Hawthorne Racecourse has a Friday matinee 8-race card, the first post is 1:00 PM CST. The 0.50 Late Pick starts in Race 5 and will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 5 (2:20 PM CST)5-Kiss My Mooss (7-1)-Might have been overmatched in the big money Illinois stakes but performed well in the last 2 races. The most recent start was against this kind, left from the 10-hole, was used early and didn't quit down the lane. Starts in a much better slot, won't be 35-1 but could offer a solid price. Will use in case the morning line choice has a bumpy trip.8-Maypearl (2-1)-This is the field's leading money winner and has won 3 straight. The post draw might make it more of challenge, but it is the one to beat.Race 6 (2:40 PM CST)2-Lottie's Webb (4-1)-Faded down the lane to finish 2nd on 11-21 and has been off since. Faces some of the same and the winner is not in this field. Needs an efficient trip to post a win and that could happen with this post draw.3-Rk's Toni (7-1)-Left from post 7 in last and was far back early but finished 3rd just behind the one above. Gets post relief and a ++ driver change in Casey Leonard. Does good work at Haw (20-6-2-2) and should be closer to the leader turning for the wire.7-Got The Grins (9-1)-Drew off by >3 lengths on 11-13 against better.. Then took an aggressive jump up in class and was a beaten 6th. Now drops back to a competitive level and at 9-1 is well worth a swing. Has hit the board in 5 of 7 in Stickney and took 2 pictures.Race 7 (3:00 PM CST)7-JM's Determination (4-1)-Took the long way around and finished a beaten 4th. This will be the 4th start in town for this mare and will look for an improved effort at a square price.8-Seeyousomewhere (15-1)-This is also the 4th start in town and this filly drops to a more competitive level. Gets a positive driver change in Mike Oosting and with a sharp steer could surprise at a big price.Race 8 (3:20 PM CST)3-Jewel's Lady (9/2)-This is a soft bunch and Lady has lost less than others due to the fact she has had only 8 starts. The 4-year-old was a late starter but tonight gets the best pilot as Leonard steers. Should be forwardly placed and could get a suck around win.9-Minithezzzmoocher (5-1)-Comes off a decent effort finishing a close 2nd and the winner isn't a concern tonight. The post helps the price, and the beaten chalk could be in the mix if in striking range at the head of the lane.0.50 Late Pick 45,8/2,3,7/7,8/3,9Total Bet=$12Check me out on Twitter!

EXTRA INCENTIVES10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Woodbine (TB) | today’s racesTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Gulfstream Feeder | details$100 Aqueduct Feeder | details$40 Los Alamitos (TB) Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $49,693 | Fair Grounds | begins Race 3 | 2:45 pm ETSuper Hi 5 | $8,572 | Gulfstream Park | Race 10 | 4:52 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $53,214 | Charles Town | begins Race 3 | 8:02 pm ETJackpot Super Hi 5 | $228,270 (CAN) | Woodbine | Race 8 | 8:05 pm ETPick 5 | $163,847 | Turfway Park | begins Race 6 | 8:25 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXGulfstream Park | Race 1 | 12:20 pm ETTampa Bay Downs | Race 7 | 3:29 pm ETTurfway Park | Race 2 | 6:25 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJonathan Wong | Delta Downs | 5 of 6 entries 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Fair Grounds | trainer Joe Sharp | 2 wins, 2 seconds from 7 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli: Laurel Late Pick 4 Analysis for FridayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The attention steeped on soon-to-be sophomores picks up business Saturday when the Remsen Stakes headlines a trio of 2-year-old stakes. Aqueduct’s $250,000 Grade 2 Remsen at a mile and one-eighth is joined on the national docket by the $125,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship over 7 furlongs at Laurel and the $125,000 Inaugural Stakes at 6 furlongs in the first leg of the Tampa Bay Derby