The Pegasus World Cup Bankroll Builder begins Thursday for 1/ST BET and Xpressbet players. Bet $25 on the Gulfstream Park card and receive a $5 wagering credit to be deposited prior to the Jan. 24 huge day of racing in South Florida. The PWC Bankroll Builder will be offered each racing day through Jan. 23, giving 10 opportunities for players to earn up to $50 in credits. To help you get started, Gulfstream Park track handicapper Ron Nicoletti has his Thursday full-card picks.Race 1:7 Always Ready9 Greatest6 Reina Del VientoRace 2:1 Risk Factor4 Nero Tulip (GB)2 King JulienRace 3:3 My Girl Nina5 Viable Asset7 Coded EleganceRace 4:5 Face the Music4 Speightfulelection2 Sara’s RoseRace 5:3 Simo At the Big A1 Spectacle6 Eyes On the GroundRace 6:4 My Voodoo Doll6 Java Buzz1 Sticky McShnickensRace 77 Coffee At K J’s5 Adversary3 Mila’s WishRace 8:1 Laser8 Complexed4 Ramses the GreatRace 9:6 Contrary (BB)2 Sherbini4 Palm DesertRace 10:5 Bramble Blast (LS)1 Catalonia8 PulstarBest Bet: Race 9 Contrary--Stretches out to the 1-turn mile--Sharp 2nd going 7-1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs-- B Walsh 19% with the stretchout.Longshot: R10: 5 Bramble Blast--Sharp maiden win sprinting going 6 on Aqueduct grass 2 back-- Troubled trip at Laurel last out-- Has speed and jock (J Ruiz) to spring the upset.

After a week filled with weather issues, racing reconvenes on Thursday afternoon in Arcadia, California with a card that kicks off at 3 pm ET and noon PT. The 9-race slate is headlined by the Robert J. Frankel (G3) for older fillies and mares traveling 1 1/8-miles over the Santa Anita sod. The featured event goes as Race 7 and is not only included in the standard late horizontal sequences, but also in the $3 Late Pick 3 and $3 All Turf Pick 3. Here are a few horses I like on the card, including my pick in the headliner.Race 4:My first play of the racing week comes in this MSW event for 3YO fillies traveling 6-furlongs over the main track where I am not in love with the chances of those that have competed in the afternoons already. This gives one of the debut runners entered a big shot to win at first asking. #10 French Blue is the one likeliest to take serious public support. The Three Chimneys Farm homebred comes in off a long series of drills for Bob Baffert. The Gun Runner filly draws to the far outside and looks like a runner, but her price is almost certain to be too short to gamble on. I prefer the likely value of fellow first-time starter #5 Red Cherry. The daughter of Rock Your World comes in off a series of solid local drills for veteran conditioner John Sadler and has some pedigree on the dam side to win early. In fact, her dam Harbor Mist finished in second first out of the box and followed it up with a pair of wins, while half-sister Crazy Hot won by a pole at Santa Anita on debut in May ’23. Hopefully, Emisael Jaramillo can get him out of the gate and into the race.Play: #5 Red Cherry (8-1 ML)Race 5:I will likely play a Daily Double starting in Race 4 into this second-level allowance at 6-furlongs over the grass where there appears to be a plethora of early speed types signed on. I am hopeful California-bred #8 Young Love can use her ability to get out of the gate well and outside draw to take advantage. The daughter of Grazen definitely is gal that likes to be up and on the pace as well, but I like the way she settled last time at Del Mar in her half-length victory against lesser. She has a win in her only start over this course and distance and should benefit from the outside post given the likely race shape. It will be up to jockey Armando Aguilar to avoid getting caught up in a likely early tussle for the second consecutive race. If he can do so, he has a shot to spring the upset and make it 5 for 8 in this filly’s career.Play: #8 Young Love (10-1 ML)Race 7: Robert J. Frankel (G3)The feature drew a field of 8 to travel the 9-furlong distance over the grass, but it looks like a two-mare race on paper. #1 Public Assembly was made the 9-5-ML favorite over #5 Paradise Lake after finishing ahead of her last time out in the Red Carpet (G3) at Del Mar. Public Assembly certainly is capable of besting Paradise Lake once again in their first start of 2026, but I was underwhelmed by her inability to seal the deal despite a perfect pocket trip throughout. Paradise Lake did not have a poor trip in the aforementioned late November event in San Diego, but was two-wide most of the way and further off a moderate pace. The pace is not likely to be overly quick in this year’s Frankel either, but I give Paradise Lake the edge nonetheless. The Peter Eurton trainee has earned all three of her career victories over this turf course and should appreciate the cutback to 1 1/8-miles. She will be tough to deny if jockey Juan Hernandez can avoid leaving her with too much to do late.Play: #5 Paradise Lake (2-1 ML)

