EXTRA INCENTIVES$2,500 Late Pick 5 Hit & Split | Delaware Park10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Monmouth Park | today’s racesSCHEDULE NOTESSanta Anita | announced that Monday racing will be added due to Thursday’s power outage cancellationSPECIAL WAGERSCoast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 8-10; Santa Anita Races 5-6-8Sunset 6 | Gulfstream Races 9-10-11; Santa Anita Races 10-11-12TOURNAMENT TIME$2000 Monmouth Pick Your Prize Challenge | details$500 Santa Anita Park Challenge | details$100 NYRA feeder | details$40 Canterbury Park feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 5 | $19,797 | Delaware Park | begins Race 1 | 12:20 pm ETPick 5 | $41,768 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | begins Race 4 | 6:44 pm ETPick 6 | $53,570 | Santa Anita | begins Race 7 | 7:05 pm ETKEY RACESMonmouth | Race 4 | 2:20 pm ET | Eatontown StakesMonmouth | Race 5 | 2:52 pm ET | Pegasus StakesDelaware Park | Race 6 | 3:10 pm ET | Alapocas Run StakesMonmouth | Race 6 | 3:24 pm ET | Monmouth StakesDelaware Park | Race 7 | 3:44 pm ET | Robert G. Dick Memorial StakesAqueduct | Race 7 | 4:13 pm ET | NY Stallion StakesDelaware Park | Race 8 | 4:18 pm ET | Obeah StakesDelaware Park | Race 9 | 4:52 pm ET | Cape Henlopen StakesChurchill Downs | Race 9 | 4:56 pm ET | Monomoy Girl StakesMonmouth | Race 9 | 5:01 pm ET | Salvator Mile StakesDelaware Park | Race 10 | 5:26 pm ET | Delaware DerbyChurchill Downs | Race 10 | 5:28 pm ET | Chorleywood StakesDelaware Park | Race 11 | 6:00 pm ET | Delaware OaksEvangeline Downs | Race 3 | 7:24 pm ET | Alabama StakesSanta Anita | Race 8 | 7:35 pm ET | Daytona StakesPrairie Meadows | Race 6 | 8:08 pm ET | Prairie Mile StakesPrairie Meadows | Race 8 | 9:00 pm ET | Rasmussen StakesSanta Anita | Race 11 | 9:05 pm ET | Summertime OaksCharles Town | Race 8 | 10:32 pm ET | Confucius Say StakesWoodbine Mohawk | Race 11 | 10:45 pm ET | North America CupLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXAqueduct | Race 10 | 5:48 pm ETChurchill Downs | Race 11 | 5:59 pm ETSanta Anita | Race 8 | 7:35 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHMac Robertson | Canterbury Park | all 5 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Charles Town | favorites won 8 of 9 races on the cardPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Santa Anita Spot Plays for SaturdayJeremy Plonk: Delaware Park Late Pick 5 Hit & Split AnalysisScott Shapiro: Churchill Downs Spot Plays for SaturdayJeremy Plonk: Race of the Week – Monmouth’s Salvator MileAl Cimaglia: North America Cup Night Best Bets for Woodbine MohawkFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Tonight, all eyes will be on Woodbine Mohawk Park as the $1,000,000 Pepsi North America Cup is the headliner of the 13-race card. It is a stakes heavy program with over $2.2 million in purses. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 7 Armbro Flight Final-$215,000 Purse (9:00 EDT)6-Yo Tillie (7/2)-Comes off a tough loss to a 58-1 shot who was driven perfectly and came out of the pocket to win. That was at Oak Grove on 5-16 and Tillie got the top off the gate just before the 1/4 pole after leaving from post 7. If Todd McCarthy had to do it all over again, he probably wouldn't have gone a (27.2) 3rd quarter, especially after the 2nd chalk broke stride at the top of the last turn. That was then and this is now. Tonight, Tillie starts from the choice post and is a perfect 2-2 at Mohawk. Not sure the 7/2 morning line holds up but won't be 1/2. Looking for a rebound, and to take its 3rd picture in 4 starts this season.6-Yo Tillie To WinExactas6/1,8,4Race 9 Mohawk Gold Cup-$100,000 Purse (9:49 PM EDT)7-Prince Hal Hanover (4-1)-Started the year with 3 straight wins. Then came 3rd the last time at Wbsb on 5-30 to snap the streak. Was used to get the top early in the mile on that night. Did put away the race time chalk who immediately posed a challenge. Sizzled the 3rd quarter in 26.2, didn't get a breather and finished a game 3rd. Flew home from a tough spot to lose by only a nose in the Battle of Potomac at Nfld in its last race. This is a big, powerful horse who is versatile and wins on large and small ovals. Might be overlooked here and offers some value at the morning line price or higher. Todd McCarthy should be aggressive and has the gate speed to get a close-up early seat.7-Prince Hall Hanover to Win7-9-3Race 