series.Kentucky Derby trail implications figure to be more prevalent in the Remsen, but we’ll begin our look in post-time order.Tampa Bay Downs: Race 2 | $125,000 Inaugural Stakes | 1:00 pm ETThe Gulf Coast trail includes the Inaugural at 6 furlongs, the Pasco at 7 furlongs and the Sam. F. Davis and Tampa Bay Derby both at 1-1/16 miles. Seven colts/geldings will contest the series opener, including stakes-placed THUNDER CHUCK for Jorge Delgado and SUPER KICK for Eoin Harty. But it’s romping Gulfstream debut winner SOLITUDE DUDE for Saffie Joseph Jr. who will be a standout on the toteboard. The $300,000 2-year-old purchase by Yauponi is bred to sprint on both sides and appears well-placed for the natural rise in class. Joseph adds second-start Gulfstream maiden graduate LANGVAD.Six of these 7 have made the lead early in sprints prior, the other has 3 times pressed from second in the early calls. Expect a strong tempo. Given that, the slight cut-back in distance for SOLITUDE DUDE as well as UNCLE CHUCK – the latter from the 6-1/2 furlong Saratoga Special and same-tripped Juvenile Sprint at Gulfstream, should prove beneficial. While THUNDER CHUCK has sprinted in all 4 starts, the Good Magic colt has as much license on pedigree as any in this field to handle the more important distances in the Tampa series down the road.SUPER KICK won a sales-restricted maiden sprint at Churchill in September, but failed to threaten in a 4-horse Bowman Mill at Keeneland when third. He should find at last a couple better here as well.The picks: 7-SOLITUDE DUDE, 3-THUNDER CHUCK, 4-SUPER KICK, 2-LANGVADLaurel Park: Race 6 | $125,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship | 2:26 pm ETTen juveniles in search of their first stakes glory match up in this 7-furlong sprint that starts to form the Preakness path at Laurel. That venue hosts the middle jewel in the Triple Crown this year and next during the reconstruction at Pimlico.The field lacks a standout in the past performances, though TARTABULL was a notable third at Saratoga to next-out stakes winner Ewing and then fifth behind eventual national stakes players Talkin and Further Ado. Trainer Chad Summers brought the $310,000 Tapit-Anna’s Bandit colt to Laurel on October 25 to break his maiden with a green rally. He’s trained well since and may be starting to figure things out. WORKER BEE has won 2 of 3 for high-percentage trainer Gary Capuano and will be asked to tote 8 additional pounds from his prior score just 15 days ago. He figures to be in the mix every step of the way in a race that has a surprising lack of early pace for a 7-furlong juvenile stakes. Dominant maiden claiming debut winner BIKER BALEY may be the only other runner with designs on the front. Both deserve a look.CODE OF SILENCE is a lukewarm 7-2 morning line favorite off a Nov. 16 maiden breaker in his fourth start for Tim Keefe. He has given himself a lot to do with a series of slow or poor starts, but perhaps the blinkers on last time helped focus his abilities in the late going.The picks: 2-WORKER BEE, 8-TARTABULL, 4-BIKER BALEY, 5-CODE OF SILENCEAqueduct: Race 9 | $250,000 Grade 2 Remsen | 3:08 pm ETThe rematch between PALADIN and RENEGADE, who disputed an Oct. 17 maiden mile at Aqueduct, will be front and center in this field of 12. Since that race, in which I thought RENEGADE ran best, its PALADIN who has posted 5 workouts to a mere 2 for RENEGADE. That said, it’s quite likely Paladin will be fitter for the stretchout in distance and best his rival Saturday over a mile and one-eighth. That PALADIN gets to easily save ground in post 2 with a short run to the first turn only helps in his head-to-head with RENEGADE, who starts from the 9-hole. PALADIN trainer Chad Brown was runner-up here a few years back with fellow Gun Runner colt Sierra Leone.Remsen history offers no pause for these 1-turn milers stepping up in class. In the last dozen years, 11 Remsen winners exited 1-turn races. And note the last 4 winners of this race stepped up from maiden or