The final weekend of the Breeders’ Cup Bankroll Builder is nearly upon us with the World Championships rapidly approaching at Keeneland. This means three more chances to earn a $5 bonus for wagering $25+ in single-race wagers on a select race October 23, 24, and/or 25. The month-long promotion that gives customers a chance to earn a total of $60 to be deposited into your account before Future Stars Friday (October 30) concludes with a trio of stakes races beginning with the Valley View in Kentucky on Friday. Here are my thoughts on the final three chances to build your Breeders’ Cup Bankroll via this promo at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet.Keeneland, Friday, Race 9: Valley View (G2)6-5-ML favorite brings the strongest resume into this two-turn turf race for 3YO fillies and gets a rider change to Irad Ortiz Jr. after a passive ride from Junior Alvarado in the Winter Memories (G3) three weeks ago. It is easy to make a case the Munnings filly could have done better than second beaten three-quarters of a length at Belmont on October 1, but she is going to get over bet either way. I like #3 Define quite a bit as an alternative. The Irish-bred has two wins and a stalk and fade effort at 50-1 in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) on her record since arriving in the States this summer. I love the fact she has tactical speed from the gate. This should allow jockey Tyler Gaffalione to find a comfortable, ground saving position early and get the jump on the late runners when they turn for home. The Farfellow Farms filly looks like a pretty legitimate racehorse since arriving. Hopefully, that leads to a career best run and her first graded stakes win in what could be her final start of 2026.Play: #3 Define (9-2 ML)Picks: 3-5-7Santa Anita, Saturday, Race 7: Senator Ken MaddyThe Saturday feature at the Great Race Place is a 6.5-furlong event over the beautiful Hillside Turf Course where it appears Hall of Famer Richard Mandella found a great spot for #2 Amorita. The daughter of Liam’s Map set the pace against the boys last time out in the Eddie D (G2) before giving way late to finish third to hard hitting Sorrento Sky. Amorita has only 1 of 9 over this course, but most of those starts were good runs against quality competition. Her tactical speed from the gate is likely to allow Kazushi Kimura to fall into a perfect pocket spot off the likely pacesetters drawn to the outside. The $260k Keeneland September ’23 purchase should be set for her best.Play: #2 Amorita (7-5 ML)Picks: 2-4-8Santa Anita, Sunday, Race 9: Autumn Miss (G3)The Breeders’ Cup Bankroll Builder promotion concludes in style with this stakes group travelling two-turns over the Santa Anita sod. The one-mile Grade 3 for 3YO fillies drew a solid field of 11 where I like #8 Green Carrera. The British-bred won 3 of 7 in the United Kingdom before shipping into Southern California in time for the Del Mar Oaks (G1) in late August. The daughter of Lope De Vega took a good deal of public support off the plane going off at 7-2 and ran well despite a slow break from the gate. Umberto Rispoli was aboard in the first voyage in the States and opts to ride the Leonard Powell trainee back in on the class drop. She should be tough to hold off assuming she does not leave herself with too much to do this time.Play: #8 Green CarreraPicks: 8-2-1

Following the West Virgina Breeders Classics and Oklahoma Classics in recent weeks, the state-bred hits continue this Saturday with a quartet of stakes bonanzas. More than 30 stakes for the homeboys and homegirls are on tap in a single afternoon, all with early post times.Cue up:• Empire Showcase Day at Belmont;• Best of Ohio at Mahoning Valley;• Indiana Champions Day at Horseshoe Indianapolis;• Jim McKay Maryland Million Day from Laurel Park, the granddaddy of them all.Each series presents different challenges, but no matter the state or the season, divisional dominance is a common thread nationally in these regional championships. Many will offer standouts to build around in multi-race bets or to take a chance at knocking off and cashing a longshot.Let’s get to work.//Laurel Park: Jim McKay Maryland Million Day | first post 11:15 am ETSeries Forecast: Saturday’s 12-race menu includes 9 stakes and 3 starter handicaps. Leading active trainers in the Maryland Million series by wins are Jerry Robb (12), Mike Trombetta (11) and Hamilton Smith (10) – all with multiple entrants this year. Jockey Jevian Toledo (21) passed retired legends Edgar Prado (18), Ramon Dominguez (17) and Mario Pino (16) at the top of the rider’s list and looks to pad his series record. For more on the Maryland Million Classic, see our Xpressbet Race of the Week analysis.Heavy Hitters:• Defending champion #2 Barbadian Runner is the big dog now in the Race 11 $150K Classic after dethroning the since-retired Maryland superstar Post Time a year ago.