpressbet $3,000 Exacta-Thon back into focus. Each day, earn your share of $3,000 in additional dough if you can land the winning exacta in at least 3 races on the card (minimum bet $2 per exacta). The Tapit and Untapable Stakes are co-featured on the 10-race card that gets underway at 1:55 pm ET. Many of the nation’s top jockeys who were at Saratoga yesterday for Travers are in Franklin for the huge purses and field sizes.Kentucky Downs: Race 2Horses from Colonial Downs have shown a flat-bet profit at Kentucky Downs the last 5 years and #4 Marcinkowski brings that Virginia form off a runner-up try. She could be set to graduate the maiden ranks in her first local spin as offspring of Blame are a sharp 19% winner with a $1.85 return for every $1 bet locally the past 5 seasons.The Exacta-Thon Play: Key 4 over 3,7,8Kentucky Downs: Race 7Trainer Wesley Ward is a 23% allowance winner at Kentucky Downs with a positive ROI the past 5 years and has #1 Clock Tower here and a notable blowout winner of his only local appearance when breaking his maiden in 2024. Saratoga preppers are easily strongest here statistically. Lots to like. #12 Chasing Liberty is a local stakes winner and brings that recent Spa form as well. Use this trusted pair with a few more underneath options.The Exacta-Thon Play: 1,12 with 1,12,4,2Kentucky Downs: Race 9#14 Plensa is 10-1 morning line and going to be a key for me today with a win play and try to work the exactas around him. Last year’s Gun Runner Stakes locally goes for a Rusty Arnold barn that’s dynamite in KD stakes and just missed another winner on opening day.The Exacta-Thon Play: Key 14 over 3,4,6,7,9Kentucky Downs: Race 10#4 Severely Overpayin would live up to his name if that 8-1 morning line price is the closing offering. Dominant debut winner lures Prat and while Jose D’Angelo barn hasn’t been the same this year as past, he’s been spot on with which stakes horses to bring to Kentucky Downs in the past at 4: 2-2-0. Instead of a win play, let’s wheel him on top and play for some bingo underneath.The Exacta-Thon Play: Wheel 4 over all

EXTRA INCENTIVES$3,000 Exacta-Thon | Kentucky Downs | today’s races10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Summer Sweep 5 (Gulfstream/Woodbine)SPECIAL WAGERSBreeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager | closes today 6 pm ETSummer Sweep Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 6-7-8, Woodbine Races 6-8-- $6,304 carryover for Sunday -$1 minimum, 15% takeout, no CAWTOURNAMENT TIME$400 Kentucky Downs Challenge | details$80 Del Mar Feeder | details$40 Canterbury Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 6 | Kentucky Downs | $16,869 | begins Race 6 | 4:48 pm ETPick 6 | Del Mar | $192,078 | begins Race 5 | 7:09 pm ETKEY RACESWoodbine | Race 6 | 3:49 pm ET | Algoma StakesWoodbine | Race 7 | 4:23 pm ET | Caledon StakesWoodbine | Race 8 | 4:57 pm ET | Simcoe StakesWoodbine | Race 9 | 5:29 pm ET | Muskoka StakesSaratoga | Race 9 | 5:44 pm ET | Yaddo StakesWoodbine | Race 10 | 6:01 pm ET | Elgin StakesKentucky Downs | Race 9 | 6:41 pm ET | Tapit StakesKentucky Downs | Race 10 | 7:14 pm ET | Untapable StakesDel Mar | Race 7 | 8:12 pm ET | Torrey Pines StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXKentucky Downs | Race 1 | 1:55 pm ETSaratoga | Race 6 | 4:00 pm ETDel Mar | Race 6 | 7:41 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHMac Robertson | Canterbury Park | 7 of 8 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Saratoga | jockey Flavien Prat | 5 wins, 4 with trainer Chad Brown (3 stakes)PUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Kentucky Downs Exacta-Thon Sunday Plays Scott Shapiro: Saratoga Spot Plays for SundayJeremy Plonk: Del Mar Full-Card Picks & Analysis for SaturdayJeremy Plonk: Breeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager AnalysisBrian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The spotlight card for Week 7 at Del Mar comes with the closer on Sunday featuring the Torrey Pines Stakes. It’s 1 of 5 mile contests (2 on dirt, 3 on turf) on a card exclusively for sprinters and milers. A two-day pick 6 carryover of $192,078 makes for a sizzler.