allowance races.Todd Pletcher has won the Remsen 3 times (2005, 2012, 2021), but is 1 for his last 14 in this race. He’ll send out RENEGADE as well as the Nov. 9 Aqueduct maiden special weight 1-2 finishers COURTING and GRITTINESS. You want to love COURTING, a $5 million full-brother to star racemare Clairiere, but it’s notable that he was ridden out in that 1-turn mile victory against just 3 rivals at 1-10 odds. His back-to-back 94 BRIS late pace figures are very solid against this crew, but pale to the 104 and 100 that RENEGADE and PALADIN earned, respectively, over the same trip.The wide draw for TALKIN in post 11 makes his task significantly more difficult. His Champagne Stakes runner-up to the fleet Napoleon Solo wasn’t visually overwhelming on his ledger, but we saw trainer Danny Gargan win the 2022 and 2023 Remsen editions with sons of Good Magic like this.The picks: 2-PALADIN, 6-COURTING, 9-RENEGADE, 11-TALKIN

Saturday’s card at Aqueduct is a good one. Not only is it Cigar Mile Day, but the Road to the Kentucky Derby also continues with a strong edition of the $250,000 Remsen Stakes (G2). The two races are both included in an All-Stakes Pick 4 sequence that gets started in Race 8 at approximately 2:39 eastern time. As usual, 1/ST BET and Xpressbet have a promotion to make the day much more enjoyable. This time it is a 1 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split over the final four races. Be sure to register on the promotional landing page before playing!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 8: New York Stallion Series: Fifth Avenue DivisionGrade: C+Main Ticket: 8 Braverthanubelieve; 10 Hot Currency; 1 OhBackups: NoneForecast: The first of two New York-bred stakes at 7-furlongs kicks things off. This one is for the fillies where I am not creative overall, but landed on #8 Braverthanubelieve on top. The daughter of Honest Mischief showed speed and some grit winning on debut over the off track on November 22. Trainer Johnny Ortiz wheels her back quickly and when this barn is on a roll, they are one I like to back. Ortiz had a tough spring and summer, but has been heating up of late evidenced by his 5 for 19-record and $2.39 ROI over the last 30 days. This gal should be a decent price in this full field affair. #10 Hot Currency and #1 Oh are obvious contenders that make a lot of sense. Hot Currency broke well with the addition of blinkers last out and finished strong. She should get a similar trip under Flavien Prat. Oh has to overcome the rail draw, but comes in a perfect 2 for 2. With a good break, she could be very tough to catch.Race 9: Remsen (G2)Grade: B-Main Ticket: 9 RenegadeBackups: 2 PaladinForecast: It is always intriguing to see how late season 2YOs of quality handle their first 1 1/8-mile test in the Remsen (G2) where this year there are some super high-priced colts hoping to earn some black type. #2 Paladin went for $1.9M at the FTS August 2024 sale, while #6 Courting sold for an astronomical $5M in September at Keeneland. Both have had quality starts to their careers, especially Paladin who ran huge on debut and was placed first via DQ. It was #9 Renegade he ran to the wire with in mid-October and despite him leaning on and bumping Paladin in the lane, I like his chances to win this graded stakes as a maiden. The son of Into Mischief is also bred to be a good one being out of the Curlin mare, Spice Is Nice and finished extremely strong stretching out from 6.5-furlongs to a mile. A move forward should be expected from the Todd Pletcher trainee. Paladin is also hard to toss though given the speed and determination he showed in that first start. He too should relish the added ground as Chad Brown’s early Derby hope.Race 10: Cigar Mile (G2)Grade: BMain Ticket: 4 Crazy MasonBackups: NoneForecast: This year’s Cigar Mile came up a bit light, but hopefully we can make the most of it by beating the two ML favorites. #6 Phileas Fogg is the deserving 9-5-ML favorite off of a strong 2025 campaign for Gustavo Rodriguez, but