Yonkers Raceway has a 10-race card with the $1.00 Early Pick 4 starting in Race 1. The sequence features MGM Pacing Series Leg 5 action, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 1 (6:45 PM EDT)2-Aardie B Miki N (5/2)-Won 2 back from the 7-hole going gate to wire in a Series race and had the same post draw 3 back. Last week, didn't seem interested. But has won 4 of 10 this year and overall has posted 9 wins in 22 races on the Hilltop. Jason Bartlett will get the top and could be tough to tackle.4-Coastal Babe N (2-1)-Won Legs 1 and 2 in the Series and then took a week off. Last time was used hard off the gate into a 26.3 opening panel and missed by a length after getting on the engine. Now, comes right back in sequence and is the one to beat.Race 2 (7:05 PM EDT)2-Fashion Terror (8/5)-Not loving the short price but did take its 1st picture of 2026 at M1 last time. Comes back to Yonkers where it has had some breaking issues. Did take 2 pictures in 6 tries at Yonkers and could add to that total if Bartlett can keep her pacing.5-Alta Madeira N (6-1)-Will take a swing here in case the chalk isn't on its game under the assumption the morning line is too low. Saratoga shipper lands at a level that with a smooth trip a win could happen with this post draw.Race 3 (7:25 PM EDT)1-Louies Girl N (3/5)-The Engblom mare is looking for its 3rd straight picture and has won the last two drawing off by 4 and 5 lengths. Bartlett will leave and try to have his way on the front end, if that happens this is most likely the winner.3-Walkin On Sunshine (3-1)-If the big chalk isn't engaged Scott Zeron could be posing. Has hit the board in all 4 Series starts but last time did show good gate speed off the car. Hung on for another 3rd place check but was used into a 26.3 opening quarter. A pocket ride could happen again without burning as much gas.Race 4 (7:45 PM EDT)5-Bath Bomb (2-1)-This will be the 5th race of the year for the Engblom 5-year-old mare. Banked over $375,000 in 2025 and posted 12 wins in 18 starts. Hasn't won in 4 tries this year but has 3 wins in 7 races at Yonkers and has had excuses. Finished 2nd in the first 2 races off the bench and then was stuck with post 6 and 7 in the last 2 starts. Now meets a short field without big gate speed and needs a win. Andrew McCarthy should be aggressive off the car and will have in striking range turning for the wire.$2 Early Pick 42,4/2,5/1,3/5Total Bet=$16Check me out on X!

They are back at it for the start of a new racing week at Santa Anita Park. The Friday afternoon slate kicks off at 4PM eastern/1PM local time and includes five races over the grass. Here are a few horses I will build my day around at the “Great Race Place” before we reach the one-week point until the 152nd Kentucky Derby.Race 5:#4 Run With Liberty was extremely impressive on debut winning from off-the-pace at one-mile over the grass going away at odds of 14-1. The Originaire filly was forgotten at the windows in her first start, but was made the 9-5-ML choice in her first start versus winners. She is obviously quite capable of making it back-to-back wins, but I prefer the more experienced #1 Cecilia Street. The Stanford filly tried the dirt on April 4, but was badly out run. Trainer Leonard Powell moves her back to the grass and stretches her back out to two turns. She should find a prominent spot early allowing her to get the jump on Run With Liberty. Jockey Mirco Demuro will be back in the saddle.Play: #1 Cecilia Street (5-2 ML)Race 6:The pace should be honest, but not chaotic in this open $10k claimer over the main track that kicks off the late Pick 4. I expect class dropper #3 Legal Fiction to take advantage. The Reddam Racing filly drops out of a lower-level allowance spot where she finished second in a compact group of 4. The California-bred filly should be able to find a perfect stalking spot under jockey Emisael Jaramillo and be tough to hold off from there. Look for the daughter of I’ll Have Another to fire her best on the class drop at what is listed as a very playable 6-1-ML offering.Play: #3 Legal Fiction (6-1 ML)Race 7:Assuming #10 Bear’s Board does not draw in off the also eligible list in this optional claimer over the grass, it should be #2 Green Zone loose on the lead. The Harris Farms homebred made her turf debut two-back over this same surface and distance and wired out a field of 9 at odds of 13-1. Trainer Dean Pederson brought the Grazen filly back in a state-bred first-level allowance in late February where she was beaten out of the gate and struggled to relax from there. There is little doubt that at this point in her career she wants to be out there on her own setting the pace like she did in her maiden score. With a better break and an inside draw, she has a shot to rebound in her first start of the spring. Abel Lezcano gets the leg up for the first time.Play: #2 Green Zone (8-1 ML)

