EXTRA INCENTIVES$10,000 Trifecta-Thon | Saratoga | daily through SundayTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Saratoga Feeder | details$80 Del Mar Feeder | details$40 The Meadows Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | Ellis Park | $83,910 | begins Race 4 | 2:16 pm ETPick 6 | $192,794 | Del Mar | begins Race 3 | 6:02 pm ETKEY RACESSaratoga | Race 8 | 5:10 pm ET | Shuvee StakesSaratoga | Race 9 | 5:45 pm ET | Rick Violette StakesDel Mar | Race 7 | 8:02 pm ET | Fleet Treat StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXEllis Park | Race 9 | 4:42 pm ETWoodbine | Race 9 | 5:24 pm ETDel Mar | Race 8 | 8:32 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJuan Carlos Avila | Monmouth | 5 of 6 entrants 9-2 or less odds (4 at 5-2 or less)DID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Saratoga | jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. | 3 wins, 2 seconds from 8 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Saratoga Friday Spot PlaysJeremy Plonk: Del Mar Friday Spot PlaysFrank Carulli: Friday Ellis Park Late Pick 4 AnalysisFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

A two-day pick 6 carryover of $192,794 puts extra heat on the Friday card at Del Mar. Cal-bred sprint fillies are featured in the $150,000 Fleet Treat Stakes as Week 2 at Del Mar rolls on. The main event drew a field of 12 on an 8-race program with 5 races luring double-digit entries. Mohaven could be a Race 7 Fleet Treat standout looking to add to her Golden State Juvenile Fillies, Evening Jewel and Melair Stakes trophy case. First post is 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT.Each day this summer at Del Mar, I’ll be handicapping the action with my top plays on the card – including full-card selections for a featured program each week (this week’s full-card comes Saturday).Del Mar: Race 3 | 6:02 pm ET#4 Crazy Cami (3-1 morning line odds) makes her Del Mar debut as this Kentucky transplant offered 3 consistent sprints at Santa Anita since relocation. She’ll stretch out to a mile for trainer Michael McCarthy, who won 4 races here opening week. Expect her to love Del Mar as sire Audible’s runners win a wild 31% with a flat-bet 7% profitable ROI in recent years. There’s not an overwhelming pace expected, so speed jockey Emisael Jaramillo should keep her close to the hunt. Win bet #4. Picks 4-7-2-8Del Mar: Race 5 | 7:02 pm ET#5 He’s Got Fire (10-1 morning line odds) has been vastly improved since George Papaprodromou added blinkers and could be set for graduation day with a Del Mar return. Overmatched on class here in 2 starts last year, but these offspring of Gato Del Oro love Del Mar (24% winners, $1.48 ROI for every $1 bet coming into the meeting in recent years), including a good debut third for us yesterday. Win bet #5. Picks 5-7-9-2Del Mar: Race 8 | 8:32 pm ET#6 Feeling Lucky (5-1 morning line odds) goes for a superior second-start trainer in Brian Koriner, winning nearly 25% in this situation over the past 5 years with a flat-bet profit – and those numbers increase at Del Mar specifically. Gelding exits a modest debut sprint at Santa Anita in which he was under a strong hold early and finished with some interest while green and gets to stretch his legs. Win bet #6. Exacta key-box 6 with 4,9,11. Picks 6-4-9-11

A two-day carryover of $192,793 in the Pick 6 at Del Mar headlines the latter part of the Friday thoroughbred action, but there are plenty of other strong opportunities before that during a solid Saratoga card that features the Shuvee (G2) for older fillies and mares. The $250k race is one of two stakes on the agenda on an afternoon that also offers a trio of maiden special weight events. Here are a couple of horses I like in the maiden races, as well as my thoughts on the feature.Race 2:My first play comes in this MSW for 2YO fillies at two-turns over the Inner Turf where I like #5 Margie’s Girl. The Kenny McPeek trainee was hammered down from her double-digit ML on debut in mid-May at Churchill Downs and put forth a solid third-place run after being in tight early costing her position. McPeek wheeled her back on short rest to be a part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival where she once