It’s a Belmont Stakes preview day of sorts Saturday at Aqueduct, four weeks out from the big card at Saratoga. The 1/ST BET and Xpressbet Late Pick 5 Hit & Split promotion includes 3 stakes races as horseplayers on those platforms will be playing for an additional 1 million 1/ST Rewards Points.Race 7: Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes#3 Eunomia ran a sharp race at Keeneland in the Doubledogdare, winning the pace battle but losing the war late to a rail-skimming Brad Cox trainee when that barn was rolling. Should love this 1-turn trip and continue her ascent since arriving in Saffie Joseph Jr.’s barn. Expect her to be forward throughout vs. Parx sprinter Irish Maxima. Class test for #5 Inefficiency after 2 easy wins vs. lesser at this trip. Can’t dismiss Prat-Brown charge.Race 8: Take the A Train StakesThe “LTB” handicapping angle has long been part of my process, particularly in turf sprints. That’s a horse exiting a Layoff, Turning back in distance while working Bullets in the morning. Those types tend to fire fresh and fitness isn’t at a premium given the shorter trips. #7 Just Philtored fits that bill for one of the best turf-sprint trainers in the country, Mike Trombetta. Plus, this filly is 2-for-2 in races that she’s entered coming in off just workouts (debut, layoff). #6 Cadenza has been smashed in the betting each time, winning her only turf start and has a fantastic pedigree to be a turf sprinter. Back to what she likely does best for Brad Cox. I’m not willing to increase the ticket cost by one-third to include #2 Pillar of Beauty but would consider in the event of a scratch. (If moved to dirt, #7 & #3 the plays.)Race 9: Grade 3 Peter Pan StakesThe promising #3 Growth Equity has to answer the 2-turn question in this traditional Belmont Stakes prep, improving in each start as the distances have increased around 1 turn. The Chad Brown trainee is by Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, obviously good for distance, but the damside of the pedigree is purely sprint. His BRIS late pace figures match up similar to the best in this race, but there’s no guarantee they translate the same around 2 bends. #5 Talk to Me Jimmy won the Withers over this trip in a “where’d that come from?” performance in February (pictured). He’s another with a sprint damside that makes you question him at this kind of distance – and if the Withers score was a random result. #1 Trendsetter sprinted 6 times before being given a route bid and has spent only half his career on dirt. But it seems his 3-for-4 dirt mark would indicate he’s finally doing what he should be after a 32-1 upset in Keeneland’s Lexington.Race 10: allowanceTrainer Chad Brown should have this first-level turf allowance circled with #3 Arkhipov and #1 Right to Vote. The former showed promise in New York last summer when second behind the barn’s highly regarded, eventual Grade 2 winner Asbury Park. He disappointed at Keeneland last out, but the Brown brigade all underperformed during that meet. Expect a wakeup back in New York. Right to Vote hasn’t started since November 2024, but broke his maiden off a 10-month break and has shown an ability to ramp up off workouts alone. There appears to be enough dirt speed in here to set the table for the finishers, so I’ll keep next-best #7 Golden Channel off my ticket but could be considered if some of that speed were to withdraw from the race. (If moved to dirt #9 becomes a single.)Race 11: maiden#8 Ice House goes for a good turf sprint barn in George Weaver and may be fastest early if he takes to turf. Like More Than Ready on the damside of the pedigree as a grass influence. #1 High Leverage must show speed from the rail while trimming distance, but knocked on the door vs. similar in his state-bred unveiling April 18. Bids in open company at Gulfstream weren’t off-putting to his overall ledger vs. this bunch. Very little obvious turf sprint early speed in the lineup. #2 Muisc in Motion looks like turf sprints are what he’ll do best and the Linda Rice-Flavien Prat combo wins 35% together while this layoff returnee adds Lasix. Something went obviously wrong with #5 Super Dave in his Saratoga debut last summer; treat this Wesley Ward trainee like a first-time starter. (Will include same horses if race moves to dirt.)The Ticket3,5 with 7,6 with 3,5,1 with 3,1 with 8,1,2,5 = $48 for 50 centsSingling any of the 2-deep legs reduces ticket cost to $24 (preference to Race 7 in that regard).

