Hoosier Park begins the weekend with a 14-race card. The 0.50 Late Pick 4 starts in Race 11. The sequence has a low 12% takeout, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 11 (9:20 PM EST)3-Joker Rockwell (6-1)-Put in a nice qualifier, then had a good effort in the 1st start since 12-6 considering it was a needed race. Does take on better, but fits, comes right back and should be in play off the gate. Has enough gate speed to race at the top of the stack and pick up a suck-around win with the morning line choice starting outside.7-American Classic (2-1)-Came off the bench with a sharp try after being off since 11-28. Came 3rd and rolled home with a 55.4 back half and a 26.4 last panel. Should be tuned up to be the best down the lane this time and has won 9 of 47 races at HoP.Race 12 (9:43 PM EST)1-Rae Gram (3-1)-Wasn't used hard off the gate in the 1st race in town. But started from post 6 and was off for 3-weeks between races. The Tom Tetrick 5-year-old, can show gate speed here with an inside post draw. That was the case in win at HoP on 11-1 versus cheaper. Should be better in the 2nd start on the oval and Trace Tetrick will be racing at the top of the stack when the wings fold.Race 13 (10:06 PM EST)7-Flirtnwiththepilot (5/2)-Went gate to wire in 2 qualifiers and then drew off by 5 lengths in the last tune-up. Both qualifiers were on Lasix and looks ready to take a picture. Trace Tetrick should have the pedal down and look to start 2026 by posing. The Melanie Wrenn 5-year-old has made 49 starts at Hoosier. It hit the board in half of those races and has taken 10 pictures.Race 14 (10:29 PM EST)2-Just A Start (20-1)-The veteran is only 1-15 at HoP but did put in a good effort to come 3rd last week. Outraced its 54-1 odds and went the back half in 56.3. Brandon Bates can be closer to the leader at the half pole and if so, could be in the mix at a large number.4-Imalwaysclassy (7/2)-This is another who outraced its odds last week and won at 41-1. Won't be close to that price as it gets post relief after starting from the 8-hole. John DeLong sticks, and he should put the Stewart trainee in a position to win at the top of the lane again.7-Ishotthesheriff GB (5/2)-Made its 1st start off the bench a winning one with a sharp steer from Kyle Wilfong. When that pilot teams up with the Britany Dillon barn they post 19% winners. Starts outside tonight, that could help the price and should be a main player again.$3 Late Pick 43,7/1/7/2,4,7Total Bet=$18Check me out on X!

It is a light week on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with Turfway Park taking center stage. The John Battaglia Memorial was made a points race in 2021 and while its winners have yet to make an impression in Triple Crown races, 2022 fourth-place finisher Rich Strike went on to shock the world on the first Saturday in May.It remains to be seen whether this year’s group can produce a contender in 2026, but it is the race that will play largest in this week’s 1/ST BET and Xpressbet promotions. The featured event is not only part of our “Triple Crown Prep Races Money Back Special” promo, but the late Pick 4 is this week’s sequence in our ongoing 2-Million Point Saturday Hit & Split. As always, just remember to register for both if you have yet to do so. Here is how I plan to approach the late Pick 4 that kicks off at 8:55 eastern.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: C+Main Ticket: 1 Princess JuliaBackups: 5 Late Spring NightForecast: I landed on the chalk on top in this MSW for 3YO fillies at 5.5-furlongs where #1 Princess Julie appears the clear one to beat. The daughter of Caravaggio has progressed in each of her first three starts for trainer Eric Foster, including a runner-up effort at nearly 25-1 on February 5. She meets a modest group of protected non-winners and should be able to use the inside draw to her advantage. I will throw in long shot #5 Late Spring Night as a backup. The Optimizer filly did little running after breaking slowly from her inside draw on debut. I can forgive the effort given her likely value in the sequence, especially since it has been a good meet for trainer Kevin Fletcher.Race 8:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 6 Lorelei Lee; 7 L’clair; 9 Lotta AlphaBackups: NoneForecast: The pace should be contentious at the very least in this first-level allowance for 3YO fillies, which should make things difficult for 7-2-second choice #3 Gracie’s Delight. Theoretically, 5-2-morning line favorite #2 Cadenza should get a great pocket trip in her first start of the year for Brad Cox, but might need the race given the gap in her public works from January 2 to February 6. I will try to beat them both. #6 Lorelei Lee is the one I like most, but the public will agree. The Mike Maker trainee won nicely on debut with a favorable flow and has put forth a pair of solid local