By Al CImaglia
Yonkers Raceway has a 10-race card. The $1.00 Late Pick 4 starts in Race 7, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 7 (8:45 PM EDT)4-My Man Peter (6/5)-Engblom trainee raced from the back in the 1st start in town and closed with a .56 back half. The 6-year-old has won 3 of 8 starts at YR, drops and won't be 12 lengths back at the half tonight.6-E-Pass (12-1)-Brent Holland lands here to steer for one of his owners and the Ohio shipper makes its Yonkers debut. The price shot should fit with these. Looking for an aggressive steer in a spot to wake up, and did bank over $137,000 last year.Race 8 (9:05 PM EDT)5-Ritson (2-1)-This field is as soft as grapes and the advantage here is the Noel Dally veteran could race near the top off the gate. Has hit the board in 50% of its YR starts (46-6-8-9) and should be in play at the top of the lane.6-Credit Frank (10-1)-Frank showed some life last time but faded down the lane. Needs a sharp steer from Tyler Buter to pick up the 1st win of the year. This is another who should be in striking range down the lane.Race 9 (9:25 PM EDT)2-Speculating A (6-1)-This is not a formful group. So, will look for prices and fade the 6/5 chalk #4 Printville, who is 0-14 on the year and 3-42 at YR. Austin Siegelman could get the top and not look back. The pedal should be down when facing this crew.7-Inflation Proof (8-1)-PcD shipper makes its Hilltop debut and is 0-4 in 2026. My take is Matt Kakaley will fire out and a pocket ride behind the one above could happen. Should be a threat if things go well around the opening turn, and at this price is a use.Race 10 (9:45 PM EDT)2-The Brodster (2-1)-Engblom trainee could take down this field on the drop in class. Beat this kind 3 back but can't completely trust. Will need a smooth trip as soon as the wings fold.6-Hot Flash Kimmy (3-1)-Hasn't sealed the deal versus Invites but for the most part was competitive and did cash smaller checks. Team Stratton entry can be a main player and should relish the company.$1 Late Pick 44,6/5,6/2,7/2,6Total Bet=$16Check me out on X!
By Jeremy Plonk
A dozen stakes worth north of $2.5 million overfill the marquee Saturday night at Remington Park for the American Quarter Horse season finale. The Night of Champions is one of the AQHA’s most important programs annually and is capped by the $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity. The 12-race card gets underway at a special 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT post time.Let’s hop on the handicapping express to the track where I got my first full-time gig in racing.Race 1: Grade 1 $20,000 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Stakes#7 Turbulent exits a third-place finish against elder rivals, including 10-time stakes winner Livewires Turnpike, and can outrun fellow sophomores here, including #8 Cuz Eyema Cowboy Baby right next door.Race 2: Grade 1 $224,600 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa FuturityNobody has blemished #6 Big Rotney so far in 5 starts and he stands a big chance at adding a third futurity final to his resume and unthinkable sixth win at a 50-day meeting.Race 3: Grade 1 $50,000 Remington Park Distance ChampionshipThe reigning AQHA Distance Champion #3 Handin Out Candy has run roughshod around the hook this season at Remington Park and is well-drawn for an eighth straight victory and third stakes win of the meeting.Race 4: Restricted-Grade 3 $50,000 Jack Brooks StakesWe’ll see the top-3 finishers from the Sooner State Stakes clash in the Grade 1 Remington Park Invitational Championship later on the card, which makes that race’s fourth-place finisher, #5 B Aj, a standout here back with state-bred sophomores.Race 5: Restricted-Grade 3 $75,000 FL Lady Bug StakesThey paid a mint in AQHA terms - $185,000 – for #3 She Makes It Special, and she should bounce back on a fast track from her Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity trials defeat.Race 6: Restricted-Grade 2 $75,000 Easy Jet StakesRemington Park Futurity third-place finisher #4 Pyc Dollars Cowboy gets the nod in a deep cast that includes the 1-3 finishers of the Laico Bird Stakes and the Remington Park Juvenile.Race 7: Restricted-Grade 2 $75,000 Boyd Morris Memorial StakesDefending champ #8 Js On Fire dropped in class to win this race a year ago and makes a similar move, but #7 Hard to Politic just to his inside is the pick to get the better of him with similar class relief.Race 8: Grade 1 $100,000 Juno’s Request StakesAll-or-nothing #9 Catchn Southern Rays never showed up on a sloppy track after missing the break last time but has had a tendency to bounce back after past misfires.Race 9: Grade 2 $373,800 Heritage Place OaksThe late pick 4 begins with standout filly #6 Toby Sis, the Grade 1 Los Alamitos 2 Million Futurity winner who is a neck shy of being 7-for-7 lifetime.Race 10: Grade 2 $335,800 Heritage Place DerbyFastest-qualifier #1 Luziana Man has had issues delivering in prior finals, so give a longshot look to #4 Ajs Wingman (12-1 morning line) – who has been knocking on the door all season and was an All American Futurity finalist a year ago.Race 11: Grade 1 $250,000 Remington Park Invitational ChampionshipA pair of All American Futurity winners and the defending champ in this race are in the lineup, but it’s 8-year-old #10 Empressum (the 2022 AQHA World Champion) who could find the fountain of youth with a return to his favored 440-yard classic distance.Race 12: Grade 1 $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity#7 Curls Favorite Jet and #2 Fall Classic (pictured) were fastest qualifiers in the May 7-8 trials and the former did so during a part of the card and part of the track where conditions were not in his favor, a key handicapping angle for me in stakes finals like this.