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.Del Mar Race 1 | starter optional claiming#1 Howie’s Law is rail speed at 4-5 morning line and will be the one to catch, but not a cinch over 7 furlongs. That opens the door to #4 Letmein, who at 8-1 morning line goes for a Mark Glatt barn firing right now. The only closer to make a dent in the finish July 19 when rallying for third and could be heard from if the chalk comes back to the field. Picks 4-1-3Del Mar Race 2 | maiden special weightJust 6 running lines combined in main body of this 10-horse turf sprint for juveniles. #3 Chiseled in Stone makes plenty of sense as the 5-2 morning line favorite after showing speed in a debut runner-up. But Steve Knapp’s barn hasn’t been anywhere near successful enough to accept short prices at the moment. Carla Gaines has had her stable clicking in recent weeks and is one of the circuit’s best turf-sprint conditioners. #5 Lil Prince Cairo at 8-1 morning line offers intrigue and price for that outfit. She and Kazushi Kimura have almost been printing money with their ROI in tandem. Picks 5-3-2-8Del Mar Race 3 | claimingThe 3-1 morning line favorite #8 Miz Clubcali got completely stopped last time at an important point in the race and made 2-3 runs to just miss while second. Should make amends in a race common to a trio of these and one in which the third-place finisher already has come back to win at the meet (albeit on a class drop to $8K level). Pace setup also favors top pick, who is a possible single for me in multi-race wagers. Continue to respect these Gato Del Oro offspring on the Del Mar dirt and consider #1 Chasing Kat candidate to repeat her victory against easier competition 14 days ago. Picks 8-1-6.Del Mar Race 4 | allowance optional claimingHard-used from a tough post 10 last time, #4 Cortina d’Amprezzo gets a very noteworthy jockey change to Antonio Fresu and a big helping of post relief. That should be enough to propel the 3-1 morning line favorite to get back to her June winning ways at Santa Anita. It’s been a disastrous meet for Leonard Powell, but his #5 Waiting For You is better than her last effort when left with no pace help at all and better than her 10-1 morning line offering. The offspring of Bated Breath are dynamos on the Del Mar lawn and maybe she’ll show a big improvement. Jeff Mullins’ turfers have been firing like clockwork, and #6 Run With Liberty would be no shock to continue that wave. Picks 4-5-6.Del Mar Race 5 | maiden special weightThere’s not much creativity to this one as #1 Not So Merry Mary (5-1 morning line odds) should know her fate in the initial jumps. I think she could get loose early on the turf-to-dirt transition and come out firing. Tim Yakteen’s barn has been on point the last few weeks with limited strikes and he’s a serious threat in second career starts like this historically. Followers here know we’ve chased a few of these George Papaprodromou rider changes from Belmont to Fresu with some success. #8 Her Strut could follow suit while adding blinkers. Picks 1-8-10-3Del Mar Race 6 | claimingTurf sprint with a big field and lot of early speed could come back to a strong finisher. #2 Harcyn loves Del Mar’s lawn (3: 2-1-0) and narrowly missed vs. #9 Code Duello last time out. The latter makes a barn change and is 5-2 morning line, while my choice is 8-1 in the line. The Goldecents offspring continue to provide value on the green here and we’ll roll with Harcyn late to turn the tables. The X-factor is former stakes player #5 Otto the Conqueror, who gets Juan Hernandez off the claim for Vladimir Cerin and has been a dirt horse primarily. His 1 turf sprint try at Churchill puts him right in the discussion, however, but part of a wicked pace. Picks 2-9-6.Del Mar Race 7 | Grade 3 Torrey Pines StakesDefinitely wouldn’t be a spotlight play for me as I’m not enamored with any of these. All seem as flawed as playable, so I’ll treat lightly and spread amongst multi-race wager considerations. Mild nod to #3 She’s No Quant