drills since. I also give #9 Lotta Alpha a shot to win right back and a long shot look to #7 L’clair. The Beau Liam filly draws outside the likely speeds in her first start over this course. She is in with a serious chance at a juicy price if she takes to the surface.Race 9: John Battaglia MemorialGrade: B-Main Ticket: 8 Great White; 4 Kilo TangoBackups: 10 Aces HonorForecast: I will also toss the favorites in the aforementioned feature event at 1 1/16-miles and instead hope to gain separation in the sequence. #8 Great White intrigues me most. Trainer John Ennis rarely wins with first-time starters, yet this son of Volatile overcame a poor start to win going away on debut over this course. He tried two-turns in his next start in the Leonatus and failed to hit the board, but again had issues at the break and chased gate-to-wire winner #1 Street Beast throughout. Great White had plenty left to give after the wire and has a look at a big price if he is able to fix those issues at the break. I will use my Money Back wager on him, but also include #4 Kilo Tango. The “other” Cox came home nicely to get the job done on January 3 and is one of those that would benefit most from a lively early tempo.Race 10:Grade: C+Main Ticket: 4 Pack a Lunch; 10 ScovilleBackups: NoneForecast: I lack creativity in this $7500 maiden claimer to close the card where one of the two favorites is likely to cross the wire first. #4 Pack a Lunch takes a big drop in class for Doug Cowans after disappointing in a $30k event on December 12. He makes the most sense, but #10 Scoville could sneak away. The Get Stormy gelding has had his chances, but his speed eventually will lead him to the winner’s circle for the first time.

SPECIAL WAGERSSunset Pick 6 | Gulfstream Races 8-9-10; Santa Anita Races 7-8-9Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 9-10; Santa Anita Races 3-4-6TOURNAMENT TIME$100 Gulfstream Feeder | details$40 Santa Anita Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 5 | $7,097 | Laurel | begins Race 3 | 12:58 pm ETPick 6 | $15,392 | Aqueduct | begins Race 3 | 2:11 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $73,206 | Fair Grounds | begins Race 3 | 2:45 pm ETPick 6 | $15,594 | Oaklawn | begins Race 5 | 3:34 pm ETSunset 6 | $64,308 | Gulfstream/Santa Anita | begins GP Race 8 | 3:50 pm ETPick 6 | $34,288 | Santa Anita | begins Race 4 | 5:02 pm ETKEY RACESDubai | Race 7 | 12:10 pm ET | Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby StakesOaklawn | Race 8 | 5:07 pm ET | Downthedustryroad StakesTurfway | Race 9 | 9:55 pm ET | Cincinnati TrophyLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXTampa Bay Downs | Race 7 | 3:38 pm ETOaklawn | Race 9 | 5:38 pm ETTurfway Park | Race 8 | 9:25 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHLinda Rice | Aqueduct | all 9 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Gulfstream | favorites won 1 of 10 races on the cardPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli: Sunset 6 Carryover Analysis for FridayScott Shapiro: Santa Anita Friday Carryover Pick 6 AnalysisFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Can you answer the $100,000 question? If you pick the winners of the last three races at Gulfstream and Santa Anita this Friday, Feb. 20, a six-figure payout could be headed your way. The Sunset 6 pool starts with a $64,000 carryover and could grow to six figures when the new money for the $1 wager is added.GP 8th race (3:50 p.m. EST) -- Going 5-deep in this crowded grass sprint for fillies and mares at 5F. THANKFULLY posted a career-best 80 Beyer in winning a main-track sprint, now changes surfaces in her second start for trainer George Weaver, whose runners are 7-for-27 on the Gulfstream turf in the last three years with an average $11.20 payout. NANA’S CORN MUFFIN caught 3-to-5 favorite Hot Cargo (6-16, $233k on turf) in her only turf start since 2024. It was her second start off a similar layoff to the one she’s on today. INDEPENDENCE AVENUE won on four turf courses in 11 starts and runs for the cheapest price of her career. SOD SIREN set faster fractions than a same-day, $62,500 optional claimer when she broke her maiden in October, the last time she raced. THE DOVE RULES made a late, wide run but settled for second behind an odds-on repeat winner.GP 9th race (4:20 p.m. EST) -- NAVY CROSS didn’t corner well after a bumpy start, settled down to press the longshot pace-setter to the stretch but flattened out as the favorite in a shorter route race. He steps up off the claim and should hold a decided tactical advantage from close-up in a field that lacks speed, but he’s still a risky play at a short price. LAS OLAS was slowed by the pace last out and is a live longshot despite a 2-for-35 record. He met four next-out winners and two runners-up – all with 80-plus Beyers -- in his previous four starts.GP 10th race (4:50 