The Lead:Florida-breds take center stage Saturday at Gulfstream Park for the Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf. The 1-mile grass test goes as Race 11 and immediately follows the co-featured Sunshine Classic. The 11-runner lineup in this one makes it the more attractive betting proposition, while both races will be part of the Sunset Pick 6 wager with sister track Santa Anita. Also note both races will be part of the Xpressbet Beat the Host handicapping contest this week, which features racing analyst Millie Ball as the public's target to beat.Horseplayers at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET be sure to opt in and take part in the Pegasus World Cup Bankroll Builder promotion. Bet $25 on Gulfstream Park's Saturday card and get a $5 wagering credit to be deposited prior to the huge PWC card later this month.​​Field Depth:Open-company stakes winners GREAT VALENZUELA and SPIRITED BOSS are joined by defending Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf winner ASHIMA at the head of the class.​Pace:Expect a quick tempo in this turf mile, particularly with some of the projected speed drawn in the outside post positions and hustled early to gain position into the clubhouse turn. A front-running winner will have earned this victory if successful.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.#1-LADY CHA CHA: Late runner has some consistency in cashing minor checks, but has lost 11 in a row. Ground-saving trip and contested pace are in her favor under Miguel Vasquez. Late BRIS Pace Figures 90-91 are tops in this field in route races.#2-LUZ DE LA LUNA: Synthetics sprinter is 0-9 on turf and a question mark at the distance. Open company allowance sort at Woodbine taken for $50,000 optional claiming in November by a Marty Drexler barn that’s had her a few times in the past, a good sign at least. First start outside Woodbine in 36 tries.#3-MISS MARY NELL: Inside speed expected from filly who made the pace in the Tropical Park Oaks from a tough post 11 of 12 last out. She backed up late at 63-1 odds in that one after a 5-month hiatus. Should be more fit, but pace task here looks heated. Stakes-placed over this turf course last summer in open company for Carlos David.#4-VOLATILED: Lots of questions to be answered by this dirt sprinter from the surface to the 2-turn trip. This also marks her first attempt in the elder stakes ranks after facing age-restricted foes the past 2 seasons. Five-time runner-up in 9 starts has just a maiden score to her record but has hit the board in 5 straight for Fernando Abreu.#5-SAPPHIRE GIRL: Least-experienced member of the cast makes just her fourth lifetime start, breaking her maiden Oct. 26 at this turf mile trip and not seen since. Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee looks to have missed a workout in late December, so we’ll see where she is on fitness and how she stacks up with elder stakes foes. Pass for now.#6-SPIRITED BOSS: Consistent winner has scored 4 times in 7 starts for Jose D’Angelo and won the Sanibel Island Stakes over this course and similar trip in open company (pictured). Ability to stalk midpack will be effective in this race with plenty of pace. Didn’t need pace help in winning her Tampa comeback that should set her up well under Irad Ortiz Jr. Big player.#7-ASHIMA: Defending champ in the Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf has been popular at the windows, favored in 6 of her last 7 starts (winning 4 of those). Hard to knock this last-out Claiming Crown winner, but note Irad Ortiz Jr. hops off that winning mount to take Spirited Boss on Saturday. Can show speed, but versatile running style could be very helpful in that looks to be a contested pace. Javier Castellano takes the mount for Salvatore Santoro.#8-SOUPER WILLIWAW: Even fifth of 12 in the Tropical Park Oaks last out after back-to-back wins in at Monmouth and Laurel in the maiden and allowance ranks. Mike Trombetta trainee fits well at this trip and probably will be closer to the pace than last out after a bumpy start. Not without a case going into state-bred ranks.