I am not in love with the cutback to a one-turn mile. This makes him tough to endorse as the likely public choice. #7 Bishops Bay is likely to take a lot of money too, but is not for me on top. The son of Uncle Mo has earned over $700k, but has done so by beating up on second and third tier fields for the most part. I expect there to be at least one better than the Brad Cox trainee. Hopefully, it is late running #4 Crazy Mason. The Coal Front colt lacks early speed, but consistently comes with a strong run late. He is unlikely to get a big setup as he tries to stretch out to eight-furlongs, but is a horse still improving and should get enough pace for Irad Ortiz Jr. to run them down as the third choice on the tote.Race 11: New York Stallion Series: Great White Way DivisionGrade: XMain Ticket: 2 Parker BooneBackups: NoneForecast: The finale is the male division of the NYSS at 7-furlongs where I have no interest in trying to beat 8-5-ML favorite #2 Parker Boone. The $100,000 son of Solomini crushed a field of open company maidens at Parx by twelve lengths and likely has pointed to this spot against fellow New York-breds since. Trainer Butch Reid has had plenty of success shipping into Aqueduct for stakes races over the year and this colt looks too fast for the competition. Jockey Mychel Sanchez was aboard him in Bensalem on debut and will make the voyage up the Jersey Turnpike to ride him in the Big Apple on Saturday. A likely short priced winner to close the afternoon!

Laurel Park’s popular Late Pick 4 features large, competitive fields this Friday. Here’s a closer look and a suggested $42 play for the 50-cent wager:LRL 5th race (2:00 p.m. EST) -- PAINTMYMASTERPIECE awakened in his second start despite a nightmare trip. He bumped a rival at the break, checked off heels and climbed badly on the first turn, followed the odds-on winner while the pace slowed and finished a clear second in a longer route race. He cuts back to a one-turn mile and figures tough if he minds his manners. HIXON, the son of three-time Grade 1-winning router Hoppertunity, will try to enhance trainer Brittany Russell’s current 12-for-39 streak with first-time starters running one mile.LRL 6th race (2:30 p.m. EST) -- This field doesn’t appear up to the 69 Beyer par at this level, so go deep on the ticket. Morning-line favorite NOLA BOSS out-dueled the favorite but gave way to the trip-sitter at a distance which she broke her maiden for $40,000 and later romped at Colonial Downs. KISSLING has speed and six wins as the lone 3-year-old facing all non-winners of 3 types. FIND FAITH worked in :48-2/5 since an improved second start off a long layoff and could be rounding to a winning effort at a good price. CITY PANDA rallied into a fast pace and won going away two back, now she changes riders and gets in light-weighted. CANDYCRUMBS can launch a contending rally if his slow-starting habit doesn’t resurface. BRIGHT CHARGER was eliminated at the break in a comeback allowance but has to be respected in this barn. IMAGINE IT ALL is 8/2-1-1 on the main track but has been entered in turf races the last three years.LRL 7th race (2:59 p.m. EST) -- ISLE BLUE, in-hand while tracking the dueling leaders, angled to the inside on the final turn and drew away for an easy, second-out victory at Finger Lakes. She will have to step it up a level in this field, but the runner-up came back with a 9-3/4-length win with a 62 Beyer. INTREPID MO eased back entering the final turn in her first test at 1-1/16 miles, then rallied to finish second. She gets in light-weighted and is reunited with leading rider Yedsit Hazelwood, who was aboard for a 7F victory two back.LRL 8th race (3:28 p.m. EST) -- LADY CHARLOTTE got a breather after she forged command into the turn, then held safe a willing stretch run by runner-up ROYAL SEAMSTRESS in a similar spot. ROYAL SEAMSTRESS gets an 8-pound weight shift in her favor, so use both runners in the final leg. I BELIEVE IN MAGIC changed tactics two starts back and led until late, then she was ‘a bit headstrong’ while wide on the backstretch, ranged up for the stretch drive but flattened out in her most recent start.Suggested 50-Cent TicketLRL 5th Race: 2, 3LRL 6th Race: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10LRL 7th Race: 4, 6LRL 8th Race: 3, 5, 7Cost: $42