Racing reconvenes at Santa Anita Park on Friday afternoon where there will be carryovers for horseplayers to take a swing at off the four-day freshening. $21k in the Super High 5, as well as $42,057 sitting in the traditional $2 Pick 6 pool is a proper way to get the second racing week of May started at the “Great Race Place.” Frank Carulli has you covered on the blog for the Super High 5. Here is how I see the Pick 6 sequence that kicks off in Race 3 at 2:07 local time.Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.Race 3:Grade: CMain Ticket: 6 Aloha Dreamin; 1 Headstrong WaysBackups: NoneForecast: I landed on #6 Aloha Dreamin on top in this conditional $10k claimer over the main track. The 5YO mare finally gets away from an inside draw. This should help the Jose Valdez trainee that has early speed, but has been put in some tight spots early given her affinity for getting out of the gate a beat slow. More options should be there for Aloha Dreamin with the move outside. 8-5-ML favorite #1 Headstrong Ways moves back to the dirt and drops in class after a starter allowance on the grass. She has run well in 2 starts over this surface, but will need to work out a trip from off-the-pace and the along the inside. She will be tough to hold off though with a clean voyage.Race 4:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 5 Anywaythewindblows; 3 Infinity DreamBackups: NoneForecast: The pace should be honest in this $32k beaten claimer at one-mile over the grass given the presence of #1 Eighties and #2 Bear’s Board. Of the two, Bear’s Board is the likelier to be able to handle some early contention and kick on with it, but I prefer a pair of runners from that can relax early and hopefully finish with energy. #5 Anywaythewindblows drops in class after a pair of off-the-board finishes for trainer Manuel Badilla. She has shown solid finishes late in races compared to the rest of this group and should offer decent value. #3 Infinity Dream was made the second choice on the line, which is not ideal since she is just 1 for 9 and has not shown the same late kick as a 4YO. That said, she could get the right trip and setup here.Race 5:Grade: C+Main Ticket: 2 Sentient SoonBackups: 3 Buena VidaForecast: I landed on #2 Sentient Soon in this MSW event for 2YO fillies comprised of all first-time starters. The Cal-bred debuts for trainer Jeff Bonde. Bonde has proven capable over the years in these early 2YO races at Santa Anita earning 3 wins over his last 14 starters. The daughter of Dad’s Caps is out of a Quality Road mare that ran third on debut and thus far has produced a first out winner and two runners that finished second. She looks live at first asking.Race 6:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 3 Allequin SummerBackups: NoneForecast: #5 Start the Ride is likely to be the heavy favorite in this state-bred first-level allowance over the grass. The Upstart colt competed in the two big Kentucky Derby qualifiers this winter/spring, so he gets major class relief, but lacks speed and has to prove his late kick will be as effective on the lawn. Sometimes these horses will beat you, but in general they are not great wagers because there will be an assumption by many that their form will automatically translate from dirt-to-turf. I will try to beat him with #3 Allequin Summer. The Summer Front colt comes in off a pair of underneath finishes since moving back to the grass. Hector Berrios will be aboard him for the first time.Race 7:Grade: C+Main Ticket: 5 Danzing Til Dawn; 4 Bitter TruthBackups: NoneForecast: Despite lacking early speed and never having travelled two-turns, #4 Bitter Truth does appear the clear horse to beat in this state-bred low level maiden claimer at two-turns. She has finished her races decently and meets a suspect field. If she were to lose, it could be #5 Danzing Til Dawn that springs the upset. The Vronsky mare has had 9 chances already, but has the foundation that very few other runners in this field possess. Her early speed could prove quite valuable.Race 8:Grade: XMain Ticket: 7 Jenny’s Wine GirlBackups: NoneForecast: #7 Jenny’s Wine Girl has struggled to seal the deal thus far in her career, but her three recent starts over the grass have come against maiden special weight foes. Trainer Richard Baltas drops this gal in for a tag and into a spot where it feels like now or never. She should get a great trip as the fastest horse making her a chalky single to close out the Friday Pick 6.