By Xpressbet
SCHEDULE NOTESNYRA | no racing this weekendSPECIAL WAGERSCoast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 8-9; Santa Anita Races 3-5-6Sunset 6 | Gulfstream Races 7-8-9; Santa Anita Races 7-8-9TOURNAMENT TIME$40 Santa Anita feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $100,433 | Gulfstream | begins Race 4 | 2:26 pm ETJackpot Super Hi 5 | $118,427 (CAN) | Woodbine | Race 7 | 4:28 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $74,346 | Charles Town | begins Race 4 | 8:32 pm ET--Gulfstream mandatory payout scheduled for SundayKEY RACESBelterra | Race 4 | 2:05 pm ET | Best of Ohio Babst/Palacios StakesBelterra | Race 6 | 3:05 pm ET | Best of Ohio Diana StakesBelterra | Race 7 | 3:35 pm ET | Best of Ohio Green Carpet StakesBelterra | Race 8 | 4:05 pm ET | Best of Ohio Queen City OaksBelterra | Race 9 | 4:35 pm ET | Best of Ohio Gendelman StakesPenn National | Race 3 | 6:04 pm ET | Lyphard StakesPenn National | Race 4 | 6:37 pm ET | Alphabet Soup StakesPenn National | Race 5 | 7:12 pm ET | Penn OaksPenn National | Race 6 | 7:51 pm ET | Penn MilePrairie Meadows | Race 6 | 9:15 pm ET | Mamie Eisenhower StakesRemington Park | Race 12 | 11:57 pm ET | Heritage Place Juvenile (AQHA)LONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXDelaware Park | Race 5 | 2:28 pm ETChurchill Downs | Race 9 | 4:55 pm ETCharles Town | Race 9 | 11:02 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHPeter Miller | Santa Anita, Churchill Downs | all 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Churchill Downs | jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. | 3 wins, 3 seconds from 9 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Santa Anita Turf Pick 3 for FridayFrank Carulli: Penn National All-Stakes Pick 4 for Penn Mile Night FridayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section
By Scott Shapiro
They are back it at for the start of another racing week at Santa Anita Park after a fun Memorial Day weekend in Arcadia. A nice-race card that of course includes an All-Turf Pick 3 sequence that gets started in Race 5 welcomes horseplayers back to the “Great Race Place.” Remember, this player-friendly wager has a 15% takeout and a $3 minimum. Here is how I will attack it.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: C+Main Ticket: 1 Goje; 7 What’s a Good NameBackups: NoneForecast: Even-money favorite #5 Holdthatrainbow aims to make a perfect 2 for 2 to start her career after working out a great trip to score at 7-1 on debut for Carla Gaines. The upside is there since Gaines is not necessarily a trainer, we expect to have her runners cranked at first asking, but the price is tough to swallow. I will try to beat the ML choice with two fillies. #1 Goje hopes to make it two in a row after grinding out her first career win over this course and distance 12 days ago. If she can work out a trip from the rail draw, she is highly capable. #7 What’s a Good Name is a wild card since she tries the grass for the first time. She draws favorably to the outside, attracts Joel Rosario, and is a full-sister to a runner from the same connections that has earned 3 of her 4 lifetime victories over the grass. She can certainly get to the wire first versus these if she is able to take to the surface switch.Race 7:Grade: B-Main Ticket: #4 I’m Otter HereBackups: NoneForecast: I will lean on the 2-1-chalk in this starter allowance at one-mile over the turf where #4 I’m Otter Here should be set for another big run. The son of Munnings was caught 4-wide into the first turn, but was able to run a solid second at odds of 11-1 against similar on April 26. He has finished first or second in all 3 starts over this turf course and retains the services of Hector Berrios.Race 9:Grade: C+Main Ticket: 2 Latin Air; 5 Chef KateBackups: NoneForecast: I will try to bust things open in the final leg where the runners expected to take the most money have had plenty of chances. #7 Humidity and #9 G’oro are the two ML favorites, but tough to endorse. I will hope one of two lightly-raced fillies takes a step forward in their second career start. #2 Latin Air adds blinkers and stretches out to two turns after breaking slowly and chasing in her debut going 6-furlongs. Hopefully, the addition of shades has her prominently placed under Ricky Gonzalez. #5 Chef Kate also was outrun on debut after a slow start. Trainer Vladimir Cerin turns to veteran Edwin Maldonado in hopes the added ground will lead to big improvement. Neither of these runners is close to a lock to fire, but I just cannot swallow the chalk to close the Friday proceedings.