off of 3 straight wins – albeit around 1 turn, albeit against Cal-breds, albeit jockey Juan Hernandez jumps to the obvious Baffert pairing with #3 Rabeeba. The speedster Rabeeba hasn’t lost in 2 tries but her mile allowance win saw a sundial slow 26-2/5 final quarter. You don’t have to trust she’s about to ace the next test vs. tougher – and a speed duel with #5 Mohaven looks to be in the cards. #7 Wolf Hill might be the most trustworthy router of the race and she’s an 0-10 maiden, so difficult to take on top. I’m going to lean on a 94 BRIS late pace figure earned in the Fleet Treat by She’s No Quant as the reason she’ll stretch out 2 turns, but that’s not assured. Picks 2-7-3.Del Mar Race 8 | maiden special weightSo, 6 of the 10 entered here exit the same July 31 turf mile that walked 49 seconds the back half. I’m not fond of turf races that decelerate like that and going to bank that one of the 5-furlong stretchout horses here can forget to stop. Sprint-to-route turf milers have had a lot of success this meet, winning about a third of the offerings. #1 First Light, #5 Platinum Groove, #7 Zuzu’s Classic Gal and #8 Druliner all make the distance extension. Shop the tote here for some value, but #1 First Light (8-1 morning line odds) has been sharpened with a couple of works since a cut-back try earlier in the meet. She’s been decent over a mile in the past and gets to take the shortest way around. #5 Platinum Groove debuted fifth in a decent finish behind another Jeff Mullins barnmate. That outfit has been aces on turf this meet and note the third-place finisher in that Aug. 1 race came back here to win a similar race Aug. 23. Picks 1-5-7-8Del Mar Race 9 | allowanceStakes-caliber allowance race will be a great watch, but a difficult bet with 3 of the 9 entrants making their first starts of 2026 – including Longacres Mile winner #4 Arrowthegreat, Tokyo City Stakes winner #5 Privman and a sharpie from the hot Mark Glatt barn who flashed ability here last summer in #6 Lyell’s Song. Then you have #9 Mirahmadi, second in last summer’s San Diego Handicap locally making his second start of the year after a tiring bid in that same stakes without any races between. Chilean star The Goat was thrown into the deep end in 2 starts earlier this year against Journalism and Stronghold and wasn’t embarrassed while fourth in both starts. John Sadler turns to his money rider Joel Rosario and they might have the edge on form cycle to some of these. At 6-1 morning line odds, I’d take that shot. Picks 5-7-6.Del Mar Race 10 | starter optional claimingThis capacity field of 12 should absolutely cook early and give a finishing contender every chance to throw the last punch. #9 Call Me Sir (5-1 morning line odds) gets a delicious set-up for his rally, something he didn’t get last out when third behind a slow 1:12 split for 6 furlongs. #10 Henry Adams (8-1 ML) closed right on his heels in that same race and the pair could be difficult to separate again. The edge to Call Me Sir who gets a rider upgrade to Joel Rosario, who has been outstanding this meeting. #1 Midway Lane may be best of the pace brigade as the 3-1 morning line favorite. Picks 9-10-1

After a Travers Day that saw Leading Change get the best of Napoleon Solo in the final strides to capture the Midsummer Derby, the racing week concludes in Saratoga Springs with a ten-race card headlined by the $200k Yaddo. The 1 1/16-mile event for NY-bred fillies and mares over the grass goes as Race 9 and is set to go to post at 5:44 PM eastern. Here are the horses I like most on the afternoon.Race 3:My first play comes in this MSW for 2YOs at two-turns over the Inner Turf where second-time starter #2 Kipros is listed as the 5-2-ML favorite after breaking erratically from his inside draw on debut. The well-bred Oscar Performance colt showed some energy late to finish fourth, but mostly just passed tiring rivals. I give him a big shot to move forward in start number two for hot-training Ray Handal, but I will take a bigger swing with #1 Warrior At Heart. The son of Mandaloun is out the Smart Strike mare Dame Marie