By Xpressbet
EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Finger Lakes | today’s racesNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $140,159 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETPick 4 | $12,055 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | begins Race 2 | 2:41 pm ETPick 5 | $12,911 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | begins Race 4 | 3:43 pm ETPick 4 | $7,018 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | begins Race 5 | 4:14 pm ETJackpot Pick 5 | $105,387 (CAN) | Assiniboia Downs | begins Race 3 | 9:25 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXParx | Race 2 | 1:07 pm ETHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 8 | 5:47 pm ETLouisiana Downs | Race 5 | 6:57 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHLinda Rice | Finger Lakes, Presque Isle Downs | all 5 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Presque Isle Downs | jockey Gaddiel Martinez | 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third from 6 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Finger Lakes Bet $100, Get $10 Promo Picks for TuesdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section
By Jeremy Plonk
Throughout June, Tuesdays and Thursday heat up at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet with our Summertime Scores promotion. Bet $100, Get $10 on select tracks this month. Next up Tuesday will be Finger Lakes. Here’s how I’ll approach Finger Lakes with an assist from the Betmix Angler database.Finger Lakes Race 1 | 12:55 pm ET#3 Rosie Lisa (6-1 morning line odds) makes her first Finger Lakes appearance after 8 starts on the NYRA circuit. Trainer Linda Dixon’s 6-for-13 mark at the meet is obviously remarkable, but note she’s had 3 starters via Aqueduct – a winner at nearly 18-1 odds, a runner-up at 9-2 and a fourth-place effort at 13-1. All have outperformed expectations in allowance/stakes races. Win-place bet #3.Finger Lakes Race 4 | 2:22 pm ET#3 Blame It On Daddy (7-2 morning line odds) steps up in class in a confident move by trainer Chris Englehart, who is doing everything right at the FL meet. The barn is a 9: 6-1-0 in allowance races at FL this year. The sprint-to-route move should suit the route runner who closed with interest in his local dash unveiling and survived the claim box. Could hold a fair price with a few others expected to get well-backed. Win bet #3.
By Xpressbet
NOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $127,486 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETMandatory Payout Pick 5 | $351,756 | Parx | begins Race 6 | 2:55 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXParx | Race 7 | 3:22 pm ETLouisiana Downs | Race 6 | 7:26 pm ETMountaineer | Race 5 | 8:40 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJon Arnett | Prairie Meadows | 4 of 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Mountaineer | 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
By Al CImaglia
Yonkers Raceway has a 9-race card. The $1.00 Pick 5 rolls in Race 5 and it has a $10,000 guaranteed pool. The $1.00 Late Pick 4 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 EST)2-Keyang Taco A (6-1)-Shipped in from Hoosier and put in a decent effort in a 152.2 mile. Stayed inside finished 4th and was off over two weeks. This field isn’t as tough, and the team Stratton entry could be sitting on a big try.4-Bet On Big Joe (9/5)-Joe was bet down to 8/5 and beat this kind 2 back from post 4. Competes but is only 1-15 this year. Could win again with another choice post and will use against this field. Does need the right trip and will offer no value.Race 7 (8:45 PM EDT)4-Soho Firestone (2-1)-Got the pocket off the gate in last and then settled for 3rd on the rail as the eventual winner took control. Could have been pulled at the top of the last turn but George Brennan stayed inside. Could get a pocket ride tonight, and with Yannick Gingras at the controls there could be a different outcome.7-Sweet Beach Life (4-1)-As usual, flew off the gate and got the top last time but ended up in the pocket. The winner made an early move, got control, and couldn’t be caught down the lane. Comes back in sequence for the 2nd straight time and the beaten chalk could make amends.Race 8 (9:05 PM EDT)1-Verdun (2-1)-Had the rail in last and dropped to face a field it could wire and did so. This time a 2-hole trip could be the ticket. Does step up, 3 others do the same, and won’t blush at the competition.4-Captin Hamerhead (9/5)-Made a nice early move to get the top into a tepid opening quarter versus this kind. Scott Zeron worked a well rated 57.2 middle half and could not be touched down the lane. This will be the 3rd start in town, and might work the same game plan. Either way the 7-year-old could have more to give.Race 9 (9:25 PM EDT)4-Carabao (6-1>-Not an easy race to read and the 9-year-old has drawn post 8 in 3 straight since coming off the bench. With this post draw Jordan Stratton can have in play early on and faces a beatable field.5-Stonebridge Wizard (5/2)-Lightly raced 4-year-old isn’t out of place in this hodgepodge field. Yannick Gingras takes the lines and should have the Bako trainee in a position to win at the top of the lane.7-T H Tyson (5-1)-Jim Marohn sticks with the Chris Ryder entry after driving against better on 6-1. Raced evenly in last at 125-1, and could be overlooked here. Has hit the board in 4 of 8 at YR with 1 win and drops to a more competitive level. Could grind its way around and take a picture at a solid price.$1 Late Pick 42,4/4,7/1,4/4,5,7Total Bet=$24Check me out on X!