11 Pepsi North America Cup-$1,000,000 Purse (10:45 PM EDT)4-Sweet Lovin Lou (9/2)-The son of Sweet Lou is the "other" Elimination winner, and isn't getting much respect. The 2nd Elim was the main event, it had the advertised match-race between Odds On Mr Mamba and the unbeaten Beau Jangles. That said, Lou is kind of an afterthought coming into the Final, but my eyes say he comes off a very impressive score. The Dan Lagace pupil will get a new set of hands in Scott Zeron as James MacDonald will drive Odds On Mr Mamba. Zeron has more than one gear to use on this 3-year-old who has hit the board in 10 of 11 at Wbsb and has taken 4 pictures. The colt should be forwardly placed, and there will be a spicy pace as soon as the wings fold. Will look for Zeron to be in striking range at the top of the last turn and then roll by them all down the lane at a square price.4-Sweet Lovin Lou to Win4-3-10-5Check me out on X! Photo Courtesy Woodbine Mohawk

In addition to the stakes action in the Mid-Atlantic and the final Saturday of live racing at Santa Anita Park until the fall, Churchill Downs has yet another solid weekend slate to attack. Their 11-race card features a pair of non-graded stakes and offers a plethora of horizontal wagering opportunities. Here are a few horses I will be building my Saturday afternoon around under the twin spires.Race 3:My first play comes in this auction-restricted MSW event for 2YO fillies at 4.5-furlongs over the main track where I have little interest in any of the three runners with experience. Of the first-time starters, I landed on #1 Countthetrue. The Enticed filly comes into her first lifetime start off a steady series of local drills for veteran conditioner Wayne Catalano. Catalano has not won a springtime 2YO race at Churchill in some time, but that comes with a limited sample size. This Stephen Fidel homebred is out of a To Honor and Serve mare that won on debut over this surface back on 9/5/24. The rail draw in these 4.5-furlong dashes can be a major advantage if you get out of the gate in good order. Hopefully, jockey Victor Carrasco is able to do just that to kick off a middle Pick 5.Play: #1 Countthetrue (7-2 ML)Picks: 1-7-4Race 7:This third-level allowance at one-mile over the grass drew a compact group of seven where the inside three mares are likely to take the lion’s share of public support. #1 Austere was made the 2-1-ML favorite for Brendan Walsh with Matt Shirer conditioned #3 She’s Lookin Lucky listed as the 5-2-second choice. #2 Smiling Ellie is right behind them at 3-1 and my top choice. The daughter of Midshipman ran well in both of her 2026 starts, including last time out when she was between rivals, mid-pack much of the way before battling for clear sailing and almost springing the upset at odds of 14-1. Smiling Ellie was out finished that day by the 5-2-favorite that got a dream run up the inside and would be a significant favorite versus this bunch. Francisco Arrieta should be able to save ground early with the Mark Casse trainee and come with a late run strong enough to earn this gal’s sixth lifetime victory.Play: #2 Smiling Ellie (3-1 ML)Picks: 2-3-1Race 8:My final spot play of the day in Louisville comes in this $62,500 claimer at 7.5-furlongs over the main track where I will take a big swing with #8 Tom Cat Tuesday. It has not been a good spring in Kentucky thus far for trainer Genaro Garcia, but maybe his colt can take advantage of a field that appears to have a seriously lack of early speed. #7 Big City and #10 Bernin Hot are likely to be prominent early, but Tom Cat Tuesday exits a strong allowance race at 6-furlongs and has become accustomed to races that are run much faster over the first half mile. The son of Bolt d’Oro has earned 2 of his 3 career victories over this surface and should be a huge price. Hopefully, jockey Edgar Morales is far more aggressive on the stretch out than he was last time. If so, this colt should outrun his odds at the very least.Play: #8 Tom Cat Tuesday (20-1 ML)Picks- 8-3-9

