The Lead:Churchill Downs hosts its Stephen Foster Preview Day card with 7 stakes races crammed into an 11-race lineup. The Blame Stakes will feature Stephen Foster prospects awaiting next month's potential clash of titans on June 17 and be part of a 2 Million 1/ST Rewards Late Pick 4 Hit & Split promo. Meanwhile, the Race 7 Mint Julep caught my eye as the most attractive race of the stakes menu Saturday. The 1-1/16 miles turf test brings together a cast of 9 distaffers, including last year's 1-2 finishers PIN UP BETTY and CHARLENE'S DREAM.​​Field Depth:CHARLENE'S DREAM has won at the Grade 2 level, while Grade 3 winners here include PIN UP BETTY and MEDORO, the latter Grade 1-placed. Stakes winners include PROCTOR STREET (who is Grade 2-placed) and STYLISH SUE. That group is very well matched on class while the others will need to raise their games.​Pace:CHARLENE'S DREAM has rail speed while STYLISH SUE on the far outside also has early interest. It doesn't look like a fast pace, but speed in the extreme posts can often turn up the tempo more than expected. A runner capable of staying in touch early in a midflight position could get a good trip in this race shape.​Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.1-CHARLENE'S DREAM: Nearly wired this cast a year ago at 7-1 odds and stands a chance on the return. I like the sprint-to-route move second start of the form cycle like this, and note her last 2 times going sprint-to-route produced wins in 2023 and 2024. Disappointed me in the Giant's Causeway when I picked her, thinking she'd do more fresh in that turf sprint. Expect Florent Geroux to put her on the lead.2-FAVORITE MEMORY: British export makes first start for Cherie DeVaux while coming off a November layoff. Modest overseas form with a long series of Keeneland workouts for this. Drawn well under John Velazquez and might fit, but don't have enough feel for this one.3-PIN UP BETTY: Churchill turf horse-for-course is 4-8 on the surface and defending champ in the Mint Julep (compared to 0-14 in all other setttings/surfaces). Decent efforts in the Jenny Wiley and Distaff Turf Mile in her last 2 starts and now gets money rider Flavien Prat for Mike Maker. Legitimate contender should be finishing from the back half of the field.4-MEDORO: West coast transplant has shifted game successfully to midwest, holding form at Fair Grounds and Keeneland. Grade 1 Jenny Wiley wasn't up to its usual quality this year, so that third-place effort might get slightly overbet Saturday. Appreciate the consistency and another with a big chance under Jose Ortiz.5-PROCTOR STREET: Rated the Modesty, despite being a Grade 3, a tougher field than the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley, so her recent third over this course may be better than it looks. She's relished 1-1/16 miles (4-6 lifetime) and simply ran out of steam in her last 2 over 1-1/8 miles. Times up the move better this time at a shorter trip with designated targets in front under Tyler Gaffalione. Her 104 BRIS late pace figure last time zips her past them late if near-repeated.6-VINA ARANA: Irish export has won 2 of 6 since coming stateside to Jack Sisterson, but has not been a threat in either stakes bid to date. Some excuses last time in the Distaff Turf Mile, but that was over her best trip and this one extends her. Prefer others.7-IN THE STARS: Regally bred Into Mischief-Stellar Wind filly posted a '26 return victory at Keeneland in allowance company and should be poised for the stakes re-rise. Graded-stakes win would do wonders for her value in the breeding shed, though she's done her best turf work on other courses than this one and has run poorly twice without Lasix.8-SWEET TREASURE: Impressive Keeneland allowance winner while getting zero pace help and doing so from post 11 of 11 on April 15. The Brad Cox trainee couldn't match up with Medoro twice at Fair Grounds this winter but has been strong on the Kentucky lawn. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return mount on a live threat on a class rise.​9-STYLISH SUE: Expected to prompt the pace from the outside and should appreciate the cutback in trip from the 1-1/8 miles Modesty. Joe Sharp trainee has been a need-the-lead type over the years and benefits if Charlene's Dream is not aggressively ridden from the rail. Not impossible to hold for a share, but her last 4 losses have seen her finish off the board -- so might be an all-or-nothing candidate.Most Likely Exotics Contender:PROCTOR STREET has been outstanding at 1-1/16 miles (5-6 in the exacta) and hasn't missed the trifecta in 3 local starts on the CD lawn.Best Longshot Contender:CHARLENE'S DREAM at 12-1 morning line has been on the board in this race before and the pace scenario doesn't look brutal for her front-end style.​Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$80 win PROCTOR STREET. $10 exacta part-wheel PROCTOR STREET over PIN UP BETTY and CHARLENE'S DREAM ($20).

