It’s the perfect spot for an hour-long afternoon escape. Whether you’re looking to add to a winning day or bail out from a bad one, Colonial Downs’ Late Pick 3 fits the bill. With double digit turf entrants in races 7 through 9 and a minimum $3 wager, the payout could be lucrative.Colonial Downs 7th Race (3:30 p.m. EST)ZEVON, an allowance winner on the Colonial Downs lawn, and THE BRIGADE, slowed by the pace in a longer route race last out, both improved to the 80 Beyer speed figure range on turf since adding Lasix early this year, earning spots in the leadoff leg of the ticket. RECKLESS “cruised” past the dueling leaders and held safe the slow-starting favorite to romp on the surface switch to the turf, but he will be undervalued off the claim for high-percentage trainer Jamie Ness. The last time BOLT FROM ABOVE ran on turf, he appeared hopelessly beaten at the 1/2-mile marker, only to launch an eye-catching rally to win in a longer race at the Fair Grounds. PROMISSIO, claimed out of a runner-up finish in the same spot at Santa Anita seven weeks ago, worked four times locally for his first start off the cross-country journey. He took 3-wide aim in the stretch, held off the favorite for second but couldn’t get by the 17-1 winner. Use him at 15-1 on the morning line. Try to beat 4-1 second choice IZZY D’ORO, who was disqualified from a front-end victory against THE BRIGADE at this level after he set slower middle fractions than a $16,000 maiden claimer on the same card.Colonial Downs 8th Race (4:00 p.m. EST)KNOCKANARA was a nose short of five consecutive wins sprinting on turf before he finished third in the Turf Sprint Championship at Aqueduct, surrounded by three multiple stakes winners who are a combined 22-for-68 on turf with $1.5 million in earnings. He is a solo play in the Pick 3. (NOTE: If he is scratched, use numbers 9 and 10 on the Pick 3 ticket).Colonial Downs 9rd Race (4:30 p.m. EST)BOSS LILLY returns to his level of claim, where his momentum stalled in a traffic jam on the final turn and he had to regroup to finish a clear second two starts ago. He was no match in his most recent start against Reckless, who will provide a good measuring stick in today’s 7th race. BEEKMAN STREET, the lone Maiden Special Weight winner in the field, drops below his claim level for top trainer Brittany Russell. He backed off a torrid pace battle two starts ago, re-grouped to take a brief stretch lead and fought gamely to the wire to get beat a length.Suggested $3 Pick 3CNL 7th Race: 3, 4, 6, 9, 10CNL 8th Race: 8 (If scratched, use #s 9 and 10)CNL 9th Race: 4, 9Cost for a $3 ticket: $30

The first open-company juvenile stakes of the Del Mar season takes place Saturday with the Best Pal, co-featured on a 10-race card that includes the Yellow Ribbon for Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf divisional prospects.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 Saturday).Let’s get to work.Del Mar: Race 1 | maiden / optional claiming#4 Billy Goat and #5 High Pronto chased winners who will match up in the co-featured Best Pal Stakes a few races later. Tough to separate those Doug O’Neill stablemates who could be dueling up front, while top choice #6 Boss Man Bolt exits a good second July 17 over the track and continued the success we’ve seen from the Bolt d’Oro stock locally in past seasons. Blinkers off could get Boss Man Bolt over the top after being his own worst mental enemy late in his last start. Picks 6-5-4.Del Mar: Race 2 | starter / optional claimingSolid lean to top pick #2 Hannah Buckle, who is beautifully drawn for a turf mile and returns to her favorite course (2-5 here, 0-8 elsewhere). The Bated Breath offspring relish this lawn and she’s no exception. Note the mare who beat her at Santa Anita in June already has returned to win the Osunitas Stakes at this meet. #1 Eternal Reign is a public darling while favored in 8 of her last 12 starts, but she’s won just 1 of her last 10 and has settled far too many minor awards to take at a small price. #3 Nikolina might be stretched farther than her damside pedigree suggests, but intigues enough to include underneath. Picks 2-1-3.Del Mar: Race 3 | $150,000 Best Pal StakesNot unexpected, the Best Pal has been dominated by Bob Baffert’s 12 career wins, including each of the last 4. #3 Hughes debuted like a 3-5 should at Los Al and has trained well since. Liked the gallop-out from his July 25 bullet work over this track as seen at 1st.tv. Speedball #2 He Is No Lie nearly parlayed a Santa Anita debut dash win into Churchill Downs’ Bashford Manor score. He dueled the favorite into a 12-length defeat, but was nailed late by a 31-1 shot. This looks like the right pair but