Santa Anita Park’s Super High 5 wager isn’t as easy as 1-2-3. Nor was it as easy as 1-2-3-4 when the top four finishers in the ninth race Monday were dismissed at single-digit odds. Hence, the $1 wager that requires bettors to pick the top five finishers in exact order goes to the post this Friday with $21,413 in the carryover pool. It won’t be easy again with eight California-bred maidens scheduled to run 6F on the turf in the last race on the card.Santa Anita 8th Race (7:37 p.m. EST)Top Spot: BUTTERFLY BEACH is re-united with California-bred rivals and is the key to unlocking a potential big payout in her second start off a 10-month layoff. She saved ground in a 6-1/2 sprint for the same price, appeared to be dropping back into the turn, but found a little bit of a second wind to finish fifth before galloping out in front of the two favorites. The race winner went wire-to-wire at 5-2 odds, the class-dropping favorite ran second to improve to 8-for-10 in the money and the fourth-place finisher returned with a 12-1 upset under the same conditions.Second Spot: JENNYS WINE GIRL “fought” her way into contention in three consecutive MSW grass routes at one mile. She forged a narrow lead at the stretch call twice before settling for minor awards. She tries sprinting on the turf for the first time and will be the most popular play on the Super High 5 tickets.Third Spot: ISLE OF ANGELS stepped it up a notch with a :48-2/5 gate work leading to her debut. Her dam, Annangel, went wire-to-wire in all three non-stakes races after she arrived in the U.S. from England. She’s one of two runners in Leg C on our ticket. Trainer Peter Miller has a 60-percent in-the-money rate with maiden claimers on the turf the last three years when they are dismissed at single-digit odds. BLAME IT ON ABBY burned a lot of money in her five starts but fits the bill, nonetheless. (Note: Use her stablemate, Baby Needs Shoes, if she draws into the race).Fourth and Fifth Spots: With plenty of room on the ticket if it is alive to this point, go ‘ALL’ in the final two spots of the sequence.Suggested $1 Super High 5 TicketTop Spot: 5Second Spot: 7Third Spot: 6, 8Fourth Spot: ALLFifth Spot: ALLCost: $40

SCHEDULE NOTESChurchill Downs | twilight racing (first post 5 pm ET)NOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $39,182 | Charles Town | begins Race 4 | 8:25 pm ETKEY RACESThistledown | Race 7 | 3:50 pm ET | Petro Memorial StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 6 | 4:45 pm ETEvangeline Downs | Race 3 | 7:24 pm ETChurchill Downs | Race 6 | 7:25 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHLarry Rivelli | Churchill, Hawthorne | all 8 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Penn National | favorites won 6 of 7 races on the cardPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Churchill Downs Spot Plays for ThursdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The Lead:The fourth edition of the Royal Palm Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies returns Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Races 6 and 8. The 2-year-old turf sprints provide automatic berths to prestigious international showcases at Royal Ascot in June. Crimson Advocate parlayed a win here in 2023 to a Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes score in England (pictured). The 2024 series produced eventual Windsor Castle Stakes runner-up Gabaldon. Last year, Sandal’s Song and Lennilu shipped overseas for credible third-placings in the Group 2 Norfolk and Group 2 Queen Mary, respectively.With a likely heavy favorite in the Juvenile (Race 6, Skara Brae), I'll focus my efforts on the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies (Race 8).​​Field Depth:Difficult to evaluate things like schedule strength with 5 rookies and 4 experienced fillies. Four of these sold for six figures-plus: JOKER'S CHIC, EASY LIFE, PROS AND CONS and POT'S RIGHT.​Pace:Impossible to judge the pace here with so many first-time starters and remaining surface-changers.​Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.1-JOKER’S CHIC: Disappointed as 6-5 favorite at Keeneland when pressing and tiring to finish fourth in her dirt debut. Hong Kong riding superstar Joao “The Magic Man” Moreira is named to ride. Trainer Wesley Ward has gone 4: 0-1-1 in the Royal Palm series at odds of 4-5, 4-5, 8-5 and 5-2.2-EASY LIFE: Trainer George Weaver has dominated the Royal Palm series with 3 winners from 8 starters. Those winners have paid $8, $17 and $23 – scoring twice in 2023 and once a season ago. Easy Life is a first-time starter by Life Is Good and cost $300,000 at the Ocala sale in March. Her first-crop sire is off to a blazing start with 3 wins from his first 4 starters, including Kentucky Juvenile Stakes winner Waggley last week at Churchill Downs.3-DEE SNOOK: Irish-bred export makes her career debut. Sioux Nation filly hails from a sire who was a Group 1-winning turf sprinter as a juvenile in 2017. This will be trainer Doug O’Neill’s first starter in the Royal Palm series.4-LIBERTY RINGS: Third in April 19 debut dirt sprint locally at Gulfstream. Florida-bred by Awesome Slew, whose offspring win just 5.6% on the local turf. Trainer Nicholas Palmer makes his first Royal Palm series bid. He would be the first locally prepped runner to win a Royal Palm race.5-PROS AND CONS: $375,000 yearling purchase is by 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify and makes her first start. Her dam is full-sister to 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Caledonia Road. The Mark Casse barn is 9: 1-1-4 in the Royal Palm series, getting a $9.80 score with Bullet in 2024. Long series of 7 local works for this unveiling but didn’t show much gate speed at 1st.tv in May 1 dirt drill.6-MO TOWN FOXY BROWN: Home-bred for Johan and Diane Fradin has trained on dirt at Palm Meadows prior to this career debut – but note sire Mo Town gets a strong 15% winners on the Gulfstream turf from more than 90 starters. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has a 2024 runner-up among 2 starters in the Royal Palm series.7-POT’S RIGHT: Horses with Keeneland experience have won 2 of the 6 Royal Palm series races (Crimson Advocate 2023, Lennilu 2025). Strong finish in Lexington to win a 4-1/2 furlong dirt dash in a non-traditional, off-the-pace manner. Sire Bolt d’Oro a decent 11% win rate with more than 125 offspring on the GP turf, including multiple stakes winner Major Dude. This will be the Royal Palm series debut for trainer Philip Antonacci, who gets jockey Luis Saez to visit from Kentucky.8-SASS SASS: Second of 2 Mark Casse rookies here as he looks for a Royal Palm series follow-up to 2024 winner Bullet. Sass Sass outworked barnmate Pros and Cons in a team drill from the gate May 1 at 1st.tv. Gary Barber home-bred by Preakness winner War of Will, who became a Grade 1-winning turf miler later in his career. Casse has hit 10% on the GP lawn with nearly 70 starts by War of Will offspring. Dam Twelfth Moon’s first foal; note she won her career debut and 4 of 7 overall.9-BOOTS: April 16 debut winner on dirt at Gulfstream was a well-backed 5-2 price at her unveiling. Home-bred for Arindel Farm is by Brethren, whose Royal Palm series entrants in 2023 both finished off the board. Trainer Carlos David makes his second Royal Palm series appearance, finishing out of the money in his 2023 debut.Most Likely Exotics Contender:EASY LIFE is in the right hands for success in this race and her sire is off to a blazing start at stud.Best Longshot Contender:MO TOWN FOXY BROWN likely will be overlooked some, but is bred to fare well on this turf course and Joseph trainees are never out of the local discussion.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$50 win EASY LIFE. $25 exacta box EASY LIFE and POT'S RIGHT ($50).