SCHEDULE NOTESSanta Anita | announced that Monday racing will be added due to Thursday’s power outage cancellationSPECIAL 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$100 NYRA feeder | details$40 Santa Anita feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSSuper Hi 5 | $5,371 | Churchill Downs | Race 2 | 1:14 pm ET--Santa Anita will have mandatory payouts on SundayKEY RACESSanta Anita | Race 7 | 7:02 pm ET | Possibly Perfect StakesPrairie Meadows | Race 5 | 7:42 pm ET | Jack Bishop StakesPrairie Meadows | Race 7 | 8:34 pm ET | Panthers StakesPrairie Meadows | Race 9 | 9:26 pm ET | Prairie Rose StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXLaurel | Race 6 | 2:23 pm ETWoodbine | Race 5 | 3:00 pm ETEvangeline Downs | Race 5 | 8:18 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHGeorge Weaver | Aqueduct, Prairie Meadows | 4 of 5 entrants 3-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Aqueduct | jockey Manny Franco | 4 wins, 2 seconds from 8 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Santa Anita Spot Plays for FridayFrank Carulli: Gulfstream Park Rainbow 6 Analysis for FridayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

After an early start to the final week of the winter-spring season at Santa Anita Park yesterday, they are back at it in Arcadia with a 9-race card that kicks off at 4PM eastern/1PM local time. The card is headlined by the $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes at 1 1/4-miles over the Hillside Turf Course and makes up the second leg of Friday’s All-Turf Pick 3. Here are a few horses I plan to build my day around.Race 1:The top two choices on the morning line are likely to be tough in this 5-furlong turf event for state-bred MSW foes. 6-5-favorite #4 Zip Me Up bested #6 Sacred Sound last month in a race where the speeds did not hang around late. I like Sacred Sound though to turn the tables in the rematch. The Altamira Racing Stable filly was returning off a 9-month break for Peter Miller last out and ran like it. She broke just okay and then struggled to relax leaving her with little left when the real running started, but I expect better in the opener. Her early speed, the cutback to 5-panels, and the move to Juan Hernandez all spell trouble for this field of non-winners assuming she can get out of the gate in good order.Play: #6 Sacred Sound (2-1 ML)Picks: 6-4-5Race 5:This state-bred MSW at 6.5-furlongs over the Santa Anita grass appears more wide-open than the morning line suggests. That is because I am not in love with taking anything close to the 9-5-ML offering on career maiden #10 Booked Clubhouse. The Sean McCarthy trainee has hit the board in 4 of his 8 starts, but lacks speed and has burnt a decent amount of coin along the way. He will eventually find his friends, but it will not be with my backing. I will try to beat him with #6 Owl. The son of Sir Prancealot makes his second career start after a solid run at odds of 40-1 to finish fourth on debut. Veteran conditioner Neil Drysdale adds the blinkers, which hopefully leads to enough improvement to handle this large field of non-winners. I will take my chances it does at his morning line price or higher.Play: #6 Owl (5-1 ML)Picks: 6-1-10Race 7: Possibly PerfectMy final play of the afternoon in Arcadia comes in the aforementioned feature at 10-furlongs over the lawn where I like #3 Innovative. This group of nine set to go to post at 4:02 local time lacks early speed and I am hopeful it is jockey Ricky Gonzalez that takes advantage. The daughter of Complexity broke fine from her inside draw last out going one-mile in the Royal Heroine (G3), but was not ridden for early speed in a race that was always going to set far quicker fractions than this one. With the knowledge that this is a quarter mile longer and her best chance to get the distance is to get to the front and carry her speed all the way much like she did in her maiden breaker at 1 1/8-miles a little over a year ago over this same turf, the mission should be obvious. With an inside draw and the probable race shape, I am hopeful it is Gonzalez that gets to the front early and dictates terms throughout. If so, Innovative stands a very good chance of springing the minor upset.Play: #3 Innovative (5-1 ML)Picks: 3-2-8