#9-RUGELACH: Wide post draws have plagued this early pace player and poor luck at the the draw continues. Southern California transplant exits a good second in a Tampa Bay Downs turf mile allowance for new trainer Sam Wilensky. Solid marks at the mile trip (7: 3-2-1) and this can be a specialist’s turf distance. Consider, but pace and post work against her chance of landing top prize.#10-SOUPER ZONDA: White-hot trainer Mark Casse tabs John Velazquez for the first time aboard this Curlin filly who was fourth at 58-1 in the Tropical Park Oaks last time. She has a win over the course and a turf mile win at Woodbine, but it’s a very light and inconsistent resume overall. Hard to dismiss Casse the way he’s horses are firing right now, but another pace presser with a tough post to overcome.#11-GREAT VENEZUELA: Turf sprinter expected to show early heat from the widest draw in hopes of improving on last year’s second-place finish in the Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf as the favorite. Trainer Victor Barboza turns to Tyler Gaffalione for the first time. Her 16: 9-4-2 record shines, but while she’s run well in 5 tries over this turf course, has only 1 win to show for it. Consistency is to be applauded and an obvious contender.Most Likely Exotics Contender:SPIRITED BOSS is 7-for-7 in the trifecta lifetime, is drawn well enough and gets a great pace set-up.Best Longshot Contender:LADY CHA CHA should be running on late in a race with plenty of early pace.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$60 win SPIRITED BOSS. $10 exacta-box SPIRITED BOSS and ASHIMA ($20). $10 exacta part-wheel SPIRITED BOSS, ASHIMA over LADY CHA CHA ($20).

NOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $32,175 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:05 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $68,975 | Turfway Park | begins Race 4 | 7:25 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXTampa Bay Downs | Race 5 | 2:20 pm ETParx | Race 10 | 4:08 pm ETTurfway Park | Race 8 | 9:25 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHRay Allen Landry | Delta Downs | all 4 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Turf Paradise | 20-cent jackpot pick 6 hit on single ticket for $42,417.PUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Bob Sullivan led all players to capture the $1,000 weekly prize in the opening round of the 21st Xpressbet Beat the Host handicapping contest. His $172 total bankroll easily outpaced Week 1 host Pete Aiello, track announcer at Gulfstream Park, who netted $32.50 in returns. The Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park handicapping contest returns this Saturday for the second of a nine-week run. Santa Anita Park racing analyst Millie Ball will be the handicapping target in Beat the Host this Saturday.Sullivan’s $172.00 total was followed next by Mark Kennedy at $167.00, who earned a $750 prize, and Joseph Rich, whose $155.50 total netted a $250 prize. They are among 166 players from 505 registrants who knocked off Aiello and already have earned a spot in the March 7 Beat the Host Championship Round.The $65,000 Beat the Host competition encompasses 10 races each contest Saturday, split between the final 5 Gulfstream Park races and first 5 from Santa Anita. Contestants place $5 win bets on the Xpressbet platform for each of the 10 Beat the Host races, earning their parimutuel winnings as well as prize pools.All contestants who beat the cumulative bankroll total of the host each Saturday qualify for the Beat the Host Championship on March 7. Weekly prize pools of $2,000 are also in play for the top-3 finishers, while a $6,500 Sweep the Host bonus split is in store for those sharp enough to top the host totals all 9 weeks of the contest.The BTH Championship pits all weekly winning players against one another in pursuit of seats in the lucrative Pegasus World Cup Betting Challenge, Xpressbet Santa Anita Derby Challenge and Xpressbet Florida Derby Challenge tournaments.Last season, 496 of 711 Beat the Host players were able to top the host total at least once during the season. Glenn Gulden paced all players in the cumulative season totals last year, while George Blanchard took down the top prize in the Beat the Host Championship round finale.Tournament & Host Schedule:Saturday, January 3, 2026 - Pete AielloSaturday, January 10, 2026 - Millie BallSaturday, January 17, 2026 - Michelle YuSaturday, January 24, 2026 - Scott ShapiroSaturday, January 31, 2026 - Brian NadeauSaturday, February 7, 2026 - Tom QuigleySaturday, February 14, 2026 - Samantha PerrySaturday, February 21, 2026 - Zoe CadmanSaturday, February 28, 2026 - Ron NicolettiSaturday, March 7, 2026 – Beat the Host Championship Round