After four days to recover from Kentucky Derby 152, they are back at it in Louisville on Thursday. For those in the area, Twilight Thursday is probably my favorite time to attend Churchill Downs. The time of the year and vibe are excellent and the racing is usually solid. For most of us unable to attend, fortunately we have the new 1/ST BET app to play Twilight Thursday cards on starting at 5PM eastern this week. Here are a few plays I like most on the 8-race slate.Race 2:There is very little speed signed on in this open $25k claimer at 1 1/16-miles over the main track, so I will take a swing with #2 Slim Slow Slider. The Vancouver gelding ships in from Florida for trainer Jose Gallegos. He stalked early and tired badly late at Gulfstream Park on March 26 and has been freshened up since. With the lack of early zip, I love the fact this 7YO attracts the aggressive riding Luis Saez for his first start over this surface. With tactical speed going shorter and an inside draw, I am hoping Saez is able to make the front, dictate terms, and have enough left late to spring the big upset. The price should be right to gamble.Play: #2 Slim Slow Slider (15-1 ML)Race 3:Trainer Wesley Ward holds a strong hand in this MSW for 3YOs+ sprinting over the Churchill Downs sod. Ward enters both 2-1-ML favorite #4 Gypsy Art and 3-1-second choice #3 Ink Lies, but both have questions to answer. Gypsy Art did not have an ideal trip in his return race at Keeneland in mid-April, but is likely to offer little value despite failing the public already at 7-2 or lower four times, while Ink Lies is a 5YO making just his fourth career start. I prefer #10 Tranquillo. The pricey son of Independence Hall makes his first start outside of New Orleans for trainer Whit Beckman. Beckman debuted the colt over the main track and then tried him at two-turns over the Fair Grounds grass where he stalked early and tired late at the end of their winter meeting. I like the outside draw, cutback in distance, and move to Irad Ortiz. He should be finishing well in his first career start in Kentucky.Play: #10 Tranquillo (6-1 ML)Race 6:My final play on the Twilight Thursday card comes in this second-level allowance event at one-mile over the grass where I am expecting an honest pace. I am hopeful that will benefit #3 Esmark. The son of Constitution makes his second start off the long rest after breaking slowly and failing to make a serious impression last month at Keeneland. He should move forward quite a bit with the start under his belt and success thus far over this turf course. Luis Saez was aboard in one of his two victories over the Churchill Downs sod in 2025 and takes the call for the first time since. Hopefully, he has the keys to this Vicki Oliver trainee in what should be a big effort in the second start of his 4YO campaign.Play: #3 Esmark (10-1 ML)

SCHEDULE NOTES4 Thoroughbred tracks today | Delta Downs, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Thistledown, Penn NationalNOTABLE CARRYOVERSSuper Hi 5 | $2,229| Horseshoe Indianapolis | Race 6 | 4:45 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 6 | 4:45 pm ETHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 8 | 5:47 pm ETPenn National | Race 3 | 6:43 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHBruce Kravets | Penn National | 5 of 6 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Horseshoe Indianapolis | trainer Robert Gorham | 2 wins, 1 third from 4 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

NOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $86,220 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXFairmount Park | Race 8 | 5:25 pm ETHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 8 | 5:47 pm ETLouisiana Downs | Race 7 | 7:53 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHRachel Sells | Finger Lakes | 4 of 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Parx | jockey Francisco Martinez | 3 wins, 1 third from 5 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section