• Paco Lopez will be in town to ride #7 Thundering, winner of Laurel’s open-company JRA Turf Cup and third in Monmouth’s Grade 2 United Nations, in the Race 10 $125K Turf.• #2 Takethemoneyhoney makes a long-awaited March return in the Race 7 $100K Distaff as she’s 2 noses and a head shy of being 10-for-10 lifetime.One to Watch:• Race 6 Turf Sprint | #4 Had to Have Him | Defending champ has excuses this year but comes back freshened for a Salzman barn that’s doing everything right of late. Others here figure to take money and help hold the price.//Horseshoe Indianapolis: Indiana Champions Day | first post 12:00 pm ETSeries Forecast: 13-race card opens with 7 Thoroughbred stakes before pivoting into 6 American Quarter Horse events. Races 3-7 make up an all-stakes pick 5 for the Thoroughbreds. As usual, the big money in the AQHA game is with the 2-year-olds as $326K and $386K futurity finals go in Races 11 and 12. Tomas Medina is the only trainer this season at Horseshoe Indy to win 3 Thoroughbred stakes and has a full hand to play in those races Saturday.Heavy Hitters:• Three-time local stakes winner #10 Spirited Justice tops the Race 6 $150K Lady Fog Horn for 3-year-old fillies.• The Race 7 $150K Unreachable Star for 3-year-olds gives #8 Hard Lucky Player a big chance for his third straight stakes win at the meet and ninth straight exacta finish.• On the AQHA side, #7 Tachas Secret looks for a 16th career win over her home track while rematching with last year’s Race 10 $111K Indiana Championship winner #3 Mr Michel.One to Watch:• Race 6 Lady Fog Horn Handicap | #1 Relentless Chick | Rail speed steps up in class while sharp for respected barn and has been sprinting all along with total route pedigree. Favorites are all harpooned out wide and could give them the slip at 8-1 morning line.//Belmont Park: New York Showcase Day | first post 12:05 pm ETSeries Forecast: The 11-race program includes 10 stakes beginning in Race 2 and shifts back to Belmont Park after a 3-year run at Aqueduct during the reconstruction. Races 6-11 make up an all-stakes pick 6. Jockey Manny Franco’s 5 stakes wins during the new Belmont meet are tops among all riders while 9-23 in the stakes exacta. Chad Brown has entrants in 4 New York Showcase events as he looks to pad his meet-best total of 4 stakes wins.Heavy Hitters:• Chad Brown’s Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf winner #3 Spirit of St Louis tops the playbill in the Race 5 $200K Mohawk at 1-1/8 miles on grass.• Defending $200K Hudson champ #7 The Wine Steward returns to the scene of his sprint score in Race 8 after a brief 2026 campaign for Mike Maker.• #3 Valtellina and #2 Bernietakescharge renew their 1-2 rivalry from last year’s $250K Empire Distaff when they start alongside one another in Race 4.One to Watch:• Race 9 NY Turf Sprint Championship | #2 Waralo | looks absolutely loose on the lead and could be gone if Jose Lezcano can get him to quickly clear the rail horse. Already with a big run over the new course whereas others need to discover it.//Mahoning Valley: Best of Ohio Day | first post 12:15 pm ETSeries Forecast: Races 6-10 comprise the stakes from 6 furlongs to 1-1/4 miles on dirt. That sequence includes a Best of Ohio pick 5 wager. Mahoning Valley’s new meet opened Monday. Tim Hamm (24) and Jeff Radosevich (22) lead all Mahoning Valley trainers in stakes wins the past decade and will be going head-to-head in Races 8-9-10.Heavy Hitters:• Dash maven #5 Silent Rule has won 12 of 13 starts and tops the marquee in the Race 8 $100K Best of Ohio Sprint but runs smack-dab into a 7-race win streak by #7 Superwolf. That’s a fantastic showdown.• Heavily favored #5 Fair and Square makes a fourth appearance in the Race 10 $100K Best of Ohio Endurance, winning the 1-1/4 miles classic trip in 2023 and finishing second each of the past 2 years.• Unbeaten Hoover and Cleveland Kindergarten winner #7 Book Value looks to go to 4-for-4 in the Race 7 $100K Best of Ohio Juvenile.One to Watch:• Race 6 John W. Galbreath Stakes | #7 Box Office Hit | Simulcast audience will crush Brendan Walsh’s romping Miss Ohio Stakes winner #4 Panda Listen, who returns home after a Del Mar Debutante foray, but she’s no guarantee to route or bounce back from a disrobing. This is the lone filly who looks like she wants to close and pedigree is route on route as she stretches out for the first time.