The Meadowlands has a 14-race card featuring Graduate Series and New Jersey Sires Stakes action. Comments and selection below are based on a fast track.Race 6 (8:40 PM EDT)1-Emmas Mystery CCL (6-1)-This will be the 4th start off the bench and has raced well in 2 of 3, the exception was on a sloppy track. Put in a big try last time leaving from the 8 hole to finish 3rd. Will look for a kinder trip with the improved post draw and should offer a square price.5-Respect N Honor (6-1)-Has been a bridesmaid in the last 2. Dexter Dunn drives for his 2nd straight and can be in the hunt at the wire.8-Naked And Famous (3-1)-Won from the rail last time. This post draw hurts chances for another picture, but could still hit the ticket with a sharp steer.Exacta 1,5,8 BoxPicks: 1,5,8Race 8 (9:30 PM EDT)6-Super Chapter (5/2)-Banked over $1.2 million last year, put in a qualifier at M1 on 5-22 and won easily in 153.1. Another tune-up afterwards would have been nice but doesn't need to be dialed on high to beat this crew. Draws a choice starting slot and hopefully the program price holds up.5-Monserrate (7/2)-Comes off 2 sharp wins, the last at Mohawk. Jason Bartlett will have in play and can be in the mix at the wire.8-Mr Mouton (9/2)-Yannick Gingras will have the pedal down. Does have the gate speed to get a good early seat. Should be rolling hard late and will use underneath at a square price.Exacta 6/5,8Picks: 6,5,8Race 10 (10:20 PM EDT)3-Apex (9/5)-Was bet down to 4/5 last time and left from post 11. Dexter Dunn can make the most of this post draw. Looks like a winner with a smooth trip.4-Diabolic Hill (3-1)-This the 2nd start off the bench after a Judges scratch on 5-23 and appeared short last time. Could improve and hit the bottom of the exacta.6-American Power (9/2)-Winner of 3 straight will be tested. Could see the streak ending but still being in the hunt.Exacta 3/4,6Picks: 3,4,6Check me out on X!

We have reached the final Saturday of the winter-spring season at Santa Anita Park where the Great Race Place has a solid 12-race card set to go to post at 4 pm ET / 1 pm local time. The card is headlined by a pair of graded stakes that make up 40% of the late Pick 5 sequence that gets started in Race 8. Here are a few horses I like most.Race 8: Daytona (G3)My first play comes in this event down the Hillside Turf Course where the pace should be honest given the presence of #5 Irish Royalty and #6 Modus Bestia. Of the two, Irish Royalty enters this $100k stakes race for 3YOs and up in the better form having won 2 in a row and 3 of 4 for Doug O’Neill. Last time out, she beat #8 Anmer Hall to the wire in a second-level allowance event over this same course. The difference though was the configuration. That race was conducted at 6-furlongs where this one will be over the unique 6.5-furlong course that Anmer Hall has had a lot of success over. In fact, the 7YO gelding has won 3 times down the hill and also has a victory over the unique Kentucky Downs turf at the same distance. The Peter Eurton trainee ran out of room last time after being forced to wait momentarily before finding clear sailing and now gets back to his preferred trip. It also is a positive he puts back-to-back races together for the first time since last fall. I like his chances quite a bit under regular rider Antonio Fresu.Play: #8 Anmer Hall (8-1 ML)Picks: 8-11-12Race 10:This first-level allowance at 1 1/8-miles over the Santa Anita sod has absolutely no early speed signed on. Therefore, finding runners that will not be attempting to come from well out of it makes the most sense. I landed on #4 Midnight Strike after combining form, talent, and likely trip. The son of American Pharoah makes his third start of the form cycle after finishing second in a one-mile race where they went way faster early than they will in this race. Midnight Strike brought well that day, but wisely was taken back well off the quick pace by Joel Rosario. Rosario has been a great rider over his career, but his lack of aggressiveness is probably not ideal for this spot, so I like the move back to jockey Armando Ayuso with Rosario opting to ride morning line favorite #6 Atomic Age. With the added ground and a field that has far less early zip, it is likely that Midnight Strike’s natural speed will put him in a good spot early. The upside is still there for the Thor-bred Stables gelding. He should be set for his best.Play: #4 Midnight Strike (9-2 ML)Picks: 4-2-1Race 11: Summertime Oaks (G3)The second graded stakes on the Saturday agenda is this two-turn event for 3YO fillies over the main track where second-time starter #1 Mizumi was made the heavy 4-5-favorite off of her win going 6.5-furlongs over this surface on May 2. The daughter of Justify has every right to move forward with the added ground, but will be an underlay on the step up in class and stretch out in distance regardless of result. I will take a shot against her with a filly I have been high on since her debut win at Churchill Downs over the off going last November. #7 Marjoram also has to prove the two-turn question, but should offer better value. Emisael Jaramillo takes over on the Michael McCarthy trainee with Juan Hernandez opting to ride Mizumi. Hernandez gave Marjoram a brilliant ride last out, but Jaramillo has been awesome over his first six months in Southern California. Hopefully, Hernandez choosing to ride the favorite helps our price.Play: #7 Marjoram (3-1 ML)Picks: 7-1-6