again ran well, but was caught in chase mode due to the incredibly strong break from the gate by the eventual wire-to-wire winner. The Vekoma filly has shown ability in races that appear to sharp for her and has every reason to relish the added ground based on her bottom side pedigree. The fact Jose Ortiz returns to take the call adds to the appeal.Play: #5 Margie’s Girl (7-2 ML)Picks: 5-3-10Race 6:My next play comes in this 2YO MSW event for fillies sprinting over the sod where there are plenty of ways to go, but I landed on second-time starter #5 Red Coats Coming. The Army Mule filly was chilly on the tote before her debut on the night of June 20 and did not run great, but also was caught in chase mode most of the way due to the dominant performance from Joel Politi’s Stress Relief. The effort overall does not look great on paper, but that should only help her price. Trainer Joe Sharp thought enough of her to bring her to Saratoga where she gets a big rider upgrade to Luis Saez. Hopefully, the experience under her belt and a better break from the gate lead to a big run on the move from dirt-to-turf.Play: #5 Red Coats Coming (8-1 ML)Picks: 5-8-9Race 8: Shuvee (G2)I lack a strong opinion in this 1 1/8-mile test for fillies and mares where last year’s 15-length winner #4 Scottish Lassie and #3 Fully Subscribed are expected to take a lot of the public’s attention and deservingly so. Scottish Lassie has not raced often, but she has run some big races when she has competed in the afternoons. That said, she has been unable to piece them together for the most part. She did run a solid third in the Acorn (G1) a year ago before she won the CCA Oaks, but that win came in her third not second start off the bench. Scottish Lassie seems capable of both running off the screen again or putting in a solid underneath effort. Fully Subscribed has been more consistent finishing first or second in six of her seven career starts, including two over this surface. She has been defeated by a pair of very nice horses in her two runner-up efforts so far in 2026, but her last run was still somewhat disappointing. For that reason, I will hope #5 Bless the Broken can put together a career best run in her third start of the form cycle for Brad Cox. She has not been good enough to compete with Shred the Gnar or Nitrogen when the real running started in her last two Grade 1 tries, but she attracts Irad Ortiz Jr. and will be a significantly better price than the two most logical fillies.Play: #5 Bless the Broken (7-2 ML)Picks: 5-4-3

The Meadowlands has a big 15-race card featuring Kindergarten Series action. The Spot Plays are in Race 6, Race 10, and Race 15. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 6 (8:40 PM EDT)6-Green Maztake (7/2)-The Greenshoe 3-year-old has a good speed but has trouble staying on stride. Broke 2 back at M1 and has taken steps in 3 of the last 5 races. The reason to play is because the last start at Philly was a sharp performance. Rolled the back half in .55 and got up to win by a head. Will look for another flat effort and there's no telling what kind of speed the Smedshammer filly could bring on a larger oval if minds its manners. Should be hungry for a win, this is a sharp outfit, the breaking issues could be solved and will look for a square price.Playing #6 Green Maztake to Win6-1-3Race 10 (10:20 PM EDT)3-Love Somebody (3-1)-Toscano trainee has cashed checks against Pennsylvania Sires Stakes company on smaller ovals. Could improve from the bottom of the ticket to taking a picture on the driver change to Dexter Dunn. This is a grinder that needs the button pushed at the right time and this pilot knows how.Using #3 Love Somebody in a Win Bet.3-2-5Race 15 (12:25 AM EDT)8-Almost Karen (8-1)-Jason Bartlett sticks around for the finale on a long night to steer for the Maria Reid barn. That peaked my interest as Bartlett has only driven for Reid 3 times and has won all 3. Did win 2 back at this level then stepped up and put in a no-move mile on 7-17. Drops back to the level of its last win and that was with tonight's pilot. Not sure if the 8-1 program price holds up but should offer a solid return with this post draw.Playing #8 Almost Karen to Win8-10-1Check me out on X!