short prices in an uncreative opinion. #6 Kennyten romped in his SA debut, while his 2-3 pursuers already have returned to finish second in maiden heats. Picks 3-2-6.Del Mar: Race 4 | claimingTurf sprint claimer has at least 4 runners on paper who could cook early, setting this up for a finisher. The slight cut-back for #4 Tigerhon should suit him for a stalk-and-pounce under Hector Berrios, riding turf with success this meeting. Another in a line of Bated Breath offspring who relish this grass. Best bet early in the card and will feather out some depth underneath for the exotics. #5 Code Duello is the early pace player I trust most, dropping in class and so consistent on grass. He’s often hammered in the betting, so be price sensitive. #7 Regal Patriot likes to win races (45% 9-20 lifetime) and returns from the long layoff while dropping in class for a Steve Knapp barn that has struggled. Big shot to #11 Doncic if that one draws in off the also-eligible list, even from a tough post. Picks 4/11-5-7-3-1-8.Del Mar: Race 5 | claimingThe best maiden win in this non-winners of 2 lifetime claimer belongs to #2 Ima Track Star, and he’s merely 1-for-3 in a race loaded with horses mired at this condition for a long time. Pace looks fair, but if he’s simply faster than these it won’t be a surprise. Next door, #3 Desert Kat just missed for us at 13-1 earlier in the meet and returns in a similar spot. He’s part of a long line of tough beats for trainer George Papaprodromou this summer so far. Deserves a look, especially if price is right. #8 Chapter One has 1 “where’d that come from?” race surrounded by a bunch of lesser efforts. Hard to trust, but scary at his random best. Picks 2-3-8.Del Mar: Race 6 | maiden special weightHalf of these 10 exit the same July 18 Del Mar maiden turf mile won by a prior 0-for-4 runner. Now extending to 9 furlongs, I’m apt to reach for a fresh face. #3 Khonsu hasn’t raced since December and never on turf, but I’ll take a shot he fires early fresh in a paceless heat. The American Pharoahs have been better on turf, and the damside pedigree from an unraced dam leans grass. Second dam was a Calder turf stakes winner and the dam was half-sister to a Del Mar Green Flash Stakes turf sprint runner-up. Working sharp and we nailed an Adam Kitchingman sharp worker last week. #9 Path to Power is the other fresh face I like. The British export has all-day genes for the 9 furlongs and returns gelded and with blinkers. #1 Corkscrew Andy preferred among the July 18 returnees – quickest to return to the workout tab after that race and gets a much better post than harpooned in 10-hole last time. Picks 3-9-1.Del Mar: Race 7 | maiden special weightA spread race with no overly confident options to this eye. #6 Her Strut and #8 Take Revenge tried to close July 18 in a common event where the 1-2 finishers led throughout. Former’s trainer George Papaprodromou has better second-start stats and gets the slight nod. #4 Big Blast seemed to get better as his July 23 Del Mar 3-horse team drill from the gate went along, as seen on video. Best of the rookies. #3 Just Work It Out, albeit green, has been fast from the gate on video and might get the front for sharp debut barn John Sadler. Picks 6-4-3-8-2.Del Mar: Race 8 | $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes#4 Princess Moche could get loose on the lead while making another sprint-to-route bid. Note she’s 2-for-2 when immediately extending the trip since arriving in the US from Peru. Those wins came on 17 and 21-day quick returns, so her 14-day rebound from the Daisycutter earlier this meet might be right on plan for hot-going Doug O’Neill. #5 Take a Breath gives herself a lot to overcome late but fits well with this group and should be firing in the lane like she was in last year’s Del Mar Oaks. Another Bated Breath offspring to fear on this course. Mike Maker doesn’t ship many west but #2 Sweet Rebecca was very good on a top-of-ground kind of turf at Lone Star and that will play well and similar to Del Mar. Shrewd road trip. #8 Whiskey Decision also comes west, and notably was runner-up last out to Gimme a Nother, who since returned to win last Saturday’s Beverly D at Colonial Downs. Good options in this race. Picks 4-5-2-8.Del Mar: Race 9 | allowance / optional claiming#4 Supernal won a similar condition at Los Al last out and returns Saturday for the optional claiming price to remain eligible. Six-time winner from 21 starts faces less-accomplished rivals. Has run well for Steve Knapp and Doug O’Neill through prior claims and looking for Isidro Tamayo to keep him in form. #9 Matt At Five was clearly second-best in his local unveiling July 17 and smoked a bullet since for