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

Take advantage of the Wins Day Wednesday 20% Winnings Boost at Keeneland today with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Earn up to $20 in additional money on win bets throughout the card. 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. Hope you caught $31 winner Malibu Smart in Sunday’s Dowager Stakes from this space. Let’s see if we can carry momentum in the kickoff to closing week of the Fall Meet.Race 3:#3 La Noche Negra (10-1 ML) – Modest effort vs. tougher after a slow start to open the meet, but note trainer Carlos Munoz upgraded riders from a 7-pound apprentice to Jaime Torres, who has been fantastic this meet. He’s ridden 6 winners have averaged 8-1 (his average mount has been just under 16-1 odds at the meet).#1 Sheza Go Getter (12-1 ML) – Steve Asmussen has been drawing aces in the 2-year-old races this meet, winning 3 times with offspring of first-crop sire Jackie’s Warrior, his former champion sprinter. Plenty of excuses in her last 2 starts and the debut was promising enough to ride for a hot barn.Race 5:#7 Justification (10-1 ML) – Been a struggle for trainer Rusty Arnold at the Fall Meet so the price likely holds on this 2-time third-place finisher looking to break her maiden. Pedigree to appreciate 2 turns and a bullet workout at Keeneland since her last start when no match for G1 Breeders’ Futurity runner-up and beaten favorite Coach Pope. No such monsters in this one.Race 8:#7 Dovetail (12-1 ML) – Two-year-old turf route maiden specials at Keeneland in the Fall are longshot havens (average winner nearly 9-1 odds over the past decade). Dovetail figured things out a bit too late in her Kentucky Downs debut. The Rudy Brisset barn has been solid with limited tries at the Fall Meet and the price is right.

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Parx | today’s races1/ST BREEDERS' CUP WAGER GUIDEComing SoonNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 5 | $70,118 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | begins Race 4 | 3:43 pm ETKEY RACESFort Erie | Race 6 | 2:35 pm ET | Crimson Maple CupFort Erie | Race 8 | 3:31 pm ET | Harvest Moon CupParx | Race 8 | 3:40 pm ET | Ballezzi Appreciation MileLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXFort Erie | Race 7 | 3:03 pm ETHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 8 | 5:47 pm ETMountaineer | Race 2 | 7:25 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHSteven Cathcart | Fort Erie | 5 of 6 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Finger Lakes | trainer Jonathan Buckley | 2 wins, 2 seconds from 4 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Parx Bet $100, Get $10 Promo PicksBrian W. Spencer: best bets today in the Xpressbet member’s section

The calendar hits Tuesday once again as we enter the homestretch in the month of October, which means another select track for 1/ST BET and Xpressbet’s “Bonus Boonanza” promotion. Today’s track is Parx where they have a nine-race slate on tap with our customers once again receiving a $10 bonus for wagering $100+ on the card. Head on over to the promotional landing page for more details and to register if this is your first swing at the month-long promo. Here are a few horses I am interested in later this afternoon in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.Race 6:The late Pick 4 kicks off with this optional claimer at one-mile over the main track where #6 El Cordobes should have find the pace moderate in his first start off the claim for trainer Michael Pino. Pino claimed this son of Mor Spirit from Ernesto Padilla-Preciado back in last August in a similar spot where he failed to fire as the even-money top choice. Lately, El Cordobes had been showing more tactical speed coinciding with when his former trainer removed the blinkers this spring. However, in the August 24 race over this surface and distance, he broke a bit slowly and never got involved. Pino has given his new trainee nearly two months to regroup and finds a field El Cordobes should be handle, assuming he shows the speed from the gate that led to a two-race winning streak prior to the off-the-board run to end the summer. Mychel Sanchel jumps aboard for the first time.Plays: #6 El Cordobes (3-1 ML)Picks: 6-1-3Race 7:The pace should be honest at the very least in this optional claiming event at 1 mile 70 yards, which I am hopeful leads to a favorablesetup for top pick #5 Mary Q. The daughter of Social Inclusion stretches back out to two-turns in her second start since May after shaking off the rust in a six-furlong affair over an off track late last month. The 6YO mare ran on late from well off the early pace to earn second at nearly 7-1 and gets back to a distance she has performed well over throughout her 33-race career. Mary Q has just 2 wins in 17 tries dating back to the start of 2025, so jockey Andy Hernandez certainly needs the right trip for this Pennsylvania-bred to do better than a minor share. He and trainer Michael Moore very well could get that this afternoon.Plays: #5 Mary Q (4-1 ML)Picks: 5-4-1Race 8: M.P. Ballezzi Appreciation MileIn this $75k stakes race for 3YO+ at one-mile, 5-2-ML favorite #3 Red Vine appears to be a deserving favorite off of his upset victory in the Parx Dirt Mile back in September for trainer Jamie Ness. The son of Red Vine has never been off-the-board in eight tries over this surface and has won 3 of 4 for $283k+ this year. He will be a handful to hold off in the lane, but I will try to do so with #1 Dreambuilder. The son of Global Campaign comes in off a two-month freshening after a win going away against lesser on August 26. The OBS March ’24 purchase has struggled putting back-to-back races together of late, but has fired in his last two and should get a great pocket trip off an honest early pace. Dreambuilder will likely to have to fire a career best to beat the favorite if he runs back to his last, but he likes this oval and gets Paco Lopez back in the saddle.Plays: #1 Dreambuilder (7-2 ML)Picks: 1-3-5