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Parx | today’s racesNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $26,842 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 4:11 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXMahoning Valley | Race 4 | 1:39 pm ETParx | Race 10 | 4:08 pm ETTurf Paradise | Race 5 | 5:12 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJacinto Solis | Parx | all 4 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Mahoning Valley | jockey Jose Bracho | 3 wins from 8 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Thursday racing was added to the Santa Anita ledger this week as part of a series of makeup days from early season cancellations. The stakes co-features will add weekday intrigue with the Eddie Logan for 3-year-olds and the Grade 3 $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes for elder fillies and mares. The Frankel is part of the Sunset 6 wager between Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, comprising the final 3 races on each card.Let’s meet the contenders for the Frankel Stakes (Race 7):#1-PUBLIC ASSEMBLY: Last year’s Grade 3 Royal Heroine winner over this course at a furlong shorter, she also was second in the Yellow Ribbon and Red Carpet at Del Mar on the campaign. First of 2 Phil D’Amato trainees in the field for a conditioner who won this race in 2019. Umberto Rispoli takes the mount for the first time.#2-WILLA T: Stakes debut for the field’s hottest runner, who rides a 3-race winning streak into the Frankel. Maiden claiming graduate at Del Mar lost her first 6 starts, but has found success since dropping in class. Big test here for trainer Tim Yakteen, who won this race in 2020 with Mucho Unusual. Hector Berrios takes the mount on the lightly raced 5-year-old.#3-IMA JOKER: Practical Joke mare seeks her first stakes victory and first score at 1-1/8 miles after 5 unsuccessful tries at the trip. Doug O’Neill charge did win over the Santa Anita course 2 starts back at a mile and returns to the stakes ranks for the first time since running fifth in the November 2024 Red Carpet at Del Mar.#4-HANNAH BUCKLE: Stakes debut for Leonard Powell’s Irish export. She made just 4 starts in 2024 and 3 in 2025; hero trio last year all at Del Mar, including an allowance win at a mile. She’s yet to run beyond a mile in 9 starts to date. Regular rider Armando Ayuso returns to the saddle.#5-PARADISE LAKE: Consistent finisher rallied for third in the Red Carpet at Del Mar to finish on the heels of Frankel return rival Public Assembly last out. It was the Uncle Mo filly’s first stakes try after winning 2 of 3 allowance races in the lead-in. Juan Hernandez piloted her to a 9-furlong Santa Anita turf allowance win 2 starts back and returns for the same assignment.#6-SUN OF HILL: Brazilian export has lost all 11 starts since arriving in California in 2024, but was second in the Royal Heroine in April over this course. Exits a fourth at Del Mar in the Red Carpet behind a couple of Frankel returnees. Second of 2 Phil D’Amato trainees in the field for a conditioner who won this race in 2019. Kazushi Kimura will be back aboard the 6-year-old.#7-STARRY NIGHT: Trainer Jonathan Thomas looks for back-to-back Frankel Stakes wins as a follow up to Mrs. Astor. This Justify filly has won both starts since moving from Kevin Attard’s barn in Canada, Thomas finishing the winner’s circle twice at Colonial in maiden claiming and starter allowance races at the Frankel’s 9-furlong trip. Ricardo Gonzalez will ride in her stakes and SoCal debut.#8-WATCHTOWER: Santa Anita’s 2024 Autumn Miss Stakes winner has lost 6 straight since then and exits a sixth-place finish in the Swingtime Stakes in October. The Richard Baltas barn is a 3-time winner of the Frankel (2016, 2017, 2022). Mirco Demuro piloted her to a third-place Yellow Ribbon finish this summer at Del Mar and returns.

NOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 5 | $2,612 | Sunland Park | begins Race 5 | 4:09 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $18,447 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 4:15 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXMahoning Valley | Race 9 | 3:59 pm ETParx | Race 10 | 4:08 pm ETTurf Paradise | Race 6 | 5:45 pm ETSunland | Race 9 | 6:00 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHTodd Fincher | Sunland | all 5 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | trainer Dick Cappellucci | 3 wins from 7 starters at Sunland, Sam HoustonPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section