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Gulfstream Park | today’s racesTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Gulfstream Feeder | details$100 Aqueduct Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 6 | $79,410 | Aqueduct | begins Race 3 | 1:38 pm ETPick 6 | $47,502 | Fair Grounds | begins Race 4 | 3:15 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $52,517 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 4:10 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $49,607 | Charles Town | begins Race 3 | 7:57 pm ETJackpot Super Hi 5 | $228,270 | Woodbine | Race 7 | 8:35 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXGulfstream Park | Race 5 | 2:24 pm ETAqueduct } Race 8 | 4:04 pm ETTurfway Park | Race 2 | 6:25 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHBrent Davidson | Remington Park | all 5 entries 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Turf Paradise | favorites went 0-6 in the Thoroughbred racesPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Gulfstream Bet $100, Get $10 Spot PlaysFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The Lead:The Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park picks up steam toward the New Year, and this Saturday's Race 9 feature will be the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens Handicap. The unique, 2-mile turf test was inaugurated in 2015 and is among the longest stakes races at a major American venue. While the race produced a 60-1 upset winner last year, we're only another year removed from a pair of favorites netting a $9 exacta return. Favorites are 6-11 in the Jerkens with 3 second-place finishes.​​Field Depth:PADIDDLE is multiple graded stakes-placed, including at the Grade 2 level. BELOUNI is a stakes winner in listed company, while SUMMER CAUSE is multiple listed stakes-placed. PADIDDLE and SUMMER CAUSE have consistently faced the toughest competition among these.​Pace:I KNOW I KNOW and DONTSPLASHTHEPOT appear most likely to set the tempo here, but SUMMER CAUSE should not be far off the pace. Over 2 miles, this race has been won on the front and from far back in recent years, so pace handicapping probably isn't the path to victory.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.#1-RISK MANAGER: Trainer Mike Maker won this race in 2016, 2017 and 2022. A fourth win would tie Todd Pletcher for most Jerkens crowns. Risk Manager has been a consistent turf closer going middle-distances at the claiming and starter allowance level. The 7-year-old's 11-for-37 career record is admirable, which includes an April 2022 local turf mile score from 5 Gulfstream bids. Tyler Gaffalione notably jumps to Summer Cause on Saturday.#2-I KNOW I KNOW: Nearly all of this 3-year-old's best work has come on the Tapeta synthetic surface. We've yet to see a 3-year-old win the Jerkens in 11 editions, and the 4-pound weight break on the top-carrying rivals is no major bonus.#3-SUMMER CAUSE: Miguel Clement trainee traveled this 2-mile trip last out when a no-threat fourth of 11 at Far Hills in New Jersey. Note 9 of 11 Jerkens winners prepped at 1-1/8 miles or farther last time out, something only Summer Cause and Coiled can claim in this field. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione piloted Jerkens winners in 2016 and 2017 and opts here over Risk Manager. Likely to be a bit under-laid in terms of price for a horse who spent more time on dirt than turf, a surface in which he's 1-for-5.#4-DONTSPLASHTHEPOT: LIghtly raced 3-year-old takes a massive leap from a maiden claiming score at 1 mile and 70 yards on Tapeta. The Kent Sweezey trainee gets in lightest at 113 pounds, including jockey Nik Juarez. Uncle Mo colt has a ton to prove while doubling distance and trying grass for the first time, but should be part of the pace.