There’s something in the air at Santa Anita Park on Friday afternoons. The $3 All-Turf Pick 3 paid $657, $824 and $3,470 the last three weeks. There are shorter fields in this week’s sequence, covering races 3, 5 and 9. But until proven otherwise, there remains plenty of betting value.Santa Anita, Race 3 (4:59 p.m. EST)BURNING RUBBER, engulfed by the pursuing odds-on favorite and a pair of closers at 6F last out, will try to carry his speed farther on the class drop and become the first $100,000 turf earner in the field. But the 8-to-5 favorite offers little value, so use some others in this $30,000/nw3 claimer. SAMMY DAVIS chased eventual stakes-placed Track Tiger through fast fractions and finished second in allowance company in his lone try at today’s 6-1/2F distance. MIO BAMBINO, a steady upper-70 Beyer type, owns the top turf speed figure in the field and returns to the lawn in his second start off the claim. STARLIGHT BUZZIN pulled away from the 2-to-5 favorite and two other next-out winners when he won a main-track sprint here off similar rest in the Spring. He finished third in a 6F turf sprint won by two-time allowance winner Matt At Five (4-9, $238k).Santa Anita Race 5 (6:00 p.m. EST)HEY LIL LADY gathered momentum on the turn, angled widest for the stretch drive and finished full of run for second at 5F. She won at today’s distance in her second start this year and was out-kicked by the winning favorite at one mile two starts ago. She is a deserving favorite. WINIKA shook backstretch pressure and held off the deep closers to win going a route of ground and enhance trainer Jeff Mullins’ torrid 41-percent ‘repeat’ rate.Santa Anita, Race 9 (8:00 p.m. EST)DANZINGWITH MAXINE is 3-for-6 on the Santa Anita lawn. ISSA COURT is 18/3-2-4 and multiple stakes-placed on the grass. Both have six-figure bankrolls. Their six opponents are a combined 3-for-58 on turf. OVETA’S HOBBY makes the ticket as a longshot, having met four follow-up repeaters in nine starts this year, running competitively at this level and class rising off the claim by trainer Ryan Bratcher, who is 9-for-39 in the last 16 months with average winning payouts of 6-to-1.Suggested Pick 6SA 3rd race: 2, 3, 4, 5SA 5th race: 1, 2SA 9th Race: 1, 5, 6Cost for a $3 Ticket: $72

1/ST BREEDERS’ CUP WAGER GUIDENow available | daily updates | free accessEXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Charles Town | today’s racesTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Keeneland Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSSuper Hi 5 | $5,793 | Keeneland | Race 9 | 5:16 pm ETJackpot Super Hi 5 | $160,394 (CAN) | Woodbine | Race 8 | 6:54 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 3 | 3:11 pm ETBelmont | Race 8 | 5:05 pm ETDelta Downs | Race 4 | 7:04 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHAnthony Farrior | Charles Town | 4 of 5 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Keeneland, Remington Park | trainer Steve Asmussen | 5 wins (4 at RP)PUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Keeneland Daily Longshots to WatchScott Shapiro: Charles Town Bet $100, Get $10 Promo Picks for ThursdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer: best bets today in the Xpressbet member’s section

Each day during the 17-day Keeneland Fall Meet, I’ll spotlight the double-digit morning line prices that you’ll want to consider for your exotics plays. These are based on my top-3 choices in each race and will only appear if they’re in my mix and of significant odds.Race 4:#3 Sunfyre (10-1 ML) – One of the weaker maiden special weight casts you’ll see at Keeneland, this second-timer figures to improve some for an Ian Wilkes barn that doesn’t get much first out. That he goes to blinkers might be enough on the stretchout to get interesting inside with rail-riding Brian Hernandez.Race 5:#1 Night of Rose (20-1 ML) – Potential rail pace looked good on paper dropping out of the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon because that assignment ran head-long into star front-running favorite Stellify, who gutted the field. Nobody like that in here. What’s more? With the turf rail out 30 feet, both of Wednesday’s grass races were won wire-to-wire.Race 7:#4 Lobby Rendezvous (12-1 ML) – Trainer Matt Shirer has had back-to-back outstanding Kee Fall Meets with limited starters and he’s got this one in a great spot of her form cycle. She ran huge at Saratoga last summer in her only other second-off-the-layoff bid. She faces all the big power barns here, so the price will be right.Race 8:#8 Arrest Me Red (10-1 ML) – Wesley Ward is the king of Keeneland turf sprints and this one has fired big races fresh off the layoff in the past. The barn has 2 in here and this larger-priced offering is most intriguing to me.