Peter Miller. Remains on tilt and a big threat. #1 Special Club has run well over the track, but loses Juan Hernandez to #3 Miss Jo’s Curlin, perhaps a sneaky indicator on that turf runner coming off a year layoff. Picks 4-9-1-3.Del Mar: Race 10 | maiden claiming#3 Lucky Sniper didn’t want to settle when last seen in May, but since gelded and could be a different horse on the class drop if able to relax. Should be a lot of pace here drawn in the middle of the field and pace sets up for some patience. #1 Heroic Dose has been in drama through both starts but Jeff Mullins’ turfers are firing and could improve with a clean go. #5 Non Domicile might be best of a fast pace scenario but stamina comes into question. Leaning mostly on the top pair. Picks 3-1-5.

One of the biggest days of the summer is upon us in upstate New York on Saturday where it is Whitney Day at Saratoga. The $1M Grade 1 at 1 1/8 miles is the headliner, but there are a trio of other Grade 1 events, as well as a plethora of loaded maiden and allowance races.The big day also marks another chance at our popular Exacta-Thon promotion at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Details and registering are on the landing page, but the goal is to hit as many $2 exactas as possible over the course of the day. $5k is up for grabs with $3k split between all of those who can connect on five with the other $2k going to the customer(s) that hit the most.The 14-race slate gets started at 11:45 PM eastern. Here are my thoughts on each race.Grade Descriptions: A= Highest Degree of Confidence, B= Solid Play, C= Least Preferred or Pass, X= Likely Winner but at odds probably too short to wager on.Race 1:Grade: B-Use: 4 With Luck Forward; 3 Gorillaz; 5 Star SaluteForecast: The card gets started with this 6.5-furlong dash for 2YOs where there is strong pedigrees amongst the nine first-time starters entered. #3 Gorillaz is a half-brother to Magnitude and is listed as the 5-2-ML favorite for Danny Gargan. I included him in my top few along with Dr. Venkman’s half-brother #5 Star Salute, but will ride the hot hand of Todd Pletcher on top at what should be a fair price. #4 With Luck Forward is out of a Speightstown mare that won first out sprinting at Gulfstream Park and has already produced a pair of runners that also won at first asking. He comes in off a steady series of local drills and lures Jose Ortiz.Race 2:Grade: C+Use: 6 Iron Confessor; 10 Implied Open; 8 MystrixForecast: I struggled finding something I liked with confidence in the second division of the 6.5-furlong dash for 2YOs, so I took a swing with #6 Iron Confessor. Trainer Amelia Green has not had much luck so far this summer at the Spa and has had no success on her own thus far with first-time starters. That said, she worked under Todd Pletcher for some time, so it is likely more of a stock thing than anything she specifically is not doing to have them cranked at first asking. Her statistics should help the price on #6 Iron Confessor. The son of Basin commanded $190k at the OBS March ’26 sale, which is noteworthy since his sire stands for just $5k. The fact Green attracts Flavien Prat leads me to believe this colt has some talent and worth a swing in a wide-open start to the early Pick 4.Race 3:Grade: B-Use: 4 Vibe/6 Yo DaddyForecast: There is a noticeable lack of early speed in this $130k allowance, which should benefit #4 Vibe assuming he is no worse for the wear after being pulled up out of the Met Mile (G1) in early June. The $3M Keeneland September ’23 purchase came into his first stakes start on a three-race winning streak and should have no issue controlling the pace on the stretch out with Irad Ortiz Jr. jumping onboard for the initial time. If he is right and loose on the lead, I expect him to be very tough to catch. If Vibe fails to fire his best shot, #6 Yo Daddy is a solid alternative. Trainer Linda Rice is heating up and this son of Yoshida cuts back in distance after a stalk and fade in the Suburban (G2).Race 4:Grade: C+Use: 1 Consumer Sentiment; 8 Lovely ChristinaForecast: I struggled to get creative in this first-level allowance over the grass where 2-1-ML favorite #1 Consumer Sentiment has not raced in 16 months, but still appears the one to beat. The daughter of Speightstown found a favorable mid-pack spot from her outside draw in her turf debut last May before winning for fun. The time off is a concern as always, but she has six works in succession for a barn that can have them ready off the bench. Plus, she draws favorably along the rail and gets Flavien Prat for the first time. She is the one to beat, but not one I am rushing to bet. Perhaps, #8 Lovely Christina will give her a run for her