In addition to the big Saturday cards at Saratoga and Del Mar, Woodbine Racetrack also has a strong 11-race card that includes three graded stakes events over the back part of the slate. To help add value to the late Pick 4, Xpressbet and 1/ST BET have decided to sweeten the pot with a $2500 Hit & Split. Most of you know how this promotion goes by now, but for those new to the party just head on over to the promotions page, click on the register button, and then automatically receive your share if you are able to connect the dots. Check out the landing page for more details. Here is how I will approach the sequence that kicks off at 4:50 pm ET and includes all three stakes.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: Ontario Colleen (G3)Grade: B-Main Ticket: 2 BandigaraBackups: NoneForecast: #5 Happy Destination might be loose on the lead in this one-mile event for 3YO fillies over the grass, but trusting her to get the distance is impossible for yours truly. Her two runs have come in sprints and she is bred on both sides to prefer one-turn races, which makes #2 Bandigara the clear one to beat. The British-bred showed a strong turn of foot in her first start in the States winning the Penn Oaks in late May. She has been freshened up by Miguel Clement and finds a favorable spot for her graded stakes debut. She should run this group down late under jockey Sahin Civaci.Race 9: Hendrie (G3)Grade: C+Main Ticket: 6 Reagan’s FlameBackups: NoneForecast: The lone one-turn race within the sequence is conducted at 6.5-furlongs over the all-weather where #6 Reagan’s Flame looks tough to beat. The daughter of Flameaway went two-turns on the turf last time out and failed to make an impression in the Royal North (G3), but prior to that put in a huge run in her first sprint over the synthetic surface. She was shuffled back a bit before they turned for home and still cruised by the field of rivals at odds of 2-1. I expect a similar performance in this year’s Hendrie.Race 10: Trillium (G3)Grade: B-Main Ticket: 1 Lupa; 2 Hurricane Clair; 7 DesignBackups: NoneForecast: I will attempt to find value within the late Pick 4 by fading 9-5-ML favorite #4 Rashimi despite the class drop for Jonathan Thomas. She certainly is more than capable if she can translate her turf form to the synthetic, but that is far from a given making her tough to trust. I will use a few, including last out winner #1 Lupa who draws inside again and could be tough to get by if left along on the lead again. #2 Hurricane Clair is also a must use. The Silent Name mare draws inside in hopes of making it two in a row for trainer Michael Wright Jr.Race 11:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 4 Miss BritBackups: #1 AbdulForecast: Trainer Kevin Attard brings a strong 1-2-punch into this MSW at one-mile with 5-2-ML favorite #7 Afleet Flatter and second choice #6 Dyna, but they both have had plenty of chances to earn that first career win. I prefer the more lightly-raced #4 Miss Brit. The daughter of Tom’s d’Etat is out of a Rahy mare that is filled with turf routing influence. The Ontario-bred goes two sprints to a route after a runner-up effort going 7-furlongs over the all-weather on June 27. She is a solid gamble against this bunch at her 6-1-ML offering. #1 Abdul also has raced twice with two sprints, but there was a near year layoff between the first two starts. The inside draw and pedigree give her a chance to move forward quite a bit as well in her first turf route.