By Scott Shapiro
Saturday at Churchill Downs marks the first big stakes card since Kentucky Derby Day under the twin spires. “Stephen Foster Preview Day” gets started at 12:45 PM eastern and includes seven stakes races over the 11-race slate. As part of the fun on Saturday, 1/ST BET and Xpressbet are offering up a 2 Million Points Hit & Split in the late Pick 4. The sequence is comprised of all graded stakes events, including the featured Blame (G3). Remember to register for the new promotion before attempting to take your share of the rewards points.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: Aristides (G3)Grade: B-Main Ticket: 1 Mad House; 2 CornucopianBackups: NoneForecast: The late Pick 4 gets rolling with this 6-furlong dash over the main track where the inside three runners are expected to take the lions’ share of public support. #3 Roll on Big Joe was made the 9-5-ML favorite after his runner-up finish to #1 Mad House in the Count Fleet (G3). He has won 3 of 4 over this surface, but had no real excuse when turned away in Arkansas last month. He can win, but I will use the second and third choices instead. Mad House should make the lead and proved tough to get by in the lane at Oaklawn Park last out. He comes into his first local start in the best form of his career and retains Paco Lopez. #2 Cornucopian was never overly comfortable in the Churchill Downs (G1) where he underwhelmed in his first start in Louisville. The class drop and move to Flavien Prat should help his chances. It feels like a now or never type spot for the $1.1M Keeneland September ’23 purchase.Race 9: Regret (G3)Grade: B-Main Ticket: 9 Tam TamBackups: 6 DandonaForecast: Four of the nine entered in this year’s Regret exit the Edgewood (G2) earlier this month. Those 3YO fillies and others try the 1 1/8-mile distance for the first time. The added ground and the race shape should benefit #9 Tam Tam. The Rigney Racing filly is a head away from being a perfect 3 for 3 since moving to the grass. She fought gamely last out losing a tight one at odds of 20-1 and should have things her way under jockey Junior Alvarado. If the pace is more contentious than it appears on paper #6 Dandona could be dangerous. The late running daughter of Tiz the Law was caught 4-wide into the first turn and remained wide throughout in the aforementioned Edgewood. She has a strong turn of foot and should get a much better trip in this spot.Race 10: Blame (G3)Grade: BMain Ticket: 3 Hit ShowBackups: NoneForecast: The prep for next month’s Stephen Foster (G1) is another race where early speed appears to be at a premium. #8 Vibe is the one who should benefit most, but the $3M son of Into Mischief has yet to prove himself at two-turns. That makes him tough to endorse or get excited about at his 9-5-ML offering. I prefer the veteran #3 Hit Show. The son of Candy Ride made the trip back to Meydan in March to defend his Dubai World Cup (G1) title, but was unable to do better than a mid-pack fifth. That said, the Brad Cox trainee has thrived at the 9-furlong distance throughout his career and should find a favorable ground saving spot off a moderate early tempo. He should handle these if set for his best off the two-month freshening.Race 11: Arlington (G3)Grade: BMain Ticket: 9 QuatrocentoBackups: NoneForecast: The card and sequence conclude with this 1 1/16-mile event for older runners on the grass where once again it looks like the pace should be on the moderate side. This should greatly benefit #9 Quatrocento. The son of War Front did not have an easy lead last out in the Opening Verse due to the presence of the quick Mi Bago, but should have no issues controlling the pace on the slight stretch out under regular rider Julien Leparoux. The Fausto Gutierrez trainee is winless in 3 tries over this course, but it is not as if he has run poorly in those starts. He should have no issue making the front and be tough to catch from there.