money. The Vekoma filly tries the grass for the first time. She is out of a Wildcat Heir mare that earned 7 of her 8 career wins over the grass and gets Irad in the saddle.Race 5:Grade: B-Use: 3 Agoo; 7 TagermeenForecast: A pair of 3YOs tackling older competition are expected to take the most money by oddsmaker David Aragona with #6 Pretty Boy Miah listed as the 2-1-top choice. The son of Beau Liam very well could appreciate the cutback to a sprint after being caught wide into the first turn in his third-place finish going 1 1/8-miles last out, but that price is far too short for me. I outright prefer 3-1-second choice #7 Tagermeen who failed to win as a juvenile, but took on some of the fastest 2YOs in the land. He won professionally off the layoff to kick off his 3YO campaign and should get another great trip under Jose Ortiz. He is the likeliest winner, but #3 Agoo is the horse I am more excited to wager on. The range of outcomes is high on this 5YO making his first start since October ’24, but he has been working steadily for some time for trainer Whit Beckman. Picking a spot on Whitney Day for his return appears to be a tell that he is ready to roll.Race 6:Grade: B-Use: 3 Red Poppy; 6 Aerial Affair; 7 Dulce VitaForecast: #6 Aerial Affair ran big in her first start. She did not break well and made a big middle move trying to catch up to impressive first out winner Angel of Kirk. The Flightline filly was passed late for the runner-up spot, but was clearly second best that day. She should improve with the experience under her belt, but meets what appears to be a loaded field. #7 Dulce Vita has the pedigree I like most in terms of precocity, but Todd Pletcher’s barn is going too well to overlook. The Hall of Fame conditioner is 10 for 27 over the last 15 days at the Spa for a $4.03 ROI and sends out #3 Red Poppy. The bottom side pedigree is fine, but far from overwhelming, yet she sold for $900k at Ocala in April. She has been working strong, including a bullet best of 26 five-furlong drill on August 1. I am expecting a big effort the way this barn is going of late.Race 7:Grade: CUse: 4 Write Off Jerry; 1 Monterey Bay; 8 Fort ThomasForecast: I struggled to make heads or tails of this first-level allowance over the Inner Turf, so logically I will take a swing with a big price. #4 Write Off Jerry makes his first start off the claim for trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci after being caught wide throughout in a similar spot in early July. The son of Practical Joke moves to an inside post, ran well in his other two starts over the Saratoga green, and gets a positive rider upgrade at the moment to Manny Franco. I like him most given value in a race I can see just about anything happening in.Race 8:Grade: C+Use: 1 Djokovic; 6 Port in a Storm; 12 And the Runner Is; 7 Revenue StreamForecast: This MSW event for 2YOs at 1 1/16-miles over the Inner Turf is another race where there are plenty of ways to go. The ML favorites #7 Revenue Stream and #12 And the Runner is make plenty of sense. And the Runner is nearly got there on debut, but fell short and finished second. He retains Irad, but draws once again unfavorably. Revenue Stream is one of several first-timers entered. He might want longer in the end, but gets Prat for a barn obviously capable. They are more likely to win than others, but it is a betting game and #1 Djokovic and #6 Port in a Storm are the values. Djokovic is out of a fantastic female family and draws the rail on debut, while Port in a Storm is a half-brother to Limited Liability. Shug McGaughey has had a slow summer, but is still capable of popping with a two-turn horse debuting over the lawn.Race 9: Test (G1)Grade: BUse: 1 Movie Night/3 Sippin PrettyForecast: The first of the four Grade 1 races is the premier event of the summer for 3YO filly sprinters and it drew yet another strong field. #7 Explora was made the 5-2-ML favorite off of her win over #6 On Time Girl two months ago at Churchill Downs. Both the Bob Baffert and Brad Cox trainees fit well in here, but I prefer a pair of fillies with a bit less experience.