The week of racing at Saratoga continues on Saturday afternoon with a strong 12-race card that includes a pair of graded stakes events over the dirt. The Vanderbilt (G2) kicks off the stakes action shortly after 5PM eastern with older sprinters traveling six-furlongs immediately followed by the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) for 3YO fillies featuring Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Always a Runner and Acorn (G1) victor Counting Stars. Don't forget the Trifecta-Thon promotion running through Sunday. Here are my full-card thoughts on another fun one at the Spa.Grade Descriptions: A= Highest Degree of Confidence, B= Solid Play, C= Least Preferred or Pass, X= Likely Winner but at odds probably too short to wager on.Race 1:Grade: BUse: 5 Intraosseous; 3 Ms LiuForecast: #7 Elevated is expected to take a lot of support in her first career start. She was made 2-1 on the ML and understandably so. She is a Myracehorse filly trained by Bill Mott by freshman sire Flightline. Plenty of reasons for the public to flock to her, but I will side with two runners with experience. #5 Intraosseous is my top choice. The $200k Keeneland September ’25 purchase was off slow on debut and unable to travel over the better part of the racetrack on a day where the inside was best at Churchill Downs, but put in a solid late run and gallop out to kick off her career. The experience she gained that afternoon in Louisville combined with a more favorable break and trip should lead to massive improvement. #3 Ms Liu also intrigues. The daughter of Greatest Honour battled early before tiring late on debut for Jena Antonucci. She should also move forward in her second lifetime try.Race 2:Grade: CUse: 3 Power of Women; 1 Lady WisdomForecast: #3 Power of Women appears the one to beat in this state-bred $40k starter out of the Wilson chute. The daughter of Big Brown was claimed last month for $20k by hot training Horacio DePaz. DePaz moves her into a protected state-bred spot and stretches her out to further than 7-furlongs for the first time in her career. Speed has been good over this surface and the fact he attracts Irad Ortiz Jr. suggests she is live right back off the big win at Aqueduct. The distance is a slight concern but she is likely to prove tough to catch. #1 Lady Wisdom is also worth consideration though. Her two most recent efforts over a fast main track have been wins. She should find a favorable stalking stop off what could be a lively early pace at a better price.Race 3:Grade: C+Use: 9 Grand Yaupon; 3 Ferrum/6 FoolinForecast: A competitive MSW for 2YOS over the main track is up next where #3 Ferrum looks quick. The son of Uncle Mo has fired off a pair of bullet drills over the Saratoga main track for Danny Gargan and attracts Kendrick Carmouche. I assume the plan is to take them as far as he can assuming a clean break. He will likely have to be fit though to finish the 6-furlongs given the group to his outside. Some other promising firsters are there, but #9 Grand Yaupon is probably the biggest danger. The Steve Asmussen trainee broke sharp, but was not fast enough to go with the eventual winner at Churchill in mid-June. He gets a rider upgrade and moves to the outside with the invaluable experience under his belt. His price makes him tough to endorse with excitement given the upside of this group, but he is the likely winner nonetheless.Race 4:Grade: B-Use: 2 Sir Oscar; 9 Naguile; 5 InspeightofcharlieForecast: $220k Saratoga August ’24 purchase #3 Honoree commanded a strong amount at the sale considering he is out of Code of Honor who stands for just $7500. Thus far he has shown some solid ability, but his price is likely to be short for me to back in this competitive state-bred first-level allowance over the Inner Turf. He lacks speed most importantly, plus the mile might be a bit too sharp. #2 Sir Oscar will also get bet, but should run well. He did not save ground at any point and still proved much the best in his return race. He draws favorably and might be the strongest finisher at eight-furlongs of the bunch. #9 Naguile has been tough to relax in his two most recent starts since returning off a ten-month break. He gets the right man in the saddle though this time in Flavien Prat. I am expecting a much-improved performance at what should be a solid price.Race 5:Grade: B+Use: 5 Go Grey; 6 King’s RemarkForecast: #10 Instability was visually impressive at Tampa Bay Downs to kick off his career, but failed to follow it up with a win at odds-on in the Woodhaven in late April. He has not raced since, but was made the 5-2-ML favorite in this highly competitive first-level allowance for 3YOs over the grass. He draws to the outside and has a strong field to beat. I cannot swallow the chalk, especially because I expect a big bounce back effort from #5 Go Grey. The son of Knicks Go showed a solid turn of foot in his first two races going long on the grass in the Mid-Atlantic for Michael Trombetta. Last time out against stakes foes in the Saranac, Paco Lopez was aggressive out of the gate, which led to him stalking a hot pace and tiring late. I understand the move by Paco, but I expect a trip much more similar to his April and June wins where he settled early and finished with energy. Jose Ortiz taking the call for the first time does not hurt his case. #6 King’s Remark can finish well too. He has been quirky out of the gate and early in races, but if he gets in the clear after a clean