p.m. EST) -- SAPPHIRE GIRL, unhurried while saving ground behind a fast pace, sustained a rally to break her maiden at this distance, before a non-factoring stakes try. She will be an underlay with Irad Ortiz Jr. getting the call, but she should be on the ticket. FISH MOONEY is 0-for-14 on the lawn, but she rallied for minor awards in 3 of 4 turf routes at Gulfstream, two at this level.SA 7th race (6:33 p.m. EST) -- If SHARON’S BEACH doesn’t ‘bounce’ off his seasonal debut, he should win this Maiden Special Weight sprint at odds-on. He chased favored Liam Smith and ‘dug in late’ to miss in a photo finish at 6-1/2F. He showed marked improvement with Lasix and the performance was validated when Liam Smith came back to win a $50,000 optional claiming race by 11 lengths with a 90 Beyer.SA 8th race (7:03 p.m. EST) -- LINO’S ANGEL defeated seven of the same rivals in January, six in the same spot at 6F last out. But she had trouble at the break in 3 of her last 6 starts and it could change the complexion of this 5-1/2F sprint as she draws post 9 for the first the first time in her career. I’ll try to beat her with three better-priced options. MEMETIC appeared outrun as the 2-1 favorite, but she was racing on short rest and hit her best stride in the final sixteenth. She’s worth using with a strong maiden victory on the Santa Anita dirt to summon. STILL UNWRITTEN showed good zip on the dirt to start her career, then returned from an eight-month layoff and went wire-to-wire in her turf debut, running 2/5 faster than a split-division race on the same card. She remains a front-end presence on the surface switch. PASALUBONG steadied and lost momentum into the turn behind the dueling leaders but recovered with a contending rail rally in the stretch before flattening out late. She gets in light with apprentice Alfredo Bautista summoned to ride.SA 9th race (7: 33p.m. EST) -- AFTERNOON NAP is working up a storm on the Santa Anita dirt after facing some hard-hitting turf rivals like stakes winner Flyover, recent $50,000 optional claiming winner Proof He Rides and multiple stakes-paced Cali Cat. The last time he ran on the main track, he pressed stakes winner Lonesome Stew (5-10, $189k) before fading in a long sprint. COACH CRONIN was dull as the favorite in his last start, but he is reunited with Kamura, who coaxed open-length victories from the 6-year-old the two times he rode. He projects a similar up-close journey from a favorable post on the heels of a :35-1/5 bullet workout.Suggested $1 TicketGP 8th Race: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9GP 9th Race: 4, 5GP 10th Race: 3, 4SA 7th Race: 2SA 8th Race: 2, 4, 8SA 9th Race: 3, 7Cost: $120

It is another big start to the racing week in Arcadia, California when Santa Anita Park re-opens on Friday afternoon. The 9-race slate not only includes a two-day carryover of $64,308 in the Sunset Pick 6, but also a $34,288 carry in the $2 Pick 6. The sequence kicks off at 5:02 PM eastern/2:02 local time with an open claimer at two-turns over the main track and concludes with a state-bred allowance. Here is how I plan on attacking the traditional Pick 6.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 4:Grade: XMain Ticket: 1 AustonianBackups: 6 TougherthantherestForecast: I lack creativity in this $8k claimer at one-mile over the main track where class dropper #1 Austonian looks like the horse to beat. The Cal-bred is 0 for 5 over this surface, but has hit the board 3 times, including twice back in September in his first two starts for trainer Bob Hess, Jr. If he gets an honest pace to run at, he will be tough to hold off, but there is a chance there is not a ton of early speed since trainer Steve Knapp has the two likely pacesetters on paper. If one is scratched, I will use the other on my main ticket, but if they both run, I like #6 Tougherthantherest more. The son of Take Charge Indy makes his second start of the year after battling early and tiring late on January 16 going 6.5-furlongs. He is far from proven traveling a route of ground, but has a chance to control the tempo in the early stages.Race 5:Grade: C+Main Ticket: 3 Ahrens; 5 Texas WildcatBackups: NoneForecast: #3 Ahrens was listed as the 7-5-ML choice in this maiden claimer at 6-furlongs over the main track after dueling early and tiring late against better on the grass last month. It is hard to be overconfident in a horse that finished ninth and 40-1 in his only start, but if he shows that same early zip over the main track, this field is going to struggle to catch him. I will use the Maryland-bred along with #5 Texas Wildcat. The son of Frosted finished second at this level off the freshening last out and should be right there at the wire with a similar performance.Race 6:Grade: C+Main Ticket: 2 Mici’s Express; 4 Ballyhooligan; 6 Unbridled VisionBackups: NoneForecast: #3 Handsome Ticket aims to make it