By Jeremy Plonk
Saturday’s stakes-spangled card at Woodbine gets extra juice with a $3,000 Exacta-Thon promotion when you play with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Take down winning exactas ($2 minimum) in 5 of the 10 races on the program to rake in your share of the bonus cash. Three stakes share the playbill Saturday in greater Toronto and I’ll lean into those for some Exacta-Thon assistance.Race 6: Grade 3 $150,000 Belle Mahone StakesSeven elder fillies and mares match up over 1-1/16 miles on the Tapeta. Note that #6 Stylish Sue is cross-entered Saturday in Churchill Downs’ Mint Julep Stakes. Three of these will be making their first starts of 2026, and none of those have displayed past success off this kind of break to open the season. The horses with ’26 experience include #2 Equitas, #3 Deloraine, #4 Power of Destiny and the aforementioned #6 Stylish Sue if she makes the trip. #2 Equitas had a mistimed move on the Keeneland turf but still got a field-best, last-out 94 BRIS late pace figure that could be quite handy in a race with a fair amount of pace and horses potentially lacking foundation. Exacta key-box 2 with 4,6. Swap #5 Elysian Field for Stylish Sue in the event of a scratch.Race 7: Grade 2 $175,000 Eclipse StakesThe local handicap division gets its first major test of 2026 with this 1-1/16 miles test on the main track. Seven entered, including last year’s Prince of Wales Stakes classic winner #7 Runaway Again. But it’s first-time Woodbine visitor #6 Maycocks Bay who figures to be the one to catch. Godolphin’s front-running Speightstown gelding tries synthetic for the first time after plying his trade on dirt and turf at Fair Grounds, Oaklawn and Keeneland of late. He looks to be potential lone speed, which is always dangerous in a smaller field size like this. #4 Jokestar has been better on dirt than synthetic, but the Kevin Attard trainee is in good form right now after stakes bids at Laurel and Oaklawn. #1 Stanley House makes an old-school sprint-to-route move while second off the layoff and could fire an improved effort. Exacta key-box 6 with 4,1.Race 9: Grade 3 $150,000 Jacques Cartier StakesI’m inclined to think #2 Western Whirl could very well wire this 6-furlong sprint. The 5-year-old comes off a November layoff but note he ran one of the fastest races of his life in victory here last June off a similar break. Trainer Stuart Simon hasn’t been off to a good start in limited tries this season, and there appears to be a missed workout May 8, so that’s where caution kicks in. Let’s back-wheel him second behind a few logical players. #4 G T Five Hundred has been in strong form throughout winter and spring, while #5 Possiblemente can say the same via Kentucky and #6 Playmea Tune should welcome the return to Woodbine from Florida. Exacta 4,5,6 over 2. At the right win price (5-1 or more), some action with Western Whirl on top wouldn’t be a bad play intra-race.