October is beginning to wind down as Halloween and the Breeders’ Cup approach, which means just a few more chances to take advantage of 1/ST BET and Xpressbet’s “Bonus Boonanza”. Head on over to the promotional landing page if you are new to this one, but most of you know by now that you can earn a $10 bonus this month by playing a select track every Tuesday and Thursday. We went to Pennsylvania on Tuesday for some action at Parx and head southwest for today’s opportunity at Charles Town. The West Virginia-based venue plays host to an eight-race card that kicks off at 7PM eastern time. Here are a few horses that interest me.Race 2:My first play on the night comes in this first-level allowance at 1 1/16-miles where there does not appear to be much early speed signed on. I will try to take advantage with #1 Brother Conway. The 7YO gelding has been a bit camera shy in his ten races at Charlestown winning just 1 of 10, but finishing second four times. However, the lone victory came the last time this son of Lord Nelson was able to control a moderate early tempo. He comes off a well-beaten second to an odds-on favorite that stalked early and ran away late, but Nate the Great is in better form than the five rivals my top choice meets this evening. Hopefully, Brother Conway has enough left late to get to the wire first.Play: #1 Brother Conway (7-2 ML)Picks: 1-2-5Race 5:Speed is often dangerous in 4.5-furlong races for 2YOs. I am hopeful that is the case in the first leg of the late Pick 4 where I will try #3 Cash or Credit. The daughter of Mind Control races for the fourth time for trainer Kevin Boykins after chasing a dominant gate-to-wire winner that won the race at the start 20 days ago over this surface. The Big Run Stables runner draws towards the inside and has a significant chance of making the lead instead of being caught in chase mode throughout shortly before 9PM this evening. Victor Rodriguez has been in the irons for this gal’s first three starts and is back in the saddle this evening.Play: #3 Cash or Credit (7-2 ML)Picks: 3-8-6Race 7:#6 Pleasenthanku is unlikely to change your week or month, but the 4YO should be tough to beat in this state-bred optional claimer at 4.5-furlongs. The Javier Contreras homebred gets significant class relief in his second start of the month after a solid fourth-place finish at 20-1 in the West Virginia Dash for Cash Breeders’ Classic on October 10. He has the tactical speed to avoid leaving himself with too much to do late and should appreciate the decrease in competition.Play: #6 Pleasenthanku (6-5 ML)Picks: 6-1-2

The Lead:The 41st Jim McKay Maryland Million Day puts the Free State’s breeding program in the spotlight Saturday at Laurel Park over 12 races. Total purses of $1 million include 8 stakes and 4 starter allowance events. The main event, the $150,000 Classic, goes as Race 11 over the testing 1-1/8 miles distance (a full lap of the expansive Laurel main track).The undercard boasts two-time DeFrancis Dash runner-up Celtic Contender in the Sprint, the 7-year-old millionaire Witty in the Turf Sprint, 3-time local stakes winner Takethemoneyhoney in the Distaff, James F. Lewis Stakes winner Walt’s Notion in the Nursery and Grade 2 United Nations third-place finisher Thundering in the Turf.​​Field Depth:BARBADIAN RUNNER stands out on class with sprinter WICKEDDIVINE keep the second-best company lines in the field.​Pace:There’s a lot of speed for 1-1/8 miles, particularly with a series of stretch-out sprinters. A horse who can display some patience should have the field come back to him.