#1 Movie Night is my top choice. This Winstar Farm homebred has done almost nothing wrong through three starts and should get an honest to pace to chase. The fact she has to deal with the rail for the first time is the main concern, but gets the right man in the saddle in Jose Ortiz. #3 Sippin Pretty has also done little wrong yet for Ian Wilkes, but her one chance against On Time Girl led to a disappointing effort. She should get another great trip though at a fair price under Ricardo Santana Jr. after a perfect one in her win in the Victory Ride (G3) last month.Race 10: Fourstardave (G1)Grade: B-Use: 1 Rhetorical; 7 LagynosForecast: I am hoping for a Will Walden Grade 1 double since I landed on NY-bred #1 Rhetorical in this year’s Fourstardave. The son of Not This Time has competed in races that are a bit longer than he prefers since the Turf Classic (G1) and the Manhattan (G1) were the best spots for him, but he should relish getting back to eight-furlongs. He was too good for the field two-back on Derby Day, but the distance clearly caught up with him last out. Now, the 5YO gelding draws the rail and should get a dream run in the pocket with Irad back in the saddle. He is likely to be tough to get by late. If the race falls apart late, the underappreciated #7 Lagynos is the likeliest to run by them all. The Steve Asmussen trainee has won 10 of 28 overall, including five in a row. I am not sure his late kick is at its best at one-mile, but it will probably be good enough if he gets the right setup.Race 11: Saratoga Derby (G1)Grade: C+Use: 4 Title Role; 10 West End Kid/6 GlaciusForecast: I lack a strong opinion in this 1 3/16-mile event for 3YOs over the grass other than 3-1-favorite #3 Remember Mamba appears once again unlikely to get the right setup for his strong late kick. Last out in the Belmont Derby (G1), Jose Ortiz had the Kitten’s Joy colt closer than expected due to a slow early tempo. With the lack of speed once again signed on, he is probably going to have to be much the best to get to the wire first. I will try to get the jump on him with #4 Title Role and #10 West End Kid. They finished 1-2 last out besting Remember Mamba by a neck and have the tactical speed from the gate that the favorite lacks.Race 12: Whitney (G1)Grade: C+Use: 3 Antiquarian; 5 White AbarrioForecast: The featured event drew the top three from the Stephen Foster (G1) run over the sloppy going in late June. #1 Magnitude wired out the field that day earning his fourth straight win, but I am not so sure the Winchell Thoroughbreds colt is going to have things too easy on the front end in the Whitney. With the filly #2 Nitrogen to his immediate outside and #4 Forged Steel not too far away, it is hard to see a scenario outside of gate issues that lead to an easy lead for the near $10M earner.#8 Baeza ran by stablemate #6 Sovereignty easily in the lane in the Foster despite another terrible break from the starting gate. Baeza clearly has a lot of ability, but something appears to be missing from a mental standpoint making him tough to trust. Sovereignty is likely to run his race, but I do not think his best stands out in 2026 like it did a year ago. Plus, he is almost certain to be an underlay.The lack of excitement in the three favorites’ chances at their likely off odds has me looking for a price. #5 White Abarrio is definitely worth consideration if he gets overlooked in the wagering. The son of Race Day has not performed at his best at Saratoga, but should get a great trip and obviously has races that beat this group. I ended up landing on #3 Antiquarian though. As mentioned already, the Todd Pletcher barn is on fire and this horse has had excuses in his last three. He has raced twice this year at too sharp of a distance and then last time did not have much go his way when chasing gate-to-wire winner Phileas Fogg. The son of Preservationist has run some big races over his 13-race career and gets hot riding Manny Franco aboard at a square price.Race 13:Grade: BUse: 3 Helen’s RevengeForecast: There should be an honest pace in this first-level allowance at 7-furlongs, which bodes well for the chances of #3 Helen’s Revenge. The Linda Rice trainee rattled off three wins in a row this spring at Aqueduct before finishing third in a race here in early June where the speeds ran 1-2 around the track. She did well to finish third and now gets a rider upgrade to Flavien Prat. Hopefully, we get the 6-1-ML offering.Race 14:Grade: C+Use: 4 Versailles Road; 6 Very Connected; 8 Miztronic; 9 Stark; 5 Light CavForecast: The pace should also be honest in the finale assuming both #1 Rothschild and #7 Complex Agenda remain in the field. Many handicappers will look to 7-2-favorite #2 General Partner, but I lack interest in the Kingman colt. He has failed twice as the public choice since breaking his maiden a year ago over this course. I am not convinced the added ground will make enough of a difference. I will use a number of runners against the chalk to close things out, including another Todd Pletcher runner as my top choice. #4 Versailles Road broke his maiden in gate-to-wire fashion, but is unlikely to be on the lead in this spot. He ran a solid third in a similar spot in his first try versus winners and moves to a more favorable inside draw.