They are back at it in Louisville for the start of a new racing week at Churchill Downs. Saturday’s stakes-laden card headlines the late May action, but as always, the Twilight Thursday slate offers horseplayers several quality wagering opportunities. Here are a few horses I like on the card that kicks off at 5PM eastern.Race 3:This MSW event for 2YO fillies is led by a pair of debut runners from both the Mark Casse and Steve Asmussen barns. Casse has the two ML favorites with #2 Exile and #4 Ez Miss Sassy, but I like #5 Lead by Example most. The daughter of Jackie’s Warrior is out of a Malibu Moon mare that won her first three starts over the all-weather in Southern California and has been productive as a broodmare as well. Winding Way not only produced underachieving Skinner, but Essential Coffee as well. That dominant first out winner for these same human connections won by over 8 lengths almost a year to the day (May 30, 2025). His younger sister comes in off a steady series of drills for Asmussen, who calls on Jose Ortiz. Hopefully, the daughter of one Asmussen’s best sprinters is ready to fire at first asking.Play: #5 Lead by Example (5-1 ML)Race 4:This maiden claimer at two-turns over the grass is a challenging one, but has appeal since I am against 5-2-ML favorite #7 Prince of Light. The Dixiana Farms homebred has had 9 chances already, including back-to-back starts in New Orleans where he was set off at even money or less. He is a colt that is likely to be good enough to earn yet another minor share, but is impossible to trust on top. I will take a swing against him with #1 Captain Mercury. The son of Tapiture debuted earlier this month in a 6-furlong race over the dirt where he was beaten out of the gate and chased while wide before finishing an underwhelming sixth. Trainer Rohan Crichton turns to Luis Saez, moves this gelding to the grass, and stretches him out to a route of ground three weeks later. I expect Saez to get him out of the gate and into the race right away instead of being caught in chase mode immediately. The price should be right to gamble on the $30k October ’24 purchase.Play: #1 Captain Mercury (8-1 ML)Race 5:My final play on the final Thursday of May comes in this starter allowance at 1 1/8-miles where there is likely to be a contentious early pace. With a number of runners likely to flash some sort of early speed, this race should set up for a runner from off the pace. #9 Carolo Rapido is the one I like most. The son of Curlin was claimed for $62,500 two weeks ago by Norm Casse and Aj Suited Racing Stable. Casse opts to wheel him back quickly and stretch him back out to a distance he has won 2 of 9 at during his career. The affinity for the surface only strengthens the case for this 5YO gelding.Play: #9 Carolo Rapido (9-2 ML)

NOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $288,787 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $78,770 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETPick 5 | $91,575 | Northfield Park (harness) | begins Race 6 | 7:50 pm ETJackpot Pick 5 | $48,061 | Assiniboia Downs | begins Race 3 | 9:25 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXDelaware Park | Race 4 | 1:56 pm ETFinger Lakes | Race 5 | 2:51 pm ETHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 6 | 4:45 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJamie Ness | Parx, Delaware Park | all 8 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Horseshoe Indianapolis | Race 6 | nation’s highest-paying exacta ($396), trifecta ($2870) and superfecta ($19,584)PUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

NOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $271,061 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $73,200 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 6 | 4:45 pm ETLouisiana Downs | Race 7 | 7:53 pm ETMountaineer | Race 4 | 8:15 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJerry Gourneau | Assiniboia Downs | 4 of 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Thistledown | favorites won 5 of 8 races on the cardPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