start, he could be the one making the last move.Race 6:Grade: CUse: 4 Resilience; 1 DreamlikeForecast: This second-level allowance at 9-furlongs over the main track marks the return of Louisiana Derby (G2) winner #8 Emerging Market. The Chad Brown runner competed unsuccessfully in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) and after seven weeks is set to return against older runners for the first time. The upside is obvious and the race goes through him, but wagering on him at his 8-5-ML price is another story. I lack a strong opinion due to my inability to trust any of this group, but I will try to wire the field out with #4 Resilience. It has been a while since the son of Into Mischief’s last win, but he could get brave on the front end at a fair price.Race 7:Grade: C+Use: 8 Sammy C Note; 4 Jack’s World; 9 Oat ContourForecast: Famous last words when handicapping races at Saratoga over the Inner Turf, but the pace should be honest at the very least in this state-bred first-level allowance. This should bode well for the ML favorites #4 Jack’s World and #9 Oak Contour, but #8 Sammy C Note also intrigues. The 4YO gelding makes his third start off the bench and since moving into the Michael Miceli barn after his 3YO season. He has moved forward significantly with the barn change and should be set for his best assuming he handles the two turns. His only other try going a route was not a clean trip, so it is basically a clean slate for the son of Good Samaritan.Race 8:Grade: B-Use: 4 Soloist; 9 Bella Knows; 1 Bourbon BettyForecast: Yet another competitive allowance on the slate is up next. This one is a first-level event for 3YO fillies at 1 1/16 over the grass where #12 Kokomotion makes her first start since a third-place effort in the Florida Oaks (G3). She has done very little wrong thus far and got a great learning experience with a much different trip in her stakes debut than she did in her impressive off-the-pace maiden score. The talent is there, but she drew the outside off the bench and meets a strong group. I understand using her in horizontals or with your key horse, but she is tough to push all-in on given the race dynamics.I like a few somewhat equally with the biggest price of the trio being #4 Soloist. The Kenny McPeek trainee attracts Jose Ortiz for the first time, which is probably noteworthy since Ortiz has only been aboard three McPeek horses dating back to the start of last year at Saratoga. Two have won and the other ran second. She fits well at a playable price.Race 9: Vanderbilt (G2)Grade: B-Use: 4 Just Beat the Odds; 8 Built/1 Damon’s MoundForecast: The first of two graded stakes is this six-furlong dash over the main track where being prominent early is likely to be a positive. There is simply not a lot of speed signed on for a race of this level, which should benefit ML favorite #8 Built. The Hard Spun colt has moved forward since being cutback to one-turn by trainer Wayne Catalano and is likely to sit a perfect stalking trip from his outside draw. He is the likeliest winner, but not a world beater either. The best way to beat him is probably to get the jump. I expect #4 Just Beat the Odds to do just that. The son of Munnings makes his second start off the layoff after battling early and tiring late in his return race at Delaware Park. He has run races fastest enough to put him there at the wire if he is able to control the early tempo.Race 10: Coaching Club American Oaks (G1)Grade: CUse: 7 Directive; 1 Counting Stars; 6 Always a RunnerForecast: I wish I had a stronger opinion in this year’s CCA Oaks, but not only did I have a difficult time separating #1 Counting Stars and #6 Always a Runner, but the pace being murky adds potential variance. It appears on paper that Always a Runner stablemate #7 Directive will go to the front with #1 Counting Stars in a perfect tracking spot. Counting Stars will win this if she avoids regression off the career best run in early June, but if she does take a step back it is easy to see either Directive going on with it or Always a Runner rallying from off-the-pace in the final stages. Directive is the biggest price, so I will pick her on top, but with little confidence.Race 11:Grade: C+Use: 7 Dancingwithdestiny; 4 Moonlight ReadyForecast: The first of two state-bred races over the grass is at 5.5-furlongs where I will use a pair of logicals. #7 Dancingwithdestiny ran hard and arguably too good to lose in her June 28 start at the “Big A”. She ran third in her only start over this course and has the tactical speed to find a prominent spot early. #4 Moonlight Ready is a tough read since she has only two career starts and one on the grass, but is tough to toss outright off the surprise victory on June 21. That said, it does feel like a missed the wedding type moment since she was 37-1 last month.Race 12:Grade: CUse: 2 Big Fat Goalie/7 Leave MeForecast: Backing class dropper #7 Leave Me makes some sense for sure given the barn going well and the move to Irad Ortiz, but he was really underwhelming last out despite a favorable trip making him tough to endorse with confidence. Therefore, I will take a swing with first-time starter #2 Big Fat Goalie. The Flying P Stable gelding debuts for Robert Falcone Jr. Falcone has had little success with turf routers making their first start with a limited sample of late, but it is interesting he attracted to Flavien Prat along with drawing inside. Hopefully, the son of Independence Hall is ready at first asking.