1/ST KENTUCKY DERBY WAGER GUIDEFree Access | link SCHEDULE NOTESPreakness Future Wager | opens noon ETKeeneland | closing day Spring MeetSPECIAL WAGERSCoast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 8-9; Santa Anita Races 3-4-5Sunset 6 | Gulfstream Races 7-8-9; Santa Anita Races 7-8-9TOURNAMENT TIME$100 Keeneland feeder | details$40 Santa Anita feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $246,980 | Gulfstream Park | begins Race 4 | 2:27 pm ETPick 5 | $12,893 | Laurel | begins Race 6 | 2:31 pm ETMandatory Payout Pick 6 | $44,695 | Keeneland | begins Race 5 | 3:08 pm ET--Gulfstream has a mandatory payout scheduled SaturdayKEY RACESKeeneland | Race 8 | 4:44 pm ET | Betwitch StakesOaklawn | Race 9 | 6:14 pm ET | Southern Hospitality StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXLaurel | Race 6 | 2:31 pm ETAqueduct | Race 5 | 3:16 pm ETTampa Bay Downs | Race 9 | 4:26 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHBrad Cox | Keeneland | 5 of 6 entrants 7-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Aqueduct | jockey Manny Franco | 3 wins, 4 thirds from 7 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli: Keeneland Late Pick 3 Play for Closing DayScott Shapiro: Santa Anita Spot Plays for FridayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Racing officially moves from Keeneland to Churchill Downs on Saturday afternoon, which will also be when the Kentucky Derby draws occur. The draw along with the Kentucky Oaks comes between the third and fourth races on the Opening Day slate and to kick off the meet in Louisville, Xpresssbet and 1/ST BET are offering a one-day promotion. The “Churchill Triple Tri $2500 Hit & Split” is live just on April 25 with the goal of connecting on three $1 trifecta wagers over the course of the ten-race card. Those that register and are able to do so will share the $2500 bonus prize. I analyzed the late Pick 4 below, but will certainly take a swing at the promo as well to get my meet started in the “Ville.”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 7:Grade: CMain Ticket: 7 GoodbetterbestBackups: 4 Classy’n ConnectedForecast: A $40k open claimer over the grass kicks off the first late Pick 4 of the meet where I lack creativity. #4 Classy’n Connected was made the 2-1-ML favorite in her first start off a two and a half month freshening for trainer Tom Drury Jr. The Connect mare is winless over the grass in three starts, but does have a second over this course last fall against a bit tougher. Her best puts her there at the wire, but I prefer #7 Goodbetterbest. The daughter of Collected was beaten a block last time out at Turfway Park, but should relish getting back to the grass. Tyler Gaffalione should have her in a prominent spot early in her second start for trainer Brittany Vanden Berg.Race 8:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 10 Where Y’atBackups: 3 Shadow CoastForecast: The pace should be honest in this $16k non-winners of two event over the main track, but if it is softer than it appears on paper it is #3 Shadow Coast that could prove tough to get by. The son of West Coast earned his only win over this surface last fall and attracts Luis Saez. However, he is likely to take heat most of the way, which should bode well for #10 Where Y’at. The Michael Tomlinson trainee moves from turf-to-dirt and cuts back to a sprint after a speed and fade run in New Orleans in early March. The outside post should allow jockey Axel Concepcion to play the break and keep this one in the clear in case the speed begins to back up. Hopefully, he has enough late to get to the wire first.Race 9: RoxelanaGrade: BMain Ticket: 7 Vincey GirlBackups: NoneForecast: The feature is a 6-furlong dash over the main track for older fillies and mares and I like the chances quite a bit of #7 Vincey Girl. Trainer Jose D’Angelo can be streaky. The Florida-based conditioner had a tough winter, but is heating up of late evidenced by his 10 for 50- record over the last 30 days with a $2.38 ROI. This Race Day mare won off the layoff against lesser at Tampa in late March, attracts Irad Ortiz Jr, and should get a great setup for her off the pace run. A single for me and a race where I will key her on top in hopes of knocking down my last Trifecta for the Hit & Split promotion.Race 10:Grade: XMain Ticket: 3 WithoutBackups: NoneForecast: #3 Without will not be a good price, but should be tough to beat in the finale. The son of Lope De Vega steadied early and had traffic issues late in his fifth-place finish at Keeneland against similar on April 3. The Graham Motion trainee has lost all three starts in the States thus far, but has kept solid company along the way. He was bet off the board last out and attracts Irad Ortiz this time after a less-than-ideal voyage under Javier Castellano earlier this month. This feels like a “if not now when” type spot for the 4YO gelding.