By Xpressbet
EXTRA INCENTIVES10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Woodbine | today’s racesSCHEDULE NOTESSaratoga | Belmont Stakes Racing Festival | final daySPECIAL WAGERSCoast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 9-10; Santa Anita Races 4-5-6Sunset 6 | Gulfstream Races 8-9-10; Santa Anita Races 8-9-10TOURNAMENT TIME$40 Santa Anita feeder | details$40 Canterbury Park feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSSunset 6 | $8,201 | Gulfstream/Santa Anita | begins GP Race 8 | 4:45 pm ETPick 6 | $166,019 | Los Alamitos (AQHA) | begins Race 3 | 10:06 pm ETKEY RACESSaratoga | Race 4 | 1:46 pm ET | Poker StakesChurchill Downs | Race 6 | 3:18 pm ET | Leslie’s Lady StakesSaratoga | Race 8 | 4:04 pm ET | Soaring Softly StakesMonmouth | Race 7 | 4:14 pm ET | John J. Reilly HandicapChurchill Downs | Race 8 | 4:22 pm ET | Matt Winn StakesWoodbine | Race 8 | 4:50 pm ET | Queenston StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXGulfstream | Race 1 | 12:50 pm ETSaratoga | Race 5 | 2:20 pm ETChurchill Downs | Race 7 | 3:50 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJay Bernardini | Mountaineer | 7 of 8 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Saratoga | favorites won 3 of 14 races and are 8-49 (16%) during Belmont FestivalPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeff Bratt: Woodbine Full-Card Picks for Sunday’s 10X 1/ST Rewards PromoScott Shapiro: Saratoga Sunday Spot PlaysScott Shapiro: Churchill Downs Sunday Spot PlaysBrian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section
By Scott Shapiro
Sunday marks the fifth and final day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival after Golden Tempo won his second Triple Crown race in last-to-first fashion under jockey Jose Ortiz. Today is not quite the same stakes-laden card as yesterday, but does include a pair of graded stakes. Here are the horses I like most to close things down until summertime at Saratoga.Race 6:This 2YO MSW event at 5.5-furlongs over the main track goes through second-time starter #9 Booked. The Yaupon colt went off the even-money favorite in his debut at Churchill Downs in late April before being shuffled back along the inside early, but rallying late to earn second. The move off the inside to an outside draw and the invaluable racing experience is likely to move the Steve Asmussen trainee forward, but the same can be said for #6 Beach Sandals. The Gary Barber homebred broke sharp, led early, and tired late to finish second in his debut in mid-May in Louisville. He lacked energy late in that first start, but that is certainly not a problem Mark Casse trainees have had this week in Saratoga Springs. In fact, the veteran conditioner won three Grade 1 events between Friday and Saturday. Beach Sandals could be set for big improvement as Johnny V takes over riding duties.Play: #6 Beach Sandals (6-1 ML)Race 7:This optional claimer at 1 1/16-miles over the Inner Turf kicks off the late Pick 5 where #3 Gene and Jude looks like he should get a perfect trip after an easy win against non-winners of two foes at Churchill Downs in late April. The son of Kitten’s Joy was claimed last June by trainer Mike Maker and since then has hit the board in 3 of 5 starts, including his second career victory last out. The start before he went to the bench in December, Gene and June saw a trip limited by traffic issues, but that was not the case in Louisville when jockey Flavien Prat got the gelding into a favorable forward position and proved much best late. He meets a tougher group this afternoon, but should be poised for the class hike given his upside still and likely voyage.Play: #3 Gene and Jude (7-2 ML)Race 11:The final race of the festival is this 6.5-furlong state-bred MSW event at 6.5-furlongs. #11 Irish Goodbye was made the 5-2-ML favorite by oddsmaker David Aragona after a pair of runner-up efforts as a 2YO for trainer Brad Cox. The Cairo Prince colt is obviously capable of beating this group, but at the same time is likely to be an underlay. So, I will try to beat him with #4 King Farro. The Robert Falcone Jr. trainee came back off a near 6-month break on May 10 at Aqueduct at one-mile where he was down on the rail in a tussle on a day where the outside was the better place to be. After shaking off the rust on the wrong part of the track last month, the son of King for a Day cuts back in distance and attracts Kendrick Carmouche. I like his chances to put forth a career best run to close the card.Play: #4 King Farro (4-1 ML)