It’s a 6-stakes Saturday at Delaware Park as the local Derby and Oaks highlight the big card in the First State. The nation’s top riders will be here, including Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose Ortiz, John Velazquez and Luis Saez. First post is 12:20 pm ET with a dozen races offered, including a late pick 5 in which horseplayers at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET can take advantage of a $2,500 Hit & Split promotion.Let’s get to work.Race 8: $150,000 Obeah StakesKey local Delaware Handicap prep lured 8 entries with Brad Cox (#6 Chasten) and Bob Baffert (#7 Cash Call) always formidable, but Baffert scratched with Cash Call. Chasen was even against tougher in the La Troienne on the Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill when snapping a 2-race winning streak. She fits here and will be moving late. Rail speed from #1 Amalfi Drive, another impeccable Godolphin home-bred could play well exiting a pair of 1-turn races while in sharp form.Race 9: $200,000 Cape Henlopen StakesI was head over heels for #1 Desvio when he returned to Keeneland for the Elkhorn in April, only to run a big second that paled to the monster performance of Burnham Square that day. Trainer Madison Meyers could have stayed home in Maryland for the Henry S. Clark and prep toward the Dinner Party at Laurel on Preakness Day, but took the confident bite of the apple instead. That leaves Desvio in excellent timing now for the Cape Henlopen and a summer campaign. Also note John Velazquez passes up the mount on Todd Pletcher’s Grande at Monmouth in the Salvator Mile to take on these Delaware assignments. Desvio will be my single in a race in which #8 Soleil Volant, #5 Just a Touch (who may struggle with 12 furlongs) and #4 Il Siciliano would be the backup options in case of a scratch.Race 10: $300,000 Delaware Derby#3 Out of the Woods has been a vastly improved horse in his 2 starts since leaving California for Phil D’Amago and should be able to get to the rail with early speed here and reduce a lot of variables in his first stakes start. John Velazquez rode to a Kentucky Derby Day allowance score at Churchill and has a great knack for piloting rail speed and floating rivals on the clubhouse turn, taking an edge. #5 Sovereign Law was a half-length back of the top pick in Louisville and Brad Cox turns the reins over to Irad Ortiz Jr., a move clearly capable of erasing the deficit all things equal.Race 11: $300,000 Delaware OaksSeveral good options exist in this 1-1/16 miles Grade 3 test that includes alumnae of the Kentucky Oaks, Black-Eyed Susan, Eight Belles and Beaumont. Delaware can be a deeper surface that not all shippers take to, so Black-Eyed Susan runner-up #1 Jumping the Gun’s 3-for-4 local record last year could be a valuable bullet in the holster. Though both exiting sprints, #7 Luv Your Neighbor ran very well against better competition in the Fair Grounds Oaks around 2 turns earlier in the spring. Big factors on the return to the route game. #2 Pashmina is well-drawn and twice finished just behind Love Your Neighbor, though the move to red-hot Jose Ortiz could spell a reversal.Race 12: maidenA field of 10 turf route maidens line up (plus a main-track only entrant) in the nightcap. #3 Sound Bite gets an excellent post after a couple of even Florida efforts. Trainer Miguel Clement’s barn is going very well of late and it could be graduation day. #9 Scanner was his own worst enemy in his Laurel debut. Trainer Graham Motion got him off the training center at Fair Hill and worked locally in the 4 weeks since and perhaps gets his mind right with Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the return call. I’ll hold with that pair while considering #11 Don’t Tell Tim and #4 Practical Joker has viable alternatives in case of scratches.The Ticket:6,1 with 1 with 3,5 with 1,7,2 with 3,9 = $12 for 50 cents