Thursday marks the midway point in our month long “Blooming Bankrolls” promotion. For those that have not checked it out yet, it could not be simpler. Just bet $100 on the featured track for that Tuesday or Thursday in April and earn a $10 bonus per day. Hopefully, some of you have already taken advantage of the promo, but for those that have not be sure to register on the promotional landing page.The featured track on Thursday afternoon is Aqueduct and it is a good day to get back into action at the New York Racing Association since they are back on the lawn! The 8-race card includes four grass races. Two of them will be where I use my budget.Race 5:To no one’s surprise Chad Brown holds a strong hand in this MSW for 3YO fillies at one-mile over the turf. #1 Academia was made the 8-5-ML favorite by oddsmaker David Aragona, but I prefer her stablemate #4 Tax Holiday. The daughter of Kingman debuted at Tampa in early February where she went off the 6-5-public choice. The Klaravich Stables filly did zero running that day, but has been given time by Brown despite staying on the work tab throughout. She meets a softer, more compact group in this spot and should run much better after gaining invaluable experience in her Florida debut. Dylan Davis will be aboard.Play: #4 Tax Holiday (3-1 ML)Race 8:The finale is a full-field state-bred MSW event at the same one-mile distance over the sod where a number of fillies will make their first start, including Dave Portnoy and Go Go Greys Stable #8 Miss Apples. She will likely to take plenty of public support as her 7-2-ML suggests, as will #1 Morning Prayer. The Tom Morley runner makes her first start since being part of a 3-horse blanket finish over this course in late October. Both merit respect, but this race is too wide-open to swallow a short price. I will take a big swing with #7 Fairweatherlover. The King for a Day filly raced twice as a 2YO at Finger Lakes where she hit the board in both starts, but failed to make a serious run at the winner. Trainer Melanie Giddings has given her time and brings her back off the break in a two-turn grass race. King for a Day is not much of a turf sire, but there is enough on the bottom side to gamble on a filly that comes in from Florida having worked over both the dirt and turf at Palm Meadows. Giddings has proven capable off a long break and this race is ripe for an upset. Hopefully, the veteran Jose Lezcano can deliver one!Play: #7 Fairweatherlover (15-1 ML)

The Lead:Keeneland's final Saturday of the Spring Meet, which concludes a week from Friday, co-features the Grade 2 Elkhorn and the Grade 3 Ben Ali. They go back-to-back in Races 9-10, the Elkhorn the latter of the pair and a fantastic betting race. This Spring Meet stakes has averaged an 8-1 winner over the past 18 years with favorites losing 7 straight and just succeeding 3-18 during that time. The 13-runner field includes a defending champion, a Sycamore winner, a Lexington winner and a Blue Grass winner, spanning Keeneland's stakes gamut.​​Field Depth:BURNHAM SQUARE is a Grade 1 winner on dirt. Grade 2 turf winners include DESVIO, UTAH BEACH, GRAND SONATA, TRULY QUALITY, while TAWNY PORT is Grade 1-placed and ANEGADA is Grade 2-placed. Any among these are of similar class and difficult to separate on strength of schedule.​Pace:PRESIDER, NAVY SEAL and FREEDOM'S WAY likely vie for what should be a modest pace. These turf marathons at Keeneland typically end up a finisher's game regardless of the pace, so don't be afraid of a closer.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.#1-PADIDDLE: Late-running marathoner has been competitive in Gulfstream’s distance series, but has failed to win in his last 10. Not without some races on the ledger that could impact the exotics. Jose Morelos comes north to ride for Elizabeth Dobles.#2-DESVIO (pictured): 34-1 Sycamore Stakes stunner over this course and trip during the Fall Meet, this seems like a very aggressive placement for Maryland-based Madison Meyers. They run the Henry Clark at Laurel on Saturday, a race they used to prep for the Preakness-day Dinner Party. Confident to take this return Keeneland trip with those races in the back yard. Beware under John Velazquez again.