By Jeff Bratt
Woodbine's Sunday action features a 10-race card that gets underway at 1 pm ET. The $125,000 Queenston Stakes goes as Race 8 as Coronation Futurity runner-up Military Time marches toward a possible King's Plate appearance this summer. Get 10X 1/ST Rewards Points on all wagers today for Woodbine when you bet with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet.Here are the full-card picks from Woodbine racing analyst Jeff Bratt:R1: 5-6-3-1R2: 7-6-10-5R3: 4-2-3-1R4: 2-4-3-1R5: 4-1-7-3R6: 7-5-8-1R7: 4-7-2-9R8: 5-1-3-2R9: 10-5-1-7R10: 4-9-3-8-5
By Scott Shapiro
The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga took center stage this week, but do not snooze on the strong 9-race card this afternoon at historic Churchill Downs. The slate is headlined by the $500,000 Matt Winn (G3) for 3YOs at 1 1/16-miles over the main track. Here are the horses I like most on the afternoon, including my choice in the featured event.Race 3:My first play of the day comes in this MSW event at 7-furlongs over the main track where I am against the two ML favorites. 5-2-top choice #9 Penalty Box has had 6 chances, including three at under 9-5 and still has yet to get to the wire first. The move outside, time off, and cutback all could benefit the son of Violence, but he still is not for me. #1 Embry Show has more upside after just two starts for Bob Baffert, but has underwhelmed in both. He is likely to take quite a bit of public support due to his connections and his recent runner-up effort over this track. I will try to beat them both with #3 Time to Strike. The Not This Time colt moved into the Mark Casse barn this year after two starts as a 2YO for Tom Amoss. The first start was a mid-pack fourth going two-turns over the grass before a speed and fade effort against a much saltier field on Kentucky Derby Day. He has not proven yet that he can run fast early and still have energy late, but I am hopeful he is ready to do just that in his third start off the break.Play: #3 Time to Strike (6-1 ML)Race 4:The pace should be contentious in this second-level allowance at 6-furlongs over the main track given the presence of #1 Me and Molly McGee, #4 Rojo Rita, and #7 Cut to the Chase. This should bode well for #8 Strong State. The daughter of Tom’s d’Etat has not raced since last November when she broke slowly from the inside in a five-horse field and really had no chance with the winner making an easy lead and coasting him to victory. She certainly has soundness issues of some sort based on how she has been handled by veteran conditioner Al Stall, Jr, but when she has run, she has a shown a solid turn of foot. If they go at it on the front end, it should be jockey James Graham with a lot of horse when they turn for home. Hopefully, the bargain basement $18,000 Keeneland January 2023 purchase has a strong late run in her good enough to get the money.Play: #8 Strong State (6-1 ML)Race 8: Matt Winn (G3)The connections of #7 Further Ado (pictured) were hoping they would be celebrating a Belmont Stakes win yesterday after a Kentucky Derby victory five weeks ago, but the impressive winner of the Blue Grass (G1) did not run particularly well in the “Run for the Roses”. Trainer Brad Cox opted to send Commandment to Saratoga and keep this Gun Runner colt home where he has been made the even-money favorite by oddsmaker Nick Tammaro. I understand the price, but am unwilling to swallow the chalk since he simply has been awesome in two starts at Keeneland and just solid otherwise. His price is just too short to take against a solid bunch.#3 Pavlovian intrigues a little being potentially loose on the lead under Luis Saez, but I am going back to #6 Taptastic. The Tapit colt let me down as a single on Derby Day, but did not have the right trip at all. The winner in the undercard allowance event rode the rail on the lead, while Taptastic was caught 3 wide throughout. Jose Ortiz is back in town to ride after his triumph in the Belmont and has been riding as well as anyone in a long time. Hopefully, he figured out this well-bred colt last time and gets him by the speeds in the lane at a solid price.Play: #6 Taptastic (9-2 ML)