making him a half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner Honor Marie. The Whit Beckman trainee debuted going six-furlongs on the dirt on July 25 in a race where she finished a well-beaten sixth. Beckman adds blinkers, stretches her out to a route of ground, and draws favorably along the inside. All hopefully lead to much-improved performance for the 10-1-second-time starter.Play: #1 Warrior At Heart (10-1 ML)Picks: 1-2-3Race 8:This state-bred MSW event at six-furlongs over the main track offers up a field of ten led by 5-2-favorite #10 Modest Maclean. The Linda Rice runner has been well-meant in the first two starts of his career, but has let the public down both times. Rice wheels the son of Maclean’s Music back on eight days rest and cuts him back in distance. He can win, but I have lost trust in him, so I will try 7-2-second choice #2 Isthereanormalwife. Trainer David Donk has had a tough summer at the Spa, but this gelding ran huge over this surface and distance on debut in early July battling between rivals early and fighting to the wire before being nailed by a runner that took advantage of the early battle. Donk moved the son of Galilean to the grass on August 7 and it led to a disappointing stalk and fade effort. Now, he cuts back to the distance he debuted at and has every reason to find his way to the wire first if he is able to move forward just a touch off his promising first try. Johnny V will get the leg up once again.Play: #2 Isthereanormalwife (7-2 ML)Picks: 2-1-10Race 9: YaddoThe feature is a competitive one with #9 Awesome Czech entering the two-turn event for state-bred females as the 2-1-ML favorite. The Mendelssohn mare drops into NY-bred competition for the first time this year for trainer Horacio De Paz after a fourth-place run in the De La Rose in mid-July. The 5YO is 4 for 6 over the Saratoga grass and is the class of the field, but the outside draw is slightly concerning along with the fact that the De Paz barn has slowed down over the last month or so after a big end to the Aqueduct meeting and start to the summer at the Spa. I will try to beat her with another runner exiting the De La Rose on July 17 #4 Being Betty. The daughter of Weekend Hideaway was caught three-wide into the first turn and remained that way throughout in her eighth-place effort to gate-to-wire winner And One More Time. Prior to that, Being Betty rattled off two wins in a row, including a victory over this course during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. She should be able to avoid a wide trip throughout this time given the improved draw. Javier Castellano takes the call for the first time on the Lisa Bartkowski trainee.Play: #4 Being Betty (6-1 ML)Picks: 4-9-2

Northfield Park begins the week with a 16-race card. The features roll in Race 11 and Race 12, an Open Pace, and an Open Trot. The $1.00 Late Pick 4 with a $10,000 guaranteed pool starts in Race 11. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 4 (7:06 PM EDT)3-Mikado (8-1)-Cashed mostly smaller checks versus Open company, dropped to this level in last and was far back early on a sloppy track. Does know how to beat this kind and has won 10 of 38 at Nfld. Driver James Day should be more aggressive in this spot. Could land in the pocket behind #2 the program chalk and pick up a suck around win at a solid price.3-2-4Race 6 (7:50 PM EDT)2-Met Your Request (7/2)-Beat the NW6500 handily 5 back and then found the water too high versus Open company but did draw poorly as well. Raced here last on 8-9 and tuned up at a Fair track on 8/24. Could be sitting on a big try and hopefully won't be bet hard.2-5-1Race 12 (10:02 PM EDT)7-Digruntled Carl (5-1)-This 5-year-old doesn't break stride often, but when it happens it can be at the start. Went off at 2/5 and after the miscue and was 11-lengths back at the 1st call. Did roll home in 57.1 on a sloppy track to come 3rd. This post draw helps the price and did appear to be dialed on high last time. Will take a swing here at a much better price and hopefully minds its manners.7-6-4Check me out on X!