Throughout August, Tuesdays and Thursdays stay hot at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet with our Midsummer Money promotion. Bet $100, Get $10 on select tracks this month. Next up Thursday will be Canterbury Park. Here’s how I’ll approach the card in Minnesota with an assist from the Betmix Angler database.Canterbury Race 6 | 8:34 pm ET#4 I’ll Make Bank (12-1 morning line odds) catches a smallish field size for turf (7) and will be flying on the front end if he takes to grass at all. Trainer Patrick Fields is 4-11 at the meet with limited starters, more notable 3 of his last 4 ($6, $9, $13) with 2 of those on turf. Win bet #4. Exacta key-box 4 with 3,6. Picks: 4-3-6Canterbury Race 9 | pm ET#4 Tiger Hunter (6-1 morning line odds) got an old-school sprint prep in the return and now goes sprint-to-route while second off the layoff. Trainer Chip Woolley of Mine That Bird fame has seen his barn take off in recent weeks, with 3 wins ($6, $8, $23) and 2 seconds in his last 8 starters. Win bet #4. Exacta key-box 4 with 3,5. Daily Double 4-2 to Woolley’s 5-2 shot Ize a Blast in the finale. Picks: 4-3-5

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Canterbury Park | today’s racesWoodbine Mile Flyaway Sweepstakes | earn up to 4 entries todayTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Saratoga Feeder | details$80 Del Mar Feeder | details$40 Canterbury Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 5 | Colonial Downs | $15,458 | begins Race 5 | 2:30 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | Charles Town | $62,187 | begins Race 4 | 8:32 pm ETKEY RACESSaratoga | Race 9 | 5:44 pm ET | Morrissey StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXWoodbine | Race 1 | 3:10 pm ETHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 4 | 3:43 pm ETDel Mar | Race 8 | 8:36 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHRonney Brown | Charles Town | 5 of 6 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | nationally | favorites won 40 of 86 Thoroughbred races (47%)PUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Saratoga Spot Plays for ThursdayJeremy Plonk: Del Mar Spot Plays for ThursdayJeremy Plonk: Canterbury Park Bet $100, Get $10 Promo PicksFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Whitney Week in Saratoga Springs heats up on Thursday with a solid ten-race card that kicks off at 1:10 PM eastern. The day includes a NY-bred stakes event over the main track and a pair of high-quality allowances over the grass. Here are the horses I like most.Race 2:My first play comes in this state-bred MSW event for 2YOs at 1 1/16-miles over the Inner Turf where the field of ten is led by 5-2-ML favorite #5 Al Mowashaah. The pricey Tiz the Law colt debuted at Aqueduct going 5.5-furlongs over the main track in June where he was outrun by all three rivals as the 8-5-public choice. He stretches out to two turns for Brad Cox, tries the grass, and attracts Irad Ortiz Jr., but is likely to get over bet based on connections. So, I will try to beat the chalk with first-time starter #3 Howard’s Hope. The son of Karakontie makes his first start for trainer Horacio De Paz. De Paz has had a strong summer thus far at the Spa winning with 6 of 19 for an ROI of $6.89 and this gelding is bred on both sides to appreciate the surface and distance. Manny Franco is riding well, so him being in the saddle brings confidence along with a favorable inside draw for the Barry Schwartz owned runner.Play: #3 Howard’s Hope (9-2 ML)Picks: 3-7-2Race 8:#2 Starship Titan is halfway through his 5YO season, yet the Michelle Nevin trainee has only raced four times. The son of Not This Time clearly has soundness issues, but has been serious when running over the grass thus far. He broke his maiden via DQ a little over a year to the day over a good turf course before springing the upset at 39-1 in a first-level allowance at Aqueduct last October. Nevin gave Starship Titan lots of time off after the big victory before bringing him back last month in a similar spot at one-mile where he rode the rail throughout