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

EXTRA INCENTIVES$10,000 Trifecta-Thon | Saratoga | Thursday through SundayBet $100, Get $10 | Penn National | today’s racesTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Saratoga Feeder | details$80 Del Mar Feeder | details$40 The Meadows Feeder | details$40 Canterbury Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | Thistledown | $61,332 | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETPick 6 | $99,021 | Saratoga | begins Race 4 | 2:54 pm ETPick 6 | $63,928 | Del Mar | begins Race 3 | 6:00 pm ETMandatory Payout Pick 5 | Parx | $222,714 | begins Race 4 | 6:06 pm ET KEY RACESDelaware Park | Race 9 | 4:36 pm ET Dashing Beauty StakesSaratoga | Race 7 | 4:39 pm ET | Suzie O’Cain StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXSaratoga | Race 2 | 1:44 pm ETColonial Downs | Race 8 | 2:37 pm ETDel Mar | Race 6 | 7:30 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHMike Maker | Saratoga | all 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Parx | jockey Mychel Sanchez | 4 wins from 8 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Saratoga Thursday Spot PlaysJeremy Plonk: Del Mar Thursday Spot PlaysJeremy Plonk: Penn National Bet $100, Get $10 Key PlaysFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Throughout July, Tuesdays and Thursdays heat up at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet with our Red, White & Bet promotion. Bet $100, Get $10 on select tracks this month. Next up Thursday will be Penn National. Here’s how I’ll approach the card in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania with an assist from the Betmix Angler database.Penn National Race 3 | 6:43 pm ET#7 Tudox Dahlia (10-1 morning line odds) gets a longshot look with her first attempt on turf. Trainer Elisha Perez has gone 5-for-8 in the exacta this month at Penn Nat and is doing everything right. Sire Weigelia gets a solid 15% winners in Penn National turf sprints with a 3% positive ROI from 120 starts. There’s plenty of early foot here, so the 5-furlong trip might be the elixir if she handles turf. Win bet #7. Exacta back-wheel 1,3,4,5,6,9,10 over 7. Picks: 7-4-10Penn National Race 5 | 7:41 pm ET#1 Strawberry Treat (4-1 morning line odds) has been consistent and fits very well at this starter/optional claiming level. Trainer Michael Zalalas, from 19 starters this year at Penn National at 10-1 or less odds, has seen 12 finish in the exacta (63%). There’s a ton of early speed in this race to give this veteran closer a chance to punch them out late for back-to-back wins. Win bet #1. Exacta box 1-2. Picks: 1-2-5

The racing week in Saratoga Springs kicks off in style on Thursday afternoon. Not only is there a $99k carryover in the $1 Pick 6 to attack, but also a new promotion for the week at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. It is called “Trifecta-Thon”, $10,000 is on the line over the course of the four-day racing week, and the goal is hitting six or more $1 trifectas over the course of those four days. Those customers that strike for at least six will share $7500, while those who connect on the most $1 trifectas split the other $2500. Remember to register on the promotional landing page. Here are a few horses I like most on the Thursday agenda.Race 4:The Pick 6 kicks off with this $130k allowance over the Inner Turf where trainer Chad Brown holds a strong 1-2 punch with 2-1-ML favorite #2 Spirit of St Louis and 5-2-second choice #5 Salamis. Spirit of St Louis is hard for me to endorse at that offering. The New York-bred has not been the same horse since the fall of ’25 after a huge first half of his campaign. He is a toss for me given his price. Salamis is not much easier for me to endorse. I definitely prefer his “upside” second off the bench to his stablemate, but his lack of speed from the gate is likely to put him in a tough spot in this 9-furlong affair that is unlikely to see a hot pace in the early stages. For that reason. I like #7 Sand Pipes. The son of Summer Front is winless in five starts this year, but that includes four stakes races. A few of those stakes events are far from overly superior to this condition at the Spa, but this race shapes up well for the Lindsay Schultz trainee. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche is likely to send aggressively from the gate and take them a long way on the engine. Hopefully, it is all the way to the wire.Play: #7 Sand Pipes (4-1 ML)Picks: 7-5-1Race 7: Suzie O CainThe Thursday feature is this 1 1/16-mile state-bred event over the Inner Turf where it is likely to be bet like a two-filly race between #3 All of It and #5 Celtic Dawn. Celtic Dawn has fired off the faster races thus far, but those have come in sprints, including her turf debut last out in one of the NY Stallion Stakes at Aqueduct on June 13. She gets Irad Ortiz Jr and is likely to get the jump on All of It, but I will single the latter. The daughter of Mendelssohn took advantage of a perfect trip in her easy maiden debut win in April and then took a step forward versus winners coming from further off the pace to prance home to another open length victory. She has enough tactical speed to not leave herself with too much to do and should be extremely tough to hold off late.Play: #3 All of It (8-5 ML)Picks: 3-6-5Race 8:A strong 7-furlong allowance over the main track is up next and has a big shot to be won on the front end by #1 Munnings Express. The Linda Rice trainee goes turf-to-dirt after a speed and fade run over the Aqueduct sod in late June. Rice has been extremely reliable when switching from grass to the main track evidenced by her 25 for 110 record over the last three years with an amazing $2.50 ROI. Jose Lezcano should have her on the lead with the inside draw. The final furlong could be a challenge, but I think she has the stamina to seal the deal.Play: #1 Munnings Express (7-2 ML)Picks: 1-4-8

We went price-shopping opening week at Del Mar and had success with a $2.73 ROI for every $2 bet on the 18 top choices presented over 3 days. Overall, 8 of 18 were in the exacta including 6 of them at 5-1 or more. Let’s get to work on Thursday’s kickoff to Week 2, which features a Pick 6 carryover of $63,928 (Races 3-8). 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 2 | 5:30 pm ET#2 Parker’s Candy (5-1 morning line odds) reappears after a long layoff. Trainer Jeff Mullins had a freakish turf winner for us in the Oceanside on opening day and note that since 2018 he’s a 20% winner in turf sprint maiden races at Del Mar from nearly 50 starters with a 22% flat-bet profit on those. Bullet work for first start since debut third here last summer. Exacta key-box #2 with #5,8,6. Picks 2-5-8-6.Del Mar: Race 5 | 7:00 pm ET#2 Vegas Del Oro (8-1 morning line odds) is a debut daughter of sneaky-strong Del Mar dirt sire Gato Del Oro (27% winners, $1.48 ROI for every $1 bet, coming into the meeting). This one is a full-sister to Chasing Kat, whose horse-for-course Del Mar dirt record is 3: 2-1-0 (8: 0-3-0 everywhere else) and Del Mar-loving My Kat (3-for-3 on local dirt in non-stakes tries). Benefits with local work over the track, something only half of these maidens possess. Has shown excellent gate speed in video workouts at 1st.tv; see if she can finish. Win bet #2. Picks 2-5-10.Del Mar: Race 7 | 8:00 pm ET#1 Check’s On the Way (6-1 morning line odds) should be rail speed on the stretch-out in trip. Umberto Rispoli was riding strong opening week at Del Mar and note that trainer Simon Callaghan is one of the traditionally fastest starters to Del Mar meets over the last several years. Horse ran a solid 2-turn mile on turf last year and might just wind up here and forget to stop. Win bet #1. Picks: 1-2-6

The Lead:Saratoga co-features the Vanderbilt for sprinters and the Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old dirt fillies on Saturday. While the Vanderbilt didn't come up as tough as its history suggests, the CCA Oaks certainly held form. The Kentucky Oaks and Acorn winners rematch, and neither wind up the top pick.Horseplayers at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet be sure to check out the $10,000 Trifecta-Thon this week when you play Saratoga each day Thursday through Sunday.​​Field Depth:Grade 1 winners COUNTING STARS and ALWAYS A RUNNER top the marquee, while ZANY is a Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed. It will take some regression to knock off this group or a step-up effort by one of the class risers who have hinted at their ability.​Pace:The pace likely comes from DIRECTIVE, who could be lone speed. The tempo looks comfortable enough that you don’t want to be closing from too far out of this pace.