There’s a long way to go to solve Keeneland’s $3 Late Pick 3 this Friday, April 24. A 1-1/2-mile Grade 3 stakes race and 1-1/8-mile six-figure allowance on the turf are part of the sequence, with a crowded Maiden Special Weight sprint in between. Here’s a closer look and a suggested $54 ticket.KEE 8th Race (4:44 p.m. EST) -- More than half the field in the featured $350,000 Bewitch Stakes (G-3) has never run in a 1-1/2-mile turf race. On the other hand, more than half have won a Grade 3 event and two others are Grade 2-placed on the lawn. I’ll try to beat the two morning-line favorites, who don’t offer enough value for Pick 3 purposes. SPEED SHOPPER ran 1-2-3 in graded grass routes, but she sat a perfect stalking trip from the rail, lacked some room on the turn and was out-kicked until late stretch in the Grade 3 Orchid at Gulfstream Park last out. LITERATE rallied to win back-to-back minor stakes on Turfway Park’s synthetic track to begin her 6-year-old season. But the $459,542 earner is winless in five starts on turf and unproven at this distance. MRS. ASTOR, the queen of turf marathons in California since 2024, won 7 of her last 10 starts, five in photo finishes and five at 1-1/4 miles and beyond. She rallied into a slow pace from post 10 to finish third in the G-3 Santa Ana as the favorite last month. She makes the ticket and so does longshot VIRGIN COLADA, whose only win since a debut maiden victory in 2024 was in an entry-level allowance at Turfway Park three months ago. However, she is reunited with jockey Flavien Prat, who was aboard for a Grade 2 turf placing as a 2-year-old, and she is trained by Mike Maker, who is 22-for-132 the last three years with an average $19.80 win mutuel on the surface switch angle. JUST BASKING earned a 93 Beyer when she sprung a 13-1 upset in the Grade 3 The Very One at Gulfstream Park in February at 1-3/8 miles. She unwound too late and got beat a half-length by SPEED SHOPPER last out.KEE 9th Race (5:16 p.m. EST) -- MUMDOGGIE gained late on a 2-to-1 debut winner and finished ahead of a next-out MSW winner in his third start overall and first this year. IMPRACTICAL, a $375,000 sales buy, awakened in his season debut, running with Lasix for the first time. He set the pace to the stretch and held third in a split division race with nearly identical fractions. NATIONAL CHARTER shows some flashy recent workouts over the track to warrant a long look in his debut. His dam, Totally Tucker, has four winners from seven foals, including Grade 3-winning turf sprint specialist Totally Boss (7-24, $802k) and G-3 dirt route winner Super Steed. Trainer George Arnold II is better than his recent 1-for-29 run with first-time starters indicates, but watch the odds here, as only 10 of those 29 starters were single-digit odds.KEE 10th race (5:48 p.m. EST) -- PRETTY PICTURE will take some beating in her 4-year-old debut for trainer Chad Brown. She rallied from far back to win her debut on turf, then placed in a pair of graded events behind the likes of three-time graded winner and millionairess Lush Lips and next-out Grade 3 victor Fast Market. STRONG DESTINY turned in a pair of freakish performances for her new barn on Turfway Park’s synthetic track. She ran away from the 3-to-5 and 7-to-5 runners up to win by a combined 24 lengths with an average 91 Beyer. She might be this good.Suggested $3 Pick 3 TicketKEE 8th Race: 2, 6, 7KEE 9th Race: 5, 6, 7KEE 10th Race: 1, 6Cost: $54

1/ST KENTUCKY DERBY WAGER GUIDEFree Access | link EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Charles Town | tonight’s racesSCHEDULE NOTESPreakness Future Wager | opens FridayTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Keeneland feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $234,798 | Gulfstream Park | begins Race 3 | 1:54 pm ET--Gulfstream has a mandatory payout scheduled SaturdayLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXAqueduct | Race 8 | 4:53 pm ETOaklawn | Race 7 | 5:02 pm ETKeeneland | Race 9 | 5:16 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHSaffie Joseph Jr. | Gulfstream | 4 of 5 entrants 7-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Keeneland | jockey Jose Ortiz | won 4 races, including the last 3 on the cardPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The Lead:Saturday’s Gulfstream Park card co-features a mandatory payout in the Rainbow 6 along with several state-bred stakes in the Florida HBPA series.