Sprinters step to the plate Saturday at Del Mar with the Grade 1 Bing Crosby on dirt and the listed Daisycutter on turf. They’ll go back-to-back on an 11-race card that begins at 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT. Be sure to play in the $5,000 Hit & Split promotions at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet on Saturday when you tackle the late pick 4 and late pick 5 sequences for Del Mar.Del Mar: Race 1 | maiden claimingFive of 8 entrants exit runner-up finishes, a decent lineup for the level. Fresh layoff returnee #1 My Girl Mia may get loose on the lead from the rail under speed jockey Emisael Jaramillo and prove too fast to catch if her stamina holds. Likely little value to get the card rolling but #6 Smokin Hot Stuff may fit well in exotics in her first local start (by sire Constitution, whose offspring win 17% on Del Mar dirt with a slight flat-bet profit in recent years). Picks 1-6-7.Del Mar: Race 2 | maiden claimingRather untrustworthy and poor bunch in this sprint. #2 Bake Country gets a new surface, track, trainer and set of blinkers while dropping in class. The kitchen sink includes top pilot Juan Hernandez for a barn that does very well with transfers. It’s pretty much the same set of mass changes for #5 Cimarron Strip with the addition of being gelded. Both should be forwardly placed. #6 Treximo runs back where he belongs but has had 3 straight starts where he couldn’t deliver the knockout punch late. Might be underneath again. Picks 2-4-6.Del Mar: Race 3 | Osunitas StakesBritish export #2 Saqqara Sands fits the conditions of this stakes based more on her inactivity than anything else and should have a class edge. Trainer Simon Callaghan’s barn has been notoriously a superb follow early in the Del Mar summer meets in recent years and expect this Group 3 winner to stay in contention early and prove best. #3 Certitude could be lone speed and will try to wire the cast, but fell victim late in a local allowance last fall at the same trip. #1 May Day Ready has had her moments in an up-and-down career but loses Antonio Fresu to the top pick and must relax better early than she did last out. Picks 2-3-1Del Mar: Race 4 | maiden special weightThe summer’s first big 2-year-old maiden test is a 5-1/2 furlong sprint where I love #4 Whiskey Bridge, Doug O’Neill’s half-brother to quality ’26 sophomore stakes runner Robusta. He showed good gate speed on video at 1st.tv and has wanted to do more in his training. He’s had 10 works for the debut and looks like O’Neill is sitting on a powder keg. #8 Clear and Present showed talent on video and wasn’t asked for run. His dam was a debut winner and stakes-placed as a juvenile. Bob Baffert is the one to beat in these races typically, but his barn is watered down and split between Kentucky and here. His #2 Domus and #7 Nayar worked in company at Del Mar July 18 and drilled absolutely even-up with no decisive edge gleaned – though Juan Herenandez jumps off Nayar for the rookie Domus. Picks 4-8-2.Del Mar: Race 5 | optional claimerRespect the race #8 Chromeflash won last out and that #6 Warm Sun and Brew ran fourth, given that runner-up Frank Bullitt came back to win here easily on opening day at a similar class level (albeit on dirt). The distance shifts to a mile, however, and that much more suits #6 Warm Sun and Brew and that’s the pick from a close-up position in a race without much pace. #9 Druidic goes for a small Dan Azcarate barn that’s put early season Del Mar summer toteboards on tilt in recent years and this one could appreciate the return to a mile while exiting that same common race. #5 Steak Fries hasn’t routed in 5 tries, but consistently fires on turf in a start-and-stop career. Picks 6-9-5.Del Mar: Race 6 | claimingExpect the public to go heavy on #7 Shady Stripes off a blowout win June 14 and field-best speed figure. That performance came out of nowhere, however and I’m not sure 6-1/2 furlongs suits her game. The best maiden win by class in this non-winners of 2 lifetime races claimer belongs to #4 Pretty Cecy, and it came over this track 2 summers ago. If you strike through the turf attempts, her last 4 starts on dirt show 3 efforts