EXTRA INCENTIVES$3,000 Exacta-Thon | Kentucky Downs | today’s races$10,000 Trifecta-Thon | Saratoga | today’s races10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Summer Sweep 5 (Gulfstream/Woodbine)SCHEDULE NOTESSaratoga | early first post 11:05 am ETKentucky Downs, presented by 1/ST BET | opening day | first post 1:55 pm ETSPECIAL WAGERSBreeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager | closes Sunday 6 pm ETSummer Sweep Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 7-8-9, Woodbine Races 8-9--$1 minimum, 15% takeout, no CAWTOURNAMENT TIME$800 Saratoga Travers Day Challenge | details$125 Fun in the Sun (Saratoga/Del Mar) | details$80 Del Mar Feeder | details$40 Canterbury Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 6 | Del Mar | $46,408 | begins Race 5 | 7:02 pm ETPick 6 | Los Alamitos | $53,459 | begins Race 3 | 11:05 pm ETKEY RACESColonial Downs | Race 3 | 1:22 pm ET | Dolley Madison StakesSaratoga | Race 8 | 3:19 pm ET | H. Allen Jerkens Memorial StakesTimonium | Race 8 | 3:27 pm ET | Shine Again StakesColonial Downs | Race 7 | 3:28 pm ET | Jamestown StakesSaratoga | Race 9 | 3:55 pm ET | Personal Ensign StakesMonmouth | Race 7 | 4:08 pm ET | Sorority StakesWoodbine | Race 7 | 4:19 pm ET | Zadracarta StakesSaratoga | Race 10 | 4:33 pm ET | Lake Placid StakesKentucky Downs | Race 6 | 4:57 pm ET | KD Juvenile Sprint StakesGulfstream | Race 8 | 5:04 pm ET | Benny the Bull StakesSaratoga | Race 11 | 5:11 pm ET | Forego StakesWoodbine | Race 9 | 5:25 pm ET | Toronto CupGulfstream | Race 9 | 5:39 pm ET | Bear’s Den StakesKentucky Downs | Race 7 | 5:40 pm ET | KD Ladies Turf Sprint StakesSaratoga | Race 12 | 5:49 pm ET | Ballerina StakesFairmount Park | Race 10 | 6:15 pm ET | St. Louis DerbySaratoga | Race 13 | 6:35 pm ET | Travers StakesDel Mar | Race 9 | 9:11 pm ET | Pat O’Brien StakesDel Mar | Race 10 | 9:43 pm ET | Del Mar HandicapLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXSaratoga | Race 5 | 1:34 pm ETKentucky Downs | Race 1 | 1:55 pm ETKentucky Downs | Race 9 | 6:52 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHMike Trombetta | Colonial, Delaware | 9 of 10 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Saratoga, Charles Town, Belterra | trainer Mike Maker| 4 wins, including $1M CT ClassicPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Saratoga Travers Day Full-Card PicksJeremy Plonk: Race of the Week – Travers StakesMatt Bernier: Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Sprint AnalysisJeremy Plonk: Del Mar Spot Plays for SaturdayJeremy Plonk: Breeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager AnalysisFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The next-to-last Saturday of the Del Mar summer season co-features the Pat O’Brien and Del Mar Handicap as the final 2 races on a 10-race program. There’s not a lot of meat on the bone early in this program, so I’ll approach the back half with more attention. Sometimes you struggle to find a card with horses you like at tempting prices, but this one sort of jumped off the page in a positive way once you get past the opening races. A $46,408 pick 6 carryover adds extra spice. 