EXTRA INCENTIVES$2,000 Late Pick 4 Hit & Split | Santa AnitaTOURNAMENT TIME$1,500 Santa Anita Gold Cup Challenge | details$100 NYRA Feeder | details$40 Santa Anita Feeder | details$40 Canterbury Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $261,371 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETSuper Hi 5 | $54,587 | Churchill Downs | Race 1 | 12:45 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $68,342 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETPick 5 | $15,222 | Finger Lakes | begins Race 4 | 2:22 pm ETKEY RACESFinger Lakes | Race 7 | 3:49 pm ET | George W. Barker StakesChurchill Downs | Race 8 | 4:22 pm ET | Winning Colors StakesSanta Anita | Race 5 | 6:00 pm ET | Hollywood Gold CupSanta Anita | Race 6 | 6:30 pm ET | Gamely StakesSanta Anita | Race 8 | 7:30 pm ET | Shoemaker Mile StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 6 | 2:53 pm ETChurchill Downs | Race 9 | 4:55 pm ETSanta Anita | Race 10 | 8:30 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJoe Sharp | Churchill, Aqueduct | 4 of 5 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Churchill Downs | 20-cent jackpot pick 6 hit for $311,766 on single ticketPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Santa Anita Stakes & $2K Hit & Split Late Pick 4 AnalysisFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Yonkers Raceway has a 9-race card, the $1.00 Pick 5 with a $10,000 guaranteed pool rolls in Race 5. The $1.00 Late Pick 4 sequence starts in Race 6, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 6 (8:25 PM EDT)2-Speaker Of Peace (5-1)-Bumps up after a big effort against easier, Brent Holland almost wired the last field from the 8-hole. Now, leaves from post 2 and at 5-1 is well worth a swing.4-Hemsworth N (5/2)-Need to use at this level. Austin Siegelman could have the pedal down and land on the point or in the pocket behind Speaker, and either could work for a picture.Race 7 (8:45 PM EDT)2-Sterling Choice (5/2)-Put in a no-move mile at PcD versus WO’s. Ships back and Bartlett grabs the lines. He was between the pipes on 4-1 and looked like a winner but broke in the late going. Could seal the deal this time at a small price.8-Iknowbetter (6-1)-Beat the $60k claimers from the rail going gate to wire in last. My take is Joe B can out leave most of these, and if things go good around the opening turn it has a shot to win at a nice price.Race 8 (9:05 PM EDT)1-Copperffield (5-1)-Likes to compete at Yonkers, fits and drawing the 1 hole should help. Could win off a pocket ride and can offer a square price.7-Catalpa Rescue A (3-1)-Steps up after leading from start to finish in the last two races. Bartlett sticks here and Copperfield is an Engblom trainee. That’s not a surprise and this post draw could pose an issue but went in a sharp 151.1 last time. There shouldn't be a doubt Bartlett will be out and rolling from the word Go.Race 9 (9:25 PM EDT)3-Delightful Terror (9/2)-The 9-year-old was a 10-time winner in 2015 and is 0-12 this year. Showed some life with Steve Smith steering last time and he is seldom aggressive. But the vet did go the back half in 57.2 to lose to Nandolo by a half-length. Will take a swing at this price that the change to pilot Colin Kelly will make a winning difference.6-Gothic Rock (4-1)-In a field full of horses who don’t like to win there is a need to get creative. This veteran won with Bartlet at the controls on 4-8 against this kind. Left from the rail, came away 3rd and was close to the top at the 3/4 pole. Looking for a similar plan, leave, get away 3rd, come 1st over, and take a picture.$1 Late Pick 42,4/2,8/1,7/3,6Total Bet=$16Check me out on X!