By Xpressbet
NOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $83,185 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETSuper Hi 5 | $9,451 | Churchill Downs | Race 1 | 5:00 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $74,346 | Charles Town | begins Race 4 | 8:25 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 4 | 3:43 pm ETChurchill Downs | Race 4 | 6:27 pm ETEvangeline Downs | Race 4 | 7:36 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHAnthony Farrior | Charles Town | all 6 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | favorites won 27 of 50 Thoroughbred races (54%) across the USPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Churchill Twilight Thursday Spot PlaysFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section
By Frank Carulli
There’s zero chance of precipitation in the advance weather forecast at Penn National Race Course this Friday, May 29. That’s good news for horseplayers, who will have four turf route races -- including the $400,000 Grade 3 Penn Mile – to navigate for an All-Stakes Pick 4 in the middle of the 10-race card.PEN 3rd Race (6:04 p.m. EST) -- MODAROSA is a deserving favorite and the horse to beat in the $75,000 Lyphard Stakes at 1-1/16 miles on the lawn. She was squeezed at the start in a 6F sprint at Aqueduct last out, cruised to the lead on her own courage, dug in through the stretch to win and galloped out powerfully. She won an allowance race at this distance on the Gulfstream Park lawn under a “mild drive” but gave way on the lead in a follow-up grass route against three $500k earners, including multiple Grade 2 winner Hang The Moon and Grade 1-placed Vixen. She will carry the hopes of our Pick 4 ticket as a solo play.PEN 4th Race (6:37 p.m. EST) -- Local star FIERCE AND STRONG arrives for his title defense in the $75,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap with the same ultra-consistent and versatile form that led to a 6-for-9 record on the Penn National lawn. He sprinted to a commanding lead through middle fractions of :45.26 and 1:09.21 on a yielding course last year and desperately held on to win. SHARP TONES benefited from the fast pace and rallied to finish 2-1/4 lengths behind FIERCE AND STRONG. He hasn’t raced on turf since then, but he won a $40,000 optional claiming race on the main track last out and, more importantly, had a rough trip in his seasonal debut against next-out Pimlico Special (G-3) runner-up Maclean’s Rook and $760k earner Lure Him In. He “lost early position” in that race, checked in traffic at the half-mile pole and finished well while 5-wide. He’s worth using on the Pick 4 ticket at 12-1. EFF THIRTY FIVE, the beaten 2-to-5 favorite in last year’s Lyphard, makes his seasonal debut. He usually rallies from the clouds but might be a bit closer in here off a 5F bullet workout in 1:00.80. His late kick is enhanced with the added presence of rail-sitter BARTLETT, who went wire-to-wire in 6 of his last 11 starts at various venues. If a projected fast pace completely falls apart and UNCLE HEAVY adapts to turf, he poses a late-running upset chance.PEN 5th Race (7:12 p.m. EST) -- VEKOMA VIEW lost a couple lengths on the final turn behind a back-pedaling rival, but she regained rail momentum, finished 2-1/4 lengths behind repeat winner Tam Tam – who just missed in the Grade 2 Edgewood Stakes next out – and led past the wire. Trainer George Weaver is 15-for-63 the last three years with turf horses off 2-plus months. FINAL ACCORD, the lone stakes winner in the $150,000 Penn Oaks, returned from ankle surgery but ran into trouble in the 5-1/2F Mamzelle Stakes. She steadied into the turn and hit a stretch traffic jam, losing all chance to challenge Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Cy Fair and Grade 3 winner Slay The Day.PEN 6th race (7:51 p.m. EST) -- Seven 3-year-olds will be looking for their first graded stakes win in the $400,000 Penn Mile. HONEY DUTCH tries to upstage six consecutive in-the-money finishes since his maiden win at Kentucky Downs. He earned the field’s best 92 Beyer in the Grade 1 American Turf last out, building a commanding lead into the final turn before the two deep-closing favorites passed by. The one-mile distance suits him well. TEDDY’S ROCKET was a debut winner at Saratoga and got beat 1-1/2 lengths in a Grade 1 follow-up as a 2-year-old, but he was dull in a slow-paced seasonal debut after he nearly unseated jockey Manny Franco at the start. Trainer Miguel Clement reiterated to Daily Racing Form writer Patrick Moquin that TEDDY’S ROCKET “is one of my most talented horses this year.” ALPYLAND finished 2-1/2 lengths behind HONEY DUTCH but he won 4 of his 5 previous starts, spanning three different tracks and winning three times at today’s distance. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse seeks his record fourth Penn Mile victory. IMMORTALISED starts fresh off a three-race winning streak, beating next-out winners in all of them. Hall of Fame jockey John Velzaquez will be aboard. CLASSIC NOFTY beat a very weak field to win a one-mile allowance in his first try on turf, but he looked good doing it. He split rivals at the top of the stretch and was full of run pulling away to an easy victory.Suggested 50-Cent Pick 4 TicketPN 3rd Race: 5PN 4th Race: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8PN 5th Race: 1, 5PN 6th Race: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7Cost: $25