​​Field Depth:Grade 2 winner CLASSIC MO TOWN has the field's signature score. TANK is a stakes winner, while ADIOS COLE is stakes-placed. A class riser in good form could certainly play a big role here.​PaceDon't expect it to be blazing. Leading candidates include TANK and BRAWN, but neither are certain to send. PRIVATE THOUGHTS should get a dynamite trip pressing. Deep closers may not get the set-up they need.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.1-CLASSIC MO TOWN: Mark Casse takes the controls after a $50,000 claim and wheels back 15 days later. Inconsistent sort on synthetic hasn’t seen the grass in a couple of years but should fit well against the state-breds. Mixed vibes.2-PRIVATE THOUGHTS: January layoff came when this one was in an extended groove of 7 straight strong performances mixed between turf and synthetic. Won his debut in 2023 and won off the layoff last August, so he’s got a history of firing fresh. Big player is drawn well.3-BRAWN: Has been chasing several of these while a big price in recent starts. Lack of a defined, preferred running style isn’t doing him any factors but may be best when showing speed. Prefer others.4-TAPIT KISSIT WINIT: Tampa return bid for Mark Casse was decent behind a moderate pace, but this Tapit colt has dropped 6 straight since unveiling 2-for-2 at Woodbine in 2024. Consistent sort hasn’t indicated a big move forward in quite some time.5-TANK: Beaten favorite on the front-end in a similar stakes task at Tampa while the slightly shorter distance Saturday could help his cause. Lost starch late in 7 straight defeats for Carlos Davis, who turns to a fifth different jockey in the last 5 races (Samy Camacho) looking for the right strings to pull. Carries top weight of 126 (along with Classic Mo Town) and not sure he’s far enough ahead of his rivals to give 4-6 pounds at a well-backed price.6-ADIOS COLE: Stalked and passed Tank last out at Tampa over 9 furlongs and projects to be a bit farther off the pace in the rematch. Really gets over top-of-ground turf courses better, so warm and dry temps in the Saturday forecast help his cause. Not overmatched, but notably 0-4 in stakes and 0-4 over this course.7-JUNCTION ROAD: Rallying winner of back-to-back synthetic starts against lesser competition, trainer Rohan Critchton tries to strike while the iron is hot. But this one’s 0-6 on turf, all over this course and may find a few better on grass. Maybe he’s just in a groove now and it’s not about the surface changes, but demand some price to find out.8-SCARECROW: Jorge Delgado trainee has little to show for 4 stakes bids and has won just 1 of his last 7. Longshot prices in recent outings was no match for a few of these at Tampa 4 weeks ago. Edgard Zayas won aboard him on synthetic, but note the Neolithic colt is 0-6 on turf.Most Likely Exotics Contender:PRIVATE THOUGHTS has 9 straight trifecta finishes and fires strong when fresh.Best Longshot Contender:ADIOS COLE won't be a huge price, but should offer fair odds for a share.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$100 win PRIVATE THOUGHTS.

1/ST KENTUCKY DERBY WAGER GUIDEFree Access | link EXTRA INCENTIVES2 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split | Keeneland | late pick 4TOURNAMENT TIME$100 Keeneland feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 6 | $54,038 | Keeneland | begins Race 3 | 2:04 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $245,677 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 5:12 pm ETKEY RACESParx | Race 8 | 3:49 pm ET | Wait For It StakesParx | Race 9 | 4:16 pm ET | Unique Bella StakesParx | Race 10 | 4:43 pm ET | Page McKenney StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXKeeneland | Race 4 | 2:36 pm ETTampa Bay | Race 9 | 4:30 pm ETHorseshoe Indy | Race 8 | 5:47 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJonathan Wong | Evangeline Downs | all 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?This Week | Thistledown | favorites 7-16 first 2 days of new meetPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Keeneland $54K Pick 6 Carryover Analysis for WednesdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section