two wins in a row in his first start off the claim for trainer Francisco Rodriguez in this conditional claimer, but appears vulnerable as the 9-5-top choice. The 7YO has to stretch his speed an extra half-furlong against better and may not have things easy on the front end. I will try to beat the ML favorite with a trio of runners, including top pick #2 Mici’s Express. Trainer Doug O’Neill has had a great meet winning with well over 20% of his starters and jockey Emisael Jaramillo has been aboard many of those. He brings back this Cal-bred off a 9-month break. His best bests these. Hopefully, he avoids leaving himself with too much to do when they turn for home.Race 7:Grade: XMain Ticket: 2 Sharons BeachBackups: NoneForecast: I will take a stand in this auction restricted optional claiming maiden event for 3YOs where #2 Sharons Beach is going to be a very tough customer if able to replicate his effort on January 23. Sure, the track favored those forward last month when this son of Omaha Beach ran second by a neck, but he did so to a horse that came back and romped in his next start. Antonio Fresu jumps aboard this likely single that also kicks off the $3 late Pick 3.Race 8:Grade: B+Main Ticket: 2 MemeticBackups: 8 PasalubongForecast: I am hoping to get serious separation from the public in this state-bed first-level allowance for 3YO fillies since I am against 5-2-ML favorite #7 My Kat amongst others likely to take a good deal of public support. My Kat and several others exit a January 23 race that had a favorable flow for those prominently placed. I thought #5 Memetic ran well in that start despite finishing fifth beaten over 3 lengths. The Calumet Farm runner did not break well and raced against the flow, yet still showed some life late off of just 8-days rest. Now, the Lexitonian filly gets normal rest, which should allow her to put forth much closer to her best. I will also use #8 Pasalubong. The Jeff Bonde trainee was down on the inside in the aforementioned January 23 race when finishing fourth. The move to an outside draw should give her a better chance to relax in the early stages. The daughter of Maximum Security is likely to be a big price.Race 9:Grade: BMain Ticket: 2 Mr. MachupicchuBackups: NoneForecast: I will take my final stand in this state-bred first-level allowance for the boys with #2 Mr. Machupicchu. The son of Conquest Fahrenheit returns to the races after being beaten to the lead in a similar spot on January 17. The Jeff Bonde trainee finds a field with much less early speed signed on, which should allow jockey Kyle Frey to get this one to the lead and never look back. A Kyle Frey late Double to close this card would be a beautiful thing.

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Penn National | today’s racesSCHEDULE NOTESPenn National | opening night | first post 5:45 pm ETTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Gulfstream Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $127,037 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:05 pm ETPick 6 | $9,959 | Oaklawn | begins Race 4 | 3:03 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $69,387 | Fair Grounds | begins Race 4 | 3:15 pm ETKEY RACESTurf Paradise | Race 7 | 6:05 pm ET | Shawn Swartz StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXOaklawn | Race 8 | 5:07 pm ETFair Grounds | Race 8 | 5:15 pm ETTurfway Park | Race 9 | 9:55 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJonathan Wong | Delta Downs | all 4 entrants 7-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Turfway | jockey Fernando del la Cruz | 4 wins from 8 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Bet $100, Get $10 Picks for Penn NationalFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The “Love at First Bet” promotion this February at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet offers a $10 bonus when you bet $100 or more at select tracks each Tuesday and Thursday. Penn National will be the track spotlighted for this Thursday for its opening night of the 2026 season. Here’s how I’ll approach with the help of the Betmix Angler database.Penn National: Race 3#9 Uncle Money (7-2 morning line odds) was claimed at the end of the ’25 season knowing full-well the 2-month winter shutdown was coming. Trainer Brandon Kulp got out of the gate last February by going 7: 4-1-1 with horses exiting 50-day layoffs or more, and note last year at Penn was 10: 5-1-1 with horses first off the claim who were off that same layoff span or more. Win bet #9.Penn National: Race 7#1 Heaven Street (3-1 morning line odds) has fit very well since dropping to the lower claiming levels and trainer Tim Kreiser is more than capable of holding this veteran’s form off a layoff. The barn wins 29% at Penn National off layoffs of 60-plus days the past 3 years, including 5-for-10 when paired when go-rider Angel Cruz. Win bet #1.