#3-UTAH BEACH: Defending Elkhorn champ was 11-1 last year and the form held up one more start before starting to slip. Upon retirement of trainer Ignacio Correas, Brendan Walsh took over this winter and nothing went right in the Kentucky Cup Classic in March’s return on synthetic. Admire the Keeneland record but going to make this one beat me in the title defense.#4-GRAND SONATA: Steady on turf and sometimes that’s good enough to win, but there are few remarkable performances. Won’t embarrass himself, but beaten 3-3/4 lengths in this last year and should be somewhere in the hunt looking for breaks. Prefer a few others.#5-FLEETFOOT: Bouncing around between the flats and jumps, he returns from a November layoff in the Red Smith at Aqueduct that puts him on the fringe discussion off that fourth-place finish. Doesn’t have a lot of layoff experience, but his one bid was poor, so he’ll have to prove it.#6-BURNHAM SQUARE: The 2025 Blue Grass winner makes a plot twist in his Keeneland return, converted to turf late in his sophomore season. Has plenty of grass on the damside of the pedigree, and his Nashville Derby narrow second and Gulfstream return allowance runner-up on Feb. 28 are encouraging for the surface. Expect Brian Hernandez Jr. to save ground on the 3 turns.#7-TRULY QUALITY: Back-to-back winner of Del Mar’s Hollywood Turf Cup over this 12-furlong trip, he returns to Keeneland for the first time in 2 years. Firmer conditions the better as he’s become a top-of-ground specialist. Jonathon Thomas adds blinkers back on after 4 starts without them, a move that’s 1-for-13 for the barn. Luan Machado takes the mount for the first time.#8-TAWNY PORT: 7-year-old multi-millionaire returns from an overmatched appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He’s lost 16 straight going back to the Saratoga 2024 summer and hasn’t factored in 2 local appearance during the Fall Meet’s Sycamore. Pass on Miguel Clement trainee for now.#9-NAVY SEAL: Wesley Ward 5-year-old hasn’t faced elder stakes horses in his career and picks a tough spot for his first start since November. Distance no issue based on pedigree and past performances, but class hurdle here is legitimately high.#10-PRESIDER: Speedster nearly wired the Connally Turf at Sam Houston over this trip 2 starts back and all of his best work has come on the front end. Joe Sharp trainee has run 2 of his worst races over the Keeneland course, so even if he isn’t challenged, there’s no assurance he’ll benefit from the pace.#11-FREEDOM’S WAY: Career allowance-type takes a class rise off a July layoff curiously for Eddie Kenneally. Should be part of the early, pressing flight and will have to be used early by Luis Saez as that first turn comes up quickly over this alignment. Hard to see this 7-year-old with 3 wins adding a fourth vs. this group.#12-ANEGADA: Mike Maker once dominated races like this in Kentucky, winning the Elkhorn in 2013, 2016 and 2019. With a good trip under Flavien Prat, there’s no reason this 4-year-old can’t add to that. With speed just to his inside 2 spots in the gate, that could help open up some early real estate to avoid excessive ground loss. This one continues to get better and at an age where improvement can still be projected.#13-DANCIN IN DA’NILE: Woodbine distance veteran wintered in Florida and makes a pitstop in Kentucky before returning home. Will need a scratch to draw in off the also-eligible list. He’s won just 1 of his last 12 and didn’t offer much off the layoff in his seasonal return a year ago, needing a few races.Most Likely Exotics Contender:No obvious answer here, but I’m solidly behind DESVIO and the confident return to Keeneland.Best Longshot Contender:ANEGADA at 15-1 morning line, is in excellent form, right within his form cycle and connections more than capable in these kind of races.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$60 Win DESVIO. $10 Exacta key-box DESVIO with ANEGADA and BURNHAM SQUARE ($40).