in an attempt to run down the lone speed winner. He was unable to get there missing by three-quarters of a length in the end, but it is a great sign he returns quickly. The stretch out to nine-furlongs and favorable inside draw only add to the case of the 5-2-choice on David Aragona’s morning line.Plays: #2 Starship Titan (5-2 ML)Picks: 2-9-1Race 9: John MorrisseyThe featured event for NY-breds traveling seven-furlongs over the main track came up extremely competitive evidenced by the 7-2-ML favorite. I will take a swing here with #5 Buttah. The son of Leofric moved into the Ilkay Kantarmaci barn this spring and rattled off a pair of strong efforts in open company first-level allowance events since. The most recent one came over this surface during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival when he used an inside trip to get to the wire first at odds of 29-1. Now, the 4YO colt moves back into the NY-bred ranks and competes over a racetrack he has won 2 of 4 over thus far. His tactical speed should allow him to find a prominent spot early, but also not force him to go with a couple of runners that probably need the lead to be at their best. Buttah heads into this spot fresh and in the best form of his career. Javier Castellano will hope to make it two upset wins in a row in the saddle.Play: #5 Buttah (12-1 ML)Picks: 5-6-7

Del Mar opens Week 4 of the summer meet Thursday with an 8-race card that includes 4 maiden tilts. Favorites are 10-41 (24%) in maiden races so far this stand with an average winner a shade over 6-1 odds. No reason to stop our pursuit of good, mid-level prices that have been a hallmark of the first 10 days of action. The 57 top picks in this space have returned $164.00 for a juicy $2.88 ROI for every $2 bet and an average winner paying $12.62. First post Thursday is 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT.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 Saturday).Del Mar: Race 2 | 5:30 pm ET#4 Berry Valley (12-1 morning line odds) has the 2-sprints-to-a-route form cycle off the layoff that can produce major improvement and note she was a winner the last time raced around 2 turns. Trainer Librado Barocio has just 3 sprint-to-dirt-mile moves on his ledger at Del Mar the past 5 summer seasons, winning twice (including a $94.40 bomber). Win-place bet #4. Exacta key-box 4 with 1,7,3. Picks 4-1-7.Del Mar: Race 6 | 7:34 pm ET#4 Street Swindler (5-1 morning line odds) looks to keep the Mark Glatt-trained maidens honed-in at this Del Mar meet. They’ve gone 10: 3-2-1 with a 59% flat-bet profit, including 2-for-3 with debuts ($9, $12 while a 16-1 shot ran fourth in the other). Son of local Pacific Classic winner Candy Ride and note this one’s dam Flash Magic debuted a good second on the local dirt in 2020. She’s from the same female family as Good Magic, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar winner. Looks like they’ve been aiming here for months. Win bet #4. Picks 4-1-8Del Mar: Race 8 | 8:36 pm ET#7 Grievous Angel (6-1 morning line odds) returns from a year layoff and resurfaces with a barn change to Steve Knapp. This filly was live on the tote in her even-running debut last summer and fired a bullet gate work here July 30 to signify sharpness. The Tough Sunday offspring have been wildly successful and profitable over the Del Mar dirt in recent years, and she’ll get her first chance to add to that. Win bet #7. Picks 7-2-9

The Lead:Mountaineer's biggest card of racing takes place Sunday with the Grade 3 $400,000 West Virginia Derby headlining a 9-race twilight card that also includes the $200,000 West Virginia Governor's Stakes. First post will be 5:00 pm ET with horses representing the stables of Steve Asmussen, Kenny McPeek, Saffie Joseph Jr. among the marquee, along with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.Horseplayers at Xpressbet be sure to check out the $500 West Virginia Derby Day Pegasus World Cup Betting Challenge qualifying tournament.​​Field Depth:Grade 3 winner TRENDSETTER has the field's signature score. He and BULL BY THE HORNS have held the top strength of schedule in this field.