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.1-COUNTING STARS: Romping winner of the Acorn last month over this track and distance when avenging her Kentucky Oaks loss to return rival Always a Runner. A repeat of that performance makes her obviously the horse to beat. Not sure she came out of the Acorn as good as she went into it, given only 1 workout in the first month after that race and just 4 lined up for this. Note she’s 4: 1-0-1 following victories and hasn’t always been as effective pairing up big efforts – which speaks a bit to the workout tab since. She’s had no break in her form cycle for nearly a year and at some point will need to step off the gas, but would not shock to produce another winning effort. Think there are enough questions to avoid at what will be a short price as the favorite or very close second choice.2-DANDONA: Turf and synthetic performer hasn’t tested dirt in 5 prior starts, but she’s a $1 million daughter of Belmont winner Tiz the Law. Pedigree leans more to a miler with a 1-run closing kick and her past performances looked sharper going shorter. Gets to save all the ground while likely far back early, but will take a lot of dirt in her face for the first time. Saffie Joseph Jr. barn hasn’t been firing on all cylinders so far at the Spa. Pass for me.3-LA RASCASSE: Unbeaten filly was to be part of the pace situation, but reportedly will scratch.4-MISS FULTON GAL: Mid-Atlantic based shipper has won 3 of her last 5, including listed stakes at Laurel and Delaware Park. But she failed her class test in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan and this field rates significantly more talented. The 9-furlong distance suits her fine, but the level of competition likely will be too much to overcome.5-MEASURE: Stakes debut for June 4local allowance runner-up to CCA Oaks rival Directive. Second of 2 Mark Casse trainees here will be significantly higher price than barnmate Counting Stars. Just 1 win in 5 starts and will need the pace to come back to her to be successful. Jockey Jose Ortiz jumps saddles to Always a Runner, putting Manny Franco aboard. Strong-enough BRIS late pace figures to pass some runners over 9 furlongs if the track is playing fair, but difficult to project in the winner’s circle.6-ALWAYS A RUNNER: Kentucky Oaks winner made a rapid ascent in doing so in her third lifetime start. Her Acorn runner-up at 4-5 odds obviously disappointed the betting public, but she was probably ridden a tad too confidently while giving away ground in a small field. Jose Ortiz hasn’t made many mistakes in 2026 and don’t expect him to do so again. I prefer her of the rematched Acorn rivals with an extra workout on the tab compared to Counting Stars. Her BRIS late pace figures are solid 98, 94, 90 but in descension, and for a closer, could find a quality speed horse who keeps going to be her kryptonite. Big threat.7-DIRECTIVE: Progressive filly makes her stakes debut, fresh off a win over the track and distance in a lively 1:48-1/5. Juddmonte home-bred is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning turfer Segesta out of the accomplished turf mare Antonoe. Gets plenty of dirt stamina from sire Gun Runner and has been consistent with 92 BRIS late pace figures both around 1 turn and 2. Any step forward and she’s the best of the early players and will be a difficult challenge to reel in. Trainer Chad Brown won this race with lightly raced Guarana in 2019, who also was an April debuter and late bloomer. My play.8-ZANY: The lukewarm favorite never looked like a winner in the Kentucky Oaks when finishing fith and has been fairly quiet since. Only 5 workouts on her tab show, including a concerning, 16-day gap in late June. Blinkers go on a filly who when starting out 3-for-3 was teased as a divisional standout. She’s come back to earth in the Ashland and Oaks. Trainer Todd Pletcher not going well of late in New York, and even though he’s won this race a record 8 times, only 1 of those have come since 2015. I’ll make her beat me.9-NYCON: Cross-entered Friday at Saratoga in an allowance. No match for Always a Runner in April’s Gazelle has only 4 workouts back for what would be a massive ask if she shows up here. Outside draw does her no favors with short run into first turn and her finishing kick has been lackluster.Most Likely Exotics Contender:ALWAYS A RUNNER vies for favoritism and while I'll try to beat her, there's the utmost respect that she'll run her race and be in the exotics hunt.Best Longshot Contender:MEASURE will be overlooked in a field of stars and is a decent-enough finisher to bottom the superfecta if any of the name players regress and add some price juice.​​Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$100 win DIRECTIVE.