that can win this weak heat. #2 Violences Ohr goes for a Jesus Uranga barn that popped a 5-1 winner here Sunday via Los Al and the offspring of Violence are always a consideration on the Del Mar dirt by their success. Price should be right. #9 A Fleet Ride has the second-best maiden score, but has lost 10 straight and looks for a jump forward for a new outfit that hits 27% off the claim. Picks 4-2-9.Del Mar: Race 7 | optional claimerThe $2,500 Late Pick 5 Hit & Split with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet starts here. I’m drawn to the rail speed of #1 Known Idea, whose sire Goldencents came into the meet with a fantastic $1.75 ROI for every $1 bet on his offspring on this turf course in recent years. You get Antonio Fresu on the stretch-out sprinter. The fear is if cheap speed from #7 Naftis and/or #9 Double Jab will soften up my top pick – so demand a fair price. I’m sticking with that as a veteran 5-year-old against a lot of contenders who have faced just 3-year-olds in the bulk of their races. One of those is the other Goldencents entered here, #4 Oracle of Paradise, who could trip out sitting just behind the speed from midflight. Picks 1-4-9.Del Mar: Race 8 | allowance / optional claimingThe $2,500 Late Pick 4 Hit & Split with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet starts here. This classy group has multiple quality options. #5 Midnight Mammoth loves the mile trip and has been capable farther over this surface while winning the Cougar II. That’s a strong combo. #8 McVay has shown more speed for Peter Eurton after a few barn changes and that makes him more viable over a mile. #3 March of Time likely gets well-bet for Baffert, though was hard-asked with stakes star Nevada Beach in his bullet workout July 18 that might have been more beneficial for his barnmate than him. Still, capable. #7 Indispensable would not be a surprise over this track despite the layoff. Picks 5-8-3.Del Mar: Race 9 | Daisycutter Stakes#6 Amorita comes off a mild freshening and has a razor-sharp workout tab for the cut-back in distance that should suit her very well. She’s won over the course and is well-spotted by Richard Mandella. Big day looming for Antonio Fresu. #10 Kuwaitya and #9 Imaboutago could benefit from a very fast early pace expected from inside-drawn runners, spreading the field out, helping them save ground and setting the table to pass some rivals. Picks 6-10-9.Del Mar: Race 10 | Bing Crosby StakesThe best sprinters on the west coast largely are at their best over 7 furlongs, which makes the 6-furlong Bing Crosby a challenge. The pace promises to be fast, so the 7F types could see it come back into their crosshairs. First among those is #3 Dr. Venkman, who loves this track, but has come up short at this distance. He has run some of his best races under Umberto Rispoli, and he got off to a fast start at the meet last week. Might be enough to get this classy guy home. #5 Stronghold was awesome over 7F in the Triple Bend against a decidedly weaker field and might have slightly more tactical speed than Dr. Venkman. #6 Cornucopian returns from Kentucky to his old California roots and is 4-for-5 sprinting. He’s probably the most likely winner, but not certain he wants to pass many horses and could have some competition up top with #8 Mad House and a pair of inside runners with gas. Picks 3-5-6.Del Mar: Race 11 | allowance#6 Sweet Gal of Mine goes sprint to route and makes the Jeff Siegel-appreciated “2 sprints and a route” form cycle. Her pedigree sets up well enough for a middle-distance turf sprint and speed jockey Edwin Maldonado should have her in the mix with very little speed drawn to her inside. She’s got #7 America’s Mark to her outside, and edge with an elbow start coming out of the infield chute. #10 Take Another Card goes for a Simon Callaghan barn that must be respected early in a Del Mar summer meet based on past results. Cal-bred filly has been knocking on the door and fits with these. #3 Lady in Paris just missed in her US debut going farther with a slow pace in May at Santa Anita. This tempo will make her expend more energy, but the Irish export is capable of threatening late. Picks 6-10-3.