SCHEDULE NOTESMahoning Valley | opening day of meet | first post 12:15 pm ETBreeders’ Cup Pre-Entries | due today, announced Wednesday1/ST BREEDERS’ CUP WAGER GUIDEEarly release | coming soonSPECIAL WAGERSCoast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 8-9, Santa Anita Races 2-4-5Sunset Pick 6 | Gulfstream Races 7-8-9, Santa Anita Races 7-8-9TOURNAMENT TIME$100 Keeneland Feeder | details$100 Santa Anita Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSSuper Hi 5 | $6,998 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | Race 7 | 5:16 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXMahoning Valley | Race 6 | 2:35 pm ETParx | Race 9 | 4:16 pm ETMountaineer | Race 2 | 7:25 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJulie Mathes | Fort Erie | all 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Belmont | jockey Flavien Prat | 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third from 8 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer: best bets today in the Xpressbet member’s section

Yonkers Raceway has a 10-race card to begin the week. The $1.00 Pick 5 starts in Race 5 and it has a $10,000 guaranteed pool. The Spot Plays are in Race 3, Race 8, and Race 10. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 3 (7:25 PM EDT)5-Music Hall (7/2)-Finished 2nd in last after winning 2 back, and both races were against this kind. The Cory Stratton barn posts 18% winners after a claim and brother Jordan drives as he did last time too. Needs a trip, has the gate speed to get a close-up seat and could down this group at a solid price.Race 8 (9:05 PM EDT)3-Evil Eye Fleegle (5-1)-The Ron Burke 5-year-old has been in sharp form and steps up again. Might be overlooked but has won versus this kind before. Does have enough gate speed to get on the engine or land in the 2-hole behind the 8/5 program choice #5 Mac's Delight. Has a post edge on the choice, and that could be a winning difference at a nice price.Race 10 (9:45 PM EDT)3-Ferragamo Hanover (3-1)-This is a bottom level condition and most of this field has trouble winning. This 6-year-old is no exception as its record speaks for itself. Over the past 2-years in 72 races it has taken only 2 pictures. It does come off a good effort to finish 2nd versus this kind in last. Tonight, gets a new set of hands in Jason Bartlett, and he hasn't won for the Paul Blumenfeld barn (0-9). Went off at 21-1 last time and it won't be those odds here but could go off at a square price.Check me out on X!

EXTRA INCENTIVESBC Bankroll Builder / Bet $25, Get $5 | Keeneland | Dowager Stakes (Race 7)10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Sunset 6 (Gulfstream/Santa Anita)SPECIAL WAGERSCoast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 8-9, Santa Anita Races 2-4-5Sunset Pick 6 | Gulfstream Races 7-8-9, Santa Anita Races 7-8-9TOURNAMENT TIME$100 Keeneland Feeder | details$100 Santa Anita Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 6 | $44,319 | Keeneland | begins Race 4 | 2:36 pm ETJackpot Super Hi 5 | $146,583 (CAN) | Woodbine | Race 10 | 5:56 pm ETPick 6 | $10,719 | Los Alamitos (QH) | begins Race 4 | 9:55 pm ETKEY RACESKeeneland | Race 7 | 4:12 pm ET | Dowager StakesWoodbine | Race 8 | 4:55 pm ET | Frost King StakesWoodbine | Race 9 | 5:26 pm ET | South Ocean StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXLaurel | Race 5 | 2:09 pm ETBelmont | Race 8 | 5:05 pm ETMountaineer | Race 1 | 7:00 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHChad Brown | Belmont | 4 of 5 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Keeneland | trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. | 2-for-2 including $50 stakes upsetter Dr. KapurPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Keeneland Daily Longshots to WatchScott Shapiro: Keeneland / Santa Anita Sunday Spot PlaysBrian W. Spencer: best bets today in the Xpressbet member’s section