Week 2 in the annual Fun in the Sun handicapping contest matches horseplayers over 10 races from Saratoga and Del Mar this Saturday that include the Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Coaching Club American Oaks and the Osunitas Stakes. Contestants play for weekly prize money and a chance to join Week 1’s top-5 players in the tournament’s Final Table on Labor Day. The FITS progressive jackpot for the Final Table stands at $10,855 after the opening round with $10,000-added from Xpressbet.Last week’s top entry was John Velguth, whose $333.50 mutuel total was $3 better than runner-up Terrence Severson. Velguth earned $1,197 for his work, while Severson was awarded $498.75. They will advance to the Final Table along with third-place Nathan Woodward ($319.20, earned $299.25 in additional prize money), fourth-place Nicholas Nagy ($271.20 mutuel total) and Dave Nichols ($240.00 mutuel total).The 9-week Fun in the Sun handicapping contest runs 8 Saturdays from July 18-September 5 and concludes with the Final Table on Labor Day Monday, September 7.Entry is just $25 each qualifying round week and players utilize a $100 live bankroll on the final 5 races from Saratoga and first 5 races from Del Mar ($10 parimutuel win bets in each of the contest races). The top-5 players in accumulated earnings each week qualify for a seat in the final table, where just 40 entries will square off for the grand prize (players can qualify up to 2 entries in the Final Table). Weekly prize pool money will be on the line for the top-3 finishers each Saturday (70% of entry fees paid out weekly, 30% carries over to the Final Table pool).The Final Table format began in 2020 and past champions include Robert Rosen (2020), Wayne Tam (2021), Kevin Saunders (2022), Joe Tambasco (2023), Gordon Maruya (2024) and Andy Muhlada (2025).2026 Tournament DatesSaturday, July 18, 25Saturday, August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29Saturday and Monday, September 5 and 7 (Final Table)Buy-In$125 Buy-In per week, split between $100 Bankroll + $25 Entry FeeHow to PlayTournament consists of the last five (5) races each Saturday at Saratoga and the first five (5) races each Saturday at Del Mar. Players must make a $10 Win bet on one (1) horse in each race via the Contest Wagerpad.Weekly Prize Pool70% of Entry Fees are paid out each week as the Weekly Prize PoolWeekly PrizesTop Five (5) finishers each week automatically qualify for the Final Table1st Place Finisher – 60% of Weekly Prize Pool + Final Table Seat2nd Place Finisher – 25% of Weekly Prize Pool + Final Table Seat3rd Place Finisher – 15% of Weekly Prize Pool + Final Table Seat4th Place Finisher – Final Table Seat5th Place Finisher – Final Table SeatFinal Table Prizes30% of Entry Fees carried over to the Final Table$10,000-added prize pool courtesy of Xpressbet1st Place Finisher: 55% of Final Table Prize Pool2nd Place Finisher: 25% of Final Table Prize Pool3rd Place Finisher: 10% of Final Table Prize Pool4th Place Finisher: 5% of Final Table Prize Pool5th Place Finisher: 5% of Final Table Prize Pool‍For more and to register, visit the Tournaments page.