The Lead:Little went as anticipated in last week's Royal Delta at Gulfstream, so we'll look to restore order in this space for Saturday's Gulfstream Park Sprint. With Knightsbridge rolling in the Mr. Prospector and Fred W. Hooper already this Championship Meet, the local dash scene gets a chance for a fresh face in his absence this Saturday.The Gulfstream Park Sprint will be part of the Sunset 6 wager between Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita (final 3 races at each track daily).​​Field Depth:Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner DAMON'S MOUND has the signature wins in the lineup. ROLANDO and GREAT NAVIGATOR are listed stakes winners. DAMON'S MOUND has the class edge.​Pace:It's not obvious where the serious gas comes from, but it should be competitive early amongst WOUND UP, DAMON'S MOUND, ROLANDO, AJAAYB and perhaps BEELINE and CON COMPANIA. Hard read on pace.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.#1-GREAT NAVIGATOR: Consistent sort was no match for a tougher Mr. Prospector cast last out that included Knightsbridge and Super Chow. While he’s only won 2 of his last 11, he never misfires at 6 furlongs and gets back to his preferred trip. Not the fastest sprinter from the gate and needs a clear break or the field will come down and take his real estate.#2-JACK’S PROMISE: Scored an allowance victory over this track and trip on Christmas Eve and makes his first start since for a Dale Romans barn that is going very well of late at GP. Bullet workout Feb. 8 similar to the zip he showed prior to last win. He’s 2-for-3 at Gulfstream and son of GP successful sprinter Promises Fulfilled. Plenty to like while making his first rise into the stakes ranks.#3-AJAAYB: Victor Barboza took over the training of this 6-year-old over the winter and didn’t see any noticeable progress when returning him at Tampa for an allowance on Feb. 7. This one has struggled in stakes and has nibbled at Gulfstream with a 7: 0-3-3 mark. Prefer others.#4-BEELINE: Versatile pace player wired the Hutcheson here 2 years ago, but is 1-for-7 in sporadic appearances since. The Riley Mott trainee turns to Tyler Gaffalione for the first time while looking to a return to his preferred GP surface as the potential wake-up call. Solid marks at 6 furlongs on dirt play to his strength.#5-WOUND UP: Southern California transplant has battled some tough foes in the Claiming Crown Sprint and Mr. Prospector in recent starts and held his ground nicely. Jose D’Angelo barn has been off its normal success early in 2026 but having Irad Ortiz Jr. back aboard will be a boost. Could show strong early pace just inside the potential pacemaker and favorite, hooking up in a duel.#6-DAMON’S MOUND: Speedster wire the Sunshine Sprint last out and successfully followed his open-company win in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler at Aqueduct. He’s back in a groove after showing such initial promise to open his career. The 6-year-old is 2-for-2 at Gulfstream and note trainer Bill Mott’s 8: 4-1-0 meet in stakes at the Championship Meet. The horse to beat under regular pilot Junior Alvarado.#7-ROLANDO: The 2025 Hutcheson Stakes winner over this track and distance, he’s 1-for-6 since and hoping a return to his favorite surface shakes things in the right direction. He’s 3-for-6 at Gulfstream and never missed a trifecta locally. The 4-year-old by Vekoma caught a pretty tough field at Tampa in the Pelican Stakes Feb. 7 and wheels back quickly. His Hutcheson win was on 13 days’ rest, so the pattern entices and John Velazquez has had success with him prior.#8-CON COMPANIA: Chilean export is 2-for-8 in America while racing for 3 different trainers in Florida. Good effort around 2 turns last time out before succumbing to eventual Pegasus World Cup winner Skippylongstocking et al and should be strong at 6 furlongs. Versatile running style from outside post puts the task in Miguel Vasquez’s hands.Most Likely Exotics Contender:DAMON'S MOUND should be in the hunt every step of the way over a track and distance he likes.Best Longshot Contender:ROLANDO repeats a successful, short-rest pattern from 2025 and has run well locally and at this trip.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$50 exacta part-wheel DAMON'S MOUND over ROLANDO and CON COMPANIA ($100).