EXTRA INCENTIVES2 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split | Keeneland | Late Pick 4TOURNAMENT TIME$100 Keeneland Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $199,817| Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $180,837 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 5:17 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXTampa Bay | Race 5 | 2:22 pm ETKeeneland | Race 8 | 4:44 pm ETEvangeline Downs | Race 5 | 8:18 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHRandy Klopp | Horseshoe Indianapolis | all 4 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Parx | favorites won 8 of 9 races on the cardPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Keeneland Hit & Split Late Pick 4 Analysis for WednesdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

They are back at it Wednesday for the start of their second full week of racing at the Keeneland Spring Meet. The week is headlined by the Doubledogdare (G2) on Friday and the Elkhorn (G2) and Ben Ali (G3) on Saturday, but first things first. An 8-race Wednesday card that is part of our April 2 Million 1/ST Rewards points Hit & Split promo at Keeneland. If you did not register for the promotion last week, be sure to do so before playing because if you connect on the Late Pick 4 you split those rewards points between all 1/ST BET and Xpressbet customers. Best of luck!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 5:Grade: CMain Ticket: 8 She’s No Angel; 2 Black GingerBackups: NoneForecast: I struggled not only with confidence in this beaten $20k claimer over the main track, but with creativity as well. There is a noticeable lack of early speed signed on, which should bode well for a pair of stalkers that are likely to take a good share of the public’s money. #8 She’s No Angel should benefit from the outside draw and the aggressive Martin Garcia in the saddle. She has run some of the fastest recent races on dirt and makes the most sense. #2 Black Ginger is also sensical. The American Freedom filly gets a massive rider upgrade to Jose Ortiz and has a good second over this course last spring. Neither will have to be too much to get to the wire first against this bunch.Race 6:Grade: C+Main Ticket: 7 Jubilee Parade; 2 Catch Hound; 10 Fuzzy StareBackups:Forecast: The second leg of the late Pick 4 is another tricky one. This heat is a 5.5-furlong turf sprint for MSW foes. Wesley Ward appears to hold a strong hand here with two, including the 2-1-ML favorite #5 Gypsy Art. The son of Munnings competed in two stakes races to start his career last year before losing as the favorite in a MSW at Aqueduct. I understand why the public will flock to this gelding, but he does not separate much to me from some other logicals. Therefore, I will toss him and use three others. #7 Jubilee Parade is my lukewarm top choice. The Juddmonte colt moves back to the turf after just missing over the synthetic at Gulfstream Park in March. I liked the way he finished two-back in his lone grass sprint. He should be tough to hold off with a contentious early pace. #2 Catch Hound should be a big price and maybe a reach, but Rusty Arnold is more capable of springing first-time starter upsets then a quick glance at his stats suggest. He could help bust this thing open a bit after what looks like a chalky start to the sequence.Race 7:Grade: BMain Ticket: 5 FactBackups: NoneForecast: Like oddsmaker Nick Tammaro has it tabbed, this first-level allowance event at two-turns is very likely to be bet like a two-horse race between 7-5 ML favorite #2 Rothko and 9-5 second choice #5 Fact. I prefer Fact. Rothko had things all his way last month at Fair Grounds and gave it up late to a 14-1 shot that was coming in off a 6-race losing streak. Fact finished second in his last race as well, but it was much forgivable. Not only was it to a legitimate winner that got the jump on him at one-turn, but it was also his first start since last August. Fact should be tough to beat second off the bench.Race 8:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 8 She’s Lookin Lucky; 1 ZadorskyBackups: 3 Child of the MoonForecast: 2-1-ML favorite #3 Child of the Moon is the clear horse to beat on form in this third-level allowance to close the card, but her enemy maybe the race shape. There simply is not a lot of speed on paper to say the least. I expect Luis Saez to get aggressive with #1 Zadorsky from the 1-hole and #8 She’s Lookin Lucky to be prominent as well, but that is unlikely to pave the way to a race that sets up for off-the-pace runners. Flavien Prat might be good enough to overcome this, but I will use the two gals I expect to get the jump on my main ticket in hopes of an upset in the finale.

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Parx | today’s racesSCHEDULE NOTESFairmount Park | opening day | first post 2:30 pm ETNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $176,508 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETSuper Hi 5 | $5,048 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | Race 6 | 4:45 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $162,247 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 5:13 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXParx | Race 7 | 3:22 pm ETWill Rogers Downs | Race 10 | 6:28 pm ETMountaineer | Race 5 | 8:40 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHRalph Martinez | Fairmount Park | all 9 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Will Rogers Downs | jockey David Cabrera | 4 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds from 9 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Parx Bet $100, Get $10 Promo Picks for TuesdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The “Blooming Bankrolls” promotion this April at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet offers a $10 bonus when you bet $100 or more at select tracks each Tuesday and Thursday. Parx will be the track spotlighted for this Tuesday. Here’s how I’ll approach that card with the help of the Betmix Angler database.Parx: Race 1#3 Obstinate (5-1 morning line odds) should have buckled when making a run at 6-5 favorite last out and watching that one draw off to win by 10. But, to her credit, ran on clearly second-best. Trainer Felix Flores-Coba is 4-for-his-last-8 in the exacta at Parx with 5-1, 5-1 and 6-1 prices among those. Morning line favorite Breezy Dance is wildly inconsistent, so let’s try to beat her. Win-place bet #3.Parx: Race 7#6 Drake Drive (3-1 morning line odds) had a mis-timed move last out over 6 furlongs and should benefit from a shorter trip as he’s found the right claiming level after 3 local starts since arriving from Woodbine. Jockey Francisco Martinez has been exceptional in local 5-1/2 furlong dashes going 27: 6-4-3 (22% wins) since the start of 2025 at Parx with a $1.34 ROI for every $1 bet. Five of those 6 wins paid $10-plus. Win bet #6.

Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap promises to be America’s race of the year so far in 2026. Last year’s sensational sophomores Sovereignty and Journalism are all grown up for their 4-year-old debuts. Veteran White Abarrio already has won some of the sport’s biggest races for older horses and braces for the new challengers over 1-1/8 miles.Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet take advantage of up to a $3,000 Exacta-Thon promotion for Saturday’s Oaklawn card. Hit exactas on 5 or more races on the program to earn your share of the $3,000 in bonus money ($2 wager minimum per exacta).Let’s meet the contenders for the Oaklawn Handicap (Race 11):#1-White Abarrio: The 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2025 Pegasus World Cup winner has banked $7.7 million in his career with 10 wins, both tops among the Oaklawn Handicap field. Now age 7, White Abarrio comes off a runner-up in the Jan. 24 Pegasus World Cup in his only start since August. Saffie Joseph Jr. stablemate Skippylongstocking won this race in 2024. Regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. looks for his first win in this race and notably won Oaklawn’s Arkansas Derby a few weeks back with Renegade.#2-Liberal Arts: Sold for $120,000 in the Fasig-Tipton digital sale in December, this 5-year-old makes his first start for new owner Osmel Nunez and trainer Heather Irion. Liberal Arts raced prior for trainers Robbie Medina and Brad Cox, last seen winning May’s Knicks Go overnight stakes at Churchill on Kentucky Derby Day – 8 races prior to Sovereignty and Journalism’s 1-2 finish in the Run for the Roses. Liberal Arts finished third in Oaklawn’s Southwest and Fifth Season Stakes and he brings local experience. Trainer Irion and jockey Reynier Arrieta both came into this racing week seeking their first victories of 2026.#3-Sovereignty (pictured): The reigning Horse of the Year makes his long-awaited return to the races. The Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers winner has been away since last August and aims to continue his 4-race winning streak. The Bill Mott trainee has earned $5.8 million and partners once again with Junior Alvarado. Mott won back-to-back Oaklawn Handicap editions with Cigar and Geri in 1995-’96. Sovereignty’s winter was spent at Payson Park in Florida and he’s had the customary, 6-workout plan toward his comeback. The Oaklawn Handicap will be his first trip to Hot Springs, but his 6 career wins have come over 3 different tracks (Churchill, Saratoga, Aqueduct). He carries top weight of 123 pounds under the handicap assignments.#4-Duke of Duval: First of 2 entered here for trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the 2021 Oaklawn Handicap with Silver State. The local allowance winner since has cashed minor checks in the Mineshaft at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn’s local prep, the Essex. Keith Asmussen has the rider on this son of Arrogate.#5-Journalism: The 2025 Preakness and Haskell winner makes his first start since a fourth-place finish in November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. Trainer Michael McCarthy’s Santa Anita-based son of Arkansas Derby winner Curlin has 6 workouts in tow for the return. Journalism was runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes to Sovereignty and aims to defeat that rival for the first time. Two-time Oaklawn Handicap winner Jose Ortiz replaced Umberto Rispoli for last year’s Breeders’ Cup and has the return call. Journalism has earned $4.3 million with 6 wins coming at 5 different venues. McCarthy brought City of Light from California to win the 2018 Oaklawn Handicap.#6-Publisher: Last year’s most famous maiden has found his groove at age 4, winning 3 straight races at Oaklawn since mid-February. The Steve Asmussen trainee’s runner-up effort in Oaklawn’s Arkansas Derby last March punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby and a non-threatening, 14th-place finish, part of 12 straight losses to open his career. Sire American Pharoah won the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby here en route to his 2015 Triple Crown sweep. Erik Asmussen has been aboard for the win streak and will be again Saturday.

NOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $141,966 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $142,996 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 5:13 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXParx | Race 7 | 3:22 pm ETWill Rogers Downs | Race 10 | 6:28 pm ETMountaineer | Race 5 | 8:40 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHAnthony Farrior | Mountaineer | all 6 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Sovereignty, Journalism, White Abarrio entered among field for Saturday’s Oaklawn HandicapPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section