EXTRA INCENTIVES$2,000 Late Pick 4 Hit & Split | Santa Anita | today through MondaySPECIAL WAGERSCoast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 8-9; Santa Anita Races 3-5-7Sunset 6 | Gulfstream Races 7-8-9; Santa Anita Races 7-8-9TOURNAMENT TIME$500 Santa Anita Anything Goes Challenge | details$100 NYRA Feeder | details$40 Santa Anita Feeder | details$40 Canterbury Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $79,178 | Gulfstream | begins Race 4 | 2:26 pm ETPick 6 | $33,406 | Aqueduct | begins Race 4 | 2:36 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $159,902 | Churchill Downs | begins Race 5 | 2:46 pm ETJackpot Super Hi 5 | $103,461 (CAN) | Woodbine | Race 10 | 6:00 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXChurchill Downs | Race 6 | 3:19 pm ETAqueduct | Race 7 | 4:11 pm ETMountaineer | Race 4 | 8:15 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJose Silva | Canterbury Park | all 6 entrants 5-1 or less odds (5 at 5-2 or less)DID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Woodbine | trainer Josie Carroll | 3 wins ($9, $11, $38) from 7 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Santa Anita $2K Hit & Split Late Pick 4 AnalysisBrian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Favorites dominated Saturday’s California Gold Rush Day card at Santa Anita, winning 8 of 10 races, including all but 1 of the races in the pick 6. We’ll see what kind of prices emerge Sunday as we return to a more overnight-type of racing card. Horseplayers at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET can take part in a $2,000 Late Pick 4 Hit & Split Promotion on the final 4 races each Santa Anita racing day through Memorial Day Monday.Let’s get to work.Race 6: maiden special weightA cast of 8 rookie juveniles match up and you’ll benefit from being able to see the horses pre-race and the tote action for some clues before this pick 4 sequence begins. Among the barns here who have had some success in the baby dashes at Santa Anita include Doug O’Neill (#1 Lease Instead) and Jorge Periban (#6 Stanford Warrior). Favorites are 25-for-51 (49%) in these 2-year-old dashes the past 5-plus years at Santa Anita. Main tickets may be safe with just that aforementioned duo and use your judgement based on additional info between now and post time. If adding depth, go with #2 Is That You Wing off of some promising gate works as well as #8 Prime Listing for a typically quiet Paula Capestro barn that’s posted a 26-1 winner and 5-2 runner-up among its 3 most-recent starters.Race 7: allowance/optional claimingOdds-on favorite #2 Matt at Five will be a single for many off of his smashing turf unveiling 14 days ago. Peter Miller took over the training from Carla Gaines just prior and this one finished with more late flair than in 2 prior dirt runner-up efforts to open his career. Miller is 8: 3-3-1 at Santa Anita since 2015 bringing turf sprinters back off a win on 15 days’ rest or less, solid but not dominant, numbers. While there does appear to be other speed in the race, finding a reliable turf finisher is a reach in this spot based on past performances. That best candidate would be #6 Uecker, whose cut back in distance might give him more late ability than he showed in prior sprints.Race 8: maiden claiming#5 King of Success (8-1 ML) might be our best shot at a price in the sequence and will be my gutsy single. I love this form cycle moving sprint-to-route and turf-to-dirt while second off the layoff. The class drop won’t hurt either for the Jeff Bonde trainee. The 6-5 morning line favorite #2 Lorenzo Bernini failed at 3-5 last out and has been beaten 3 times in his last 4 starts at 2-1 or less. Even though George Papaprodomou’s barn is going well right now, this is a vulnerable chalk as much as any in the late pick 4.Race 9: starter allowanceThe class drop for #4 Catalina Cocktail puts this mare back at a competitive level from 2 starts ago. But she doesn’t hold any decisive edge. #1 Deep Blue responded first off the claim for Victor Garcia, doing it the hard way from last-to-first turf sprinting. Not sure she’s better around 2 turns based on form and pedigree, but her last move was different from her prior tries and the new outfit may have found something.The Ticket8,1,6,2 with 2,6 with 5 with 4,1 = $8 for $.50 playPotentially use just 8,1 in opening leg and double the units