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.1-MARKET MAVEN: Rail speed capitalizes on an advantageous draw with a short run into the first turn. He’ll get pressure from several sprinters but is more suited for the trip than most for Jamie Ness. Reasonable shot to land on the ticket.2-BARBADIAN RUNNER: Standout choice and defending champion beat 1-9 shot Post Time last year and wouldn’t be surprised if he’s close to that price in his title defense. No Post Time-level players here and should be a coronation late after finishing in smashing 35.95 final 3 furlongs a year ago. Clear pick.3-GOODBYE NOTE: Fifth and seventh in the last 2 editions of the Maryland Million Turf, they’ll take a different path this year after a series of dirt sprints. Form regressed in last 2 starts since claim and hard to recommend this far – but jockey Paco Lopez gives hope the way he’s been in the 2026 Mid-Atlantic regional zone. Not impossible for a piece.4-OMAR COMIN: Veteran has lost 9 straight while based at Charles Town and has not been the same horse since leaving the Ronney Brown barn. Major distance questions like several of these. Not for me.5-IN THE DANCE: Consistent router around 2 turns all over the Mid-Atlantic for high-percentage Tim Kreiser and now Jamie Ness barns. The 5-year-old did win a local 1-1/8 miles dirt test in October 2024 in the starter allowance ranks. Pedigree and past performances to handle the trip as well as any behind the favorite.6-DAVYJONZ: Last year’s Maryland Million Turf fifth-place finisher is winless in 8 local dirt starts and has struggled beyond a mile on either surface. He’s won 1 of his last 9 for a Robin Graham barn that’s just 2-45 on the year. Pass.7-SACRED THUNDER: Strong local 2-year-old of 2024 has won just 2 of his last 16 and hasn’t progressed as hoped. Rarely runs poorly but rather just consistently average from sprints to routes. He’ll run another even-steven effort and it could be enough to bottom a tri or super.8-WICKEDDIVINE: Sprinter has a tough post to navigate the first turn as it will come up on him almost immediately out of the gate. The third-place finisher in the DeFrancis Dash has some class about him, but it’s a major leap from 6 to 9 furlongs. Seventh in last year’s Maryland Million Sprint and might have fit better in that one. Toss while respecting sprint form.Also-eligibles:9-DERBYNESS: First or second in his last 5 efforts at Laurel around 2 turns, he would be a clear second choice in able to draw into the field off the also-eligible list. Potent Brittany Russell barn humming along at 35% this meet and entered in a Sunday allowance as Plan B if they can’t get in.10-ROLL ON JESSE: Late runner has lost 11 straight and turns in a similar effort no matter the distance. Needs help getting into the mix and doesn’t inspire if able to do so.11-BILL OF RIGHTS: Good 2-turn form would make him an exotics consideration if able to draw in the lineup. Seven straight finishes in the superfecta but it’s been 10 straight losses while settling for minor awards.Most Likely Exotics Contender:BARBADIAN RUNNER looks to have this field at his mercy and is proven over the trip.Best Longshot Contender:IN THE DANCE should handle the trip and at 15-1 morning line gives some hope to finding a price under the chalk.​​Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$100 Exacta BARBADIAN RUNNER over IN THE DANCE.​

1/ST BREEDERS' CUP WAGER GUIDEEarly Edition Launches Today EXTRA INCENTIVES20% Winnings Boost | Keeneland | today’s win betsTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Keeneland Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $27,738 | Charles Town | begins Race 3 | 7:57 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXMahoning Valley | Race 8 | 3:31 pm ETKeeneland | Race 8 | 4:44 pm ETDelta Downs | Race 6 | 8:00 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHKenny McPeek | Keeneland | 4 of 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Horseshoe Indianapolis | trainer Randy Klopp | 2 wins, 1 seconds from 7 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Keeneland Daily Longshots to Watch for WednesdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer: best bets today in the Xpressbet member’s section