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 will be Sunday – providing more focus away from Travers Saturday at Saratoga).Del Mar: Race 4 | 6:31 pm ET#1 Midnite Musket (12-1 morning line odds) looks worth a longshot peek on the stretch-out in trip. 14 of first 38 turf miles this meet won by horses going sprint-to-route. Last start was a much tougher ran that his rivals exit, fits well at this class level. After all, a bunch of these come out of the same Aug. 7 race won by a 57-1 shot. There’s not much early pace here so he should be into the mix from the rail and there’s no reason on pedigree that a mile is impossible. Poor connections win percentages demand we get a fair price in double digits. Win-place #1. Picks 1-4-8Del Mar: Race 7 | 8:10 pm ET#4 Sir Rocket (6-1 morning line odds) gets a delicious pace set-up to make the final run. I love a veteran trainer like Neil Drysdale wheeling this one back on 13 days’ rest. Note he won turf-to-dirt here last August on 17 days’ rest and has run very well turf-to-dirt in several prior tries. Win #4. Key in exotics in the most attractive betting race on the card to this point. Picks 4 over 6,8,9,10,3.Del Mar: Race 9 | 9:11 pm ET#7 Moonlight (10-1 morning line odds) ran a bang-up third at huge odds in the Bing Crosby over 6 furlongs and will love the additional real estate. Note he bounced out of that race better than his other rivals, working 4 times to their 3. Offspring of Audible love this racetrack and he appears to as well. Going to take my chances against favorite Big City Lights, who appears to be a bit better at Santa Anita than Del Mar. Win-place #7. Daily Doubles 7 with 7,4. Picks 7-1-6Del Mar: Race 10 | 9:43 pm ET#7 Atitlan (6-1 morning line odds) was third by a neck in this race last year and could be the one to upend Gold Phoenix in his bid to win a fifth straight Del Mar Handicap. Just love the prep pattern for this from Richard Mandella, running a shorter mile off the layoff and then workouts at 1M and 6F to build stamina after it…sharped with a fast blowout at 3F for the final tuneup. The 2024 Twilight Derby winner is one of several value plays by The Factor to produce a strong ROI for the sire on this grass. Win 7. Exacta key-box 7 with 7,2,11. Picks 7 with 4-2-11

Woodbine Mohawk Park has a loaded 12-race card. The headliner comes in Race 9, the Wellwood Memorial Trot with a $570,000 purse. The Spot Plays come in Race 5, Race 9, and Race 10. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 5 (8:29 PM EDT)7-Bythemissal (4-1)-Missal has a big heart but the 7-year-old has had many hard miles and it's not easy tell how he will be feeling on Saturday night. But he raced big 2 and 3 back and was burned out into a 25.3 opening quarter last time. Now, meets a field it can beat if dialed on high. There is speed inside, but Yannick Gingras will probably have his foot through the floorboard and could land on the point. My guess is the 4-1 morning line might be low and has done well at Mohawk (9-3-2-1). Lastly, did set a lifetime mark of 146.4 on this oval last year.7-4-2Race 9 (10:07 PM EDT)6-Ocean Storm (10-1)-Won its debut at Tioga 2 back with a 57.1 back half. Then marched home in 55.1 in the Elim with a 27.1 last panel to come 3rd. Offers a nice price and Gingras could have this competitive colt closer to the lead turning for the wire. Has raced well in its first 2 races and it looks like there is a lot to like about the Capone trainee.6-3-2Race 10 (10:32 PM EDT)5-Marscarpone (7/2)-Raced well to come 2nd to another Ian Moore pupil on 7-10 in its season debut at Mohawk. Broke its maiden at Mea in a snappy 151.4 and then raced evenly at PcD. Last time, was in tall cotton at Philly and broke. So, still has lessons to learn but will add points with the return to Wbsb and Scott Zeron being at the controls. Needs to be on its game to down the 2 program chalks (1-3) and will look for an aggressive drive once the wings fold at a square price.5-2-1Check me out on X!