#5-COILED: Laurel turf allowance winner at 1-1/2 miles in September for respected grass trainer Arnaud Delacour. Note 9 of 11 Jerkens winners prepped at 1-1/8 miles or farther last time out, something only Coiled and Summer Cause can claim in this field. Also, 4 of the last 5 Jerkens winners exited an allowance prep like Coiled. He's yet to try a stakes, but gets a 6-pound break from some of the favorites. Very interesting.#6-BELOUNI: French-bred miler has been raced almost exclusively around that distance since coming to the US as a sophomore. The now 5-year-old has won 3 of his last 7, but has struggled to pair up good efforts. Jorge Abreu claimed him for $40,000 in August at Saratoga and got a solid second out of him last time out behind Jerkens rival Risk Manager at Aqueduct. Distance will be a significant hurdle.#7-PADIDDLE: $25,000 claim in February may be 1-for-15 lifetime, but placings in the G3 Pan American, Grade 2 Man o' War and Grade 3 Belmont Gold Cup can't be overlooked. His record of a win and a third in 2 local starts looks strong against a field that is a combined 2-for-11 on the Gulfstream turf. Elizabeth Dobles takes over the training for the first time after a 2-month freshening.#8-RUDDY BUDDY: Longshot has been 30-1 or more odds in 10 of his last 11 starts and now faces the most stern test of his career. Only victory in his last 19 starts came 12 races back at Sam Houston.Most Likely Exotics Contender:PADIDDLE is proven over the course and at same marathon distances that indicate 2 miles won't be too much to ask.Best Longshot Contender:COILED is my top pick and should be a square price given the modest speed figure at Laurel in victory.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$80 win COILED. $10 exacta box COILED and PADIDDLE.

The Winter Winner-Land promotion debuts Thursday with Gulfstream Park’s card. Enjoy a Bet $100, Get $10 offer with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet between Dec. 4-23 on Tuesdays and Thursdays for select tracks. Here’s how I’ll attack the Gulfstream lineup Thursday.Gulfstream Park | Race 1 | 12:20 pm ET#5 Striking Finale (20-1 morning line odds) didn’t show much of anything in 2 starts so far, a turf sprint and a dirt sprint. But trainer Mike Trombetta conditioned the dam, Souper Striking, to the Hilltop Stakes win at Pimlico around 2 turns on turf (similar to this trip) and I like that they’re protecting this home-bred in an optional claimer. Trombetta didn’t do much early in last year’s Championship Meet, but in 2022 and 2023 popped $26, $32 and $98 winners for a wild $3.00 ROI for every $1 bet during those 36 December starts. Win-place bet #5.Gulfstream Park | Race 5 | 2:24 pm ET#5 Drink N Wink (5-1 morning line odds) gets a big rider upgrade to Tyler Gaffalione and it’s notable trainer Fernando Abreu is a 22% winner in December at Gulfstream Park from 2022-’24 at the start of the Championship Meetings. Those numbers jump in December claiming races to 35% wins, 45% in the exacta and a $1.45 ROI for every $1 bet from 20 starters. Seems like go time for a horse with consistent form. Win bet #5. Exacta box with #6 Tall Story for a Joe Orseno barn that’s been highly profitable to back early in recent Championship Meets as well.Gulfstream Park | Race 7 | 3:24 pm ET#5 Miguel’s Belle (6-1 morning line odds) should fit very nicely at this 5-1/2 furlong distance. He’s won his last 2 bids over the dash trip on dirt, October 25 and August 2. A troubled trip last time out soils his form and likely helps expand our price a bit. Trainer Amador Sanchez reclaimed the runner whom he won with 2 starts back and note this barn hits 23% wins and 41% in the exacta at this 5-1/2 furlong dash distance the past 4 years at Gulfstream. Win-place bet #5. Daily Double 5-1 to Itza Lock in Race 8. Pick Three 5-1-5 ending with Bibi Dahl in Race 9. We’ll try to use this nice price to a couple of highly logical favorites to close the card.