\ There’s no stakes race on Ellis Park’s nine-race card this Friday, but bettors may see it differently. Every race in the Late Pick 4 sequence carries a $100,000-plus purse, attracting 38 entries and adding to the appeal of the 50-cent wager.Ellis Park 6th Race (3:12 p.m. EST)BREAKING HEARTS deserves a longshot look off her maiden win the last time she ran on turf. She got the jump on the troubled 5-2 second favorite with a wide bid midway on the final turn, but she finished the deal in style with a powerful late surge. DAGMARA can be excused after she retreated to the back of the pack and never threatened after a bumpy start last out, but she traveled “comfortably” in a post 10 win and got caught in a 1-3/16-mile marathon while on the lead in her first two starts with blinkers. MY STUBBORN LASSIE was last seen 10 months ago, rallying into a blanket finish and placing third against the boys in a turf allowance at this distance. The performance was validated when Storm’s Wake proceeded to win the Grade 2 Appalachian on the Keeneland lawn and place in a pair of Grade 3’s this year. Trainer Peter Eurton is 7/2-2-0 since 2025 with turf routers off similar layoffs. She is the top choice in here.Ellis Park 7th Race (3:42 p.m. EST)SASSY PRINCESS has tactical speed and more wins at today’s distance than the rest of the field combined. She starts fresh after winning three races in 27 days this Spring. CONSEQUENT will be an underlay in her seasonal debut for trainer Bob Baffert, yet hard to keep off the ticket. She “lost focus” in a first-out victory at Del Mar against multiple Grade 3-placed Bank Shot, but the rest of the field is a combined 15/0-1-2 since then. She caught her 2-to-5 stablemate in the Grade 2 Starlet Stakes to cap her 2-year-old campaign.Ellis Park 8th Race (4:12 p.m. EST)Save for 50-1 longshot DEWY’S DENALL, this 1-1/16-mile turf allowance for 3-year-olds appears anyone’s race, prompting an all-but-one Pick 4 punch. PATROL SQUAD SIX finished in the money on five turf courses in his last seven starts since September. Trainer Brad Cox sends out the uncoupled duo of SWIFT BLADE, who posted the top speed figure in the field in his maiden win, and WHITE TIGER, whose sire has produced 250 turf route winners at an average winning distance of one mile. SHARON’S PHAROAH survived a stretch-long battle to break his maiden at 1-1/8 miles at Santa Anita two starts ago. WHATCHADOIN is winless on the turf but he ran third in a four-horse field in his U.S. debut behind two, low-80 Beyer-type rivals who have combined for $813k in grass earnings. Trainer Kelsey Danner has two wins and a near miss from three turf route entrants at the current meet.Ellis Park 9th Race (4:12 p.m. EST)YO FANCY was bumped outward from post 11 at the break, trailed at the quarter pole, closed with a furious rush for second and galloped out past the winning favorite. If she stays in contact with the field early from post 12, she will be a handful to hold off with an extra half-furlong to travel. KAYKAY also delivered a promising debut run from post 11. She raced 3- and 4-wide until she ranged up boldly behind the lead pair on the turn, only to flatten out in mid-stretch. She draws the rail today.Suggested 50-Cent Pick 4ELP 6th Race: 2, 3, 6ELP 7th Race: 3, 5ELP 8th Race: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8ELP 9th Race: 1, 12Cost for a 50-Cent ticket: $48