​Pace:Controlling speed should be from WAYNE'S LAW and J J GREY in some fashion, either capable of leading. Unless a third horse unexpectedly gets into the fray, this should be controlled up front over 9 furlongs.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.1-NEHALEM: Indiana shipper totally over his head off of claiming efforts and lacks any early foot to even factor in how they race will be run.2-BAYTOWN DREAMER: 1-for-15 performer has finished 11th in his last 2 graded stakes on dirt and is now 0-9 in stakes at all levels. Gets local legend Deshawn Parker and a ground-saving trip, but that’s not enough to get him onto my ticket.3-TRENDSETTER: No doubt fits on class with this group after winning the Lexington at Keeneland and holding solid form through the Peter Pan and Ohio Derby. But he’s lost margin on the back half of his 2-turn races in 3 of 4 attempts and looks to hit a wall at 9 furlongs. Obvious exotics contender, but prefer others for the trophy.4-J J GREY: Iowa Derby winner is 4-for-4 in 2-turn dirt routes and squarely the horse to beat. He’ll pick up 7-8 pounds off his last 2 stakes wins. The Kenny McPeek trainee’s BRIS late pace figures of 98, 100 and 104 in his last 3 wins make him doubly tough if he’s first or second turning for home, which he projects to be in a race without a slew of front-runners.5-ZIHNAL: Connections have shopped this one in stakes all over the country, including a few scratches that don’t show on his past performances. They obviously feel he’s better than a 1-for-4 record may indicate. May have moved too soon in the Indiana Derby when flattening out to fourth and now adds blinkers, which can help rectify such mistakes. Gets in at 118 pounds (6 fewer than the favorites), which doesn’t hurt, nor does the presence of jockey John Velazquez. But the pilot likely puts a dent in the 6-1 morning line price. I’ll make him prove it.6-MAXIMUM EFFORT: We’ve seen maiden Ocelli have success in this 3-year-old crop in further earning minor shares of big-money races, so this is Ocelli Lite, if you will. Winless in 8 starts, he’s been around the fringes in the Texas and Iowa Derbies. Rallying last to third in Iowa is not easy as Prairie Meadows is highly speed-favoring, so the 2-1/2 lengths he needs to make up on J J Grey could be erased with a venue change and an additional sixteenth of a mile. An 8-pound shift in weights in Maximum Effort’s favor also helps the case. Steve Asmussen has won a record 6 editions of the West Virginia Derby, most recently 2023 with Red Route One. No surprise to be the late threat to fear Sunday.7-WAYNE’S LAW: Gulfstream Park-based colt adds blinkers for the first time and has an interesting mix of past performances that haven’t promoted any semblance of consistency. He’s bounced from sprints to routes and tossed in a turf attempt to good. What intrigues me is the 2 best BRIS late pace figures of his career came in his 2-turn dirt routes, 103 in Florida Derby and 99 in the Sam F. Davis when taking on divisional title contenders like Renegade and Commandment, last week’s 1-2 finishers in the Jim Dandy. The only other speed in the race besides J J GREY and carries 6 fewer pounds. Consider.8-BULL BY THE HORNS: Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has summered this one at Saratoga as part of an extended road trip since the Fountain of Youth. Lack of early speed a problem and adding blinkers last out didn’t help, so they’ve been removed. Out of the money in all 3 career dirt stakes bids, uncompetitive in each. Barn is going well nationally in stakes and did ship here to win the 2022 West Virginia Derby with Skippylongstocking. Needs a career-best to consider.Most Likely Exotics Contender:J J GREY has yet to be beaten around 2 turns and is the best finisher in the race by the metrics.Best Longshot Contender:WAYNE'S LAW is 8-1 morning line and could be in the hunt from the opening bell.​​Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$50 exacta part-wheel J J GREY over WAYNE'S LAW and MAXIMUM EFFORT ($100).