Imagine a late January racing card with sunny skies, an afternoon high of 68 degrees and no precipitation. But don’t let your imagination run off. That’s the forecast for Tampa Bay Downs this Friday,. And if the weatherman cooperates, the 50-cent Late Pick 4 could feature all double-digit sized fields. Here’s a closer look with a suggested $21 play:TAM 6th race (3:05 p.m. EST) -- With a couple short-priced picks in the middle legs of the sequence, go deep in this wide-open $5,000 claiming race in hopes of triggering a decent Pick 4 payout. COALMINER’S KITTEN, first or second in 7 of 9 starts last year, broke through the gate and finished second in this spot in his first try at Tampa. He is the favorite but should be used on the ticket. The better-priced options include: BATL KING (7-2), who finished third in an open $6,250 claimer two back and runs for the cheapest tag of his career; WHITING FIELD (12-1), who gets in light-weighted and looks to rebound from a dull try for a barn in the midst of an 8-for-39 streak with the ‘second off 30-60 days’ angle; FEELTHEBEAT (15-1), who was taken off the rail while setting a solid pace before finishing 3-1/4 lengths behind Coalminer’s Kitten, at 7F two back; WILLTORUN (4-1), who is four months removed from a voided vet claim at the $12,500 level; FLOAT ON (6-1), who is 0-7 at the distance but has plenty of back-class to summon for a new trainer on a 21/5-4-6 run with claims; and RUSSIAN HAMMER (10-1), who was 9-wide and finished third behind Coalminer’s Kitten as the favorite.TAM 7th race (3:35 p.m. EST) -- SIX FORTYFIVE pressed winning favorite Aegon Targaryen – a recent odds-on repeater with a 79 Beyer -- to the far turn before fading two starts ago. But the 5-year-old proved versatile with a last-to-first move while stepping up in class off the claim. He threw his head at the start and trailed on the backstretch as the pace slowed, but he negotiated traffic and exploded on the rail in mid-stretch to win. He is today’s solo play.TAM 8th race (4:05 p.m. EST) -- SNOWYTE broke her maiden with Leon aboard off a similar three-month rest at Monmouth, then finished between three next-out winners in a six-figure allowance at Keeneland. WITS AND WAGERS can’t seem to get out of her own way at the break, rallying from far back for three consecutive third-place finishes at various Churchill Downs distances. She followed the move of the runaway winner last out in a race that timed 2/5 of a second slower than a $50,000 starter allowance for 2-year-old boys on the same card. Her trainer, Jose Gallegos, has three seconds and a third from five first-off-the-claims at Tampa in the last 13 months.TAM 9th race (4:40 p.m. EST) -- UP FOR AN OSCAR is the horse to beat on paper. He just missed at this distance on the Aqueduct lawn with an 85 Beyer that towers over this field and he did it off a nine-month layoff. He added blinkers, gained 3-wide on the final turn from post 12 but came up empty in the stretch in a follow-up try. MORTAL LOCK also earned his top speed figure at this distance on the Aqueduct lawn, rallying for second behind A Bourbon For Toby, who reeled off five consecutive 80-plus speed figures in the MSW ranks and tested Grade 2 company along the way. Both runners get upgraded after they faced Cruise the Nile last month before he repeated with a sharp allowance score on Gulfstream Park’s synthetic track. JOBU gets a longshot spot on the ticket. He took money and showed speed first-out at Parx against an improving allowance-type winner, worked well at Tampa since that race and his dam, Our Cause, produced stakes-winning turf marathoner Summer Cause (2-7, $128k on turf).Suggested 50-Cent Ticket TAM 6th Race: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10TAM 7th Race: 6TAM 8th Race: 6, 7TAM 9th Race: 3, 4, 9 Cost: $21

They are back at it Friday afternoon at the Great Race Place. The new week at Santa Anita Park kicks off with an 8-race slate that gets started at 3:30 pm ET / 12:30 pm PT. The card features a quartet of stakes races and a state-bred MSW event for 3YOs over the main track. Here are the horses I am most interested in on Friday in Arcadia.Race 6:The late Pick 3 kicks off with this open $25k claimer over the grass for older fillies and mares and I had a hard time getting past 5-2-ML favorite #1 Candy Bar. The daughter of Constitution takes a significant drop in class out of first-level allowance company for trainer Bob Hess Jr. The 6YO mare was a little keen early in that second start over the Santa Anita grass on December 28 and ended up tiring late at nearly 17-1. Whether jockey Tyler Baze opts to get aggressive and go right to the front or decides to let an outside rival go and sit just off, Candy Bar should be forward early allowing her to get the jump on those from off the pace. This feels like a great spot for the 3-time winner in search of her first local score.Play: #1 Candy Bar (5-2 ML)Race 7:This 5.5-furlong dash for Cal-bred MSW foes over the main track kicks off the $5 late Double and instead of backing one of the underneath finishers in a similar spot on December 29, I will look to #6 Tate Batz. The Doug O’Neill trainee debuted in late November in a 6-furlong state-bred MSW event at Del Mar. The Pavel filly got hammered down to 6-5-favoritism, but was clearly second best to a first-time starter for the Andy Mathis barn that came from well out of it to take advantage of a contentious first half mile. O’Neill has had a strong meet thus far winning at over 20% with a $2.68 ROI and this filly showed some talent at first asking. A move forward is expected.Play: #6 Tate Batz (9-2 ML)Race 8:The pace should be contentious at the very least in this starter allowance over the grass to close the Friday proceedings. Most who see the race shape that way will understandably flock to 9-5-ML favorite #6 Trusty Rusty. The Tapiture gelding moves back to the lawn after a win going one-mile over the Los Alamitos main track to conclude his 5YO season and has the right running style to take advantage of an early tussle. The problem is he is 0 for 6 over this course and just 1 for 8 overall on the sod making the price tough to swallow. I will pivot to #2 So I’m Told. The Square Eddie gelding drops out of an open $25k claimer dominated by Jimmy Blue Jeans twenty days ago. Trainer Martin Valenzuela. Jr. brings him back in a favorable spot quickly and gets a rider upgrade to Hector Berrios after a stalk and fade while wide at a big price earlier this month. Berrios should be able to relax this 7YO gelding in the pocket early. Hopefully, from there he can avoid getting caught in tight and make a strong run when they turn for home. He should certainly appreciate the decrease in competition.Play: #2 So I’m Told (5-1 ML)

After a week off on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for a Pegasus World Cup (G1) detour, the newly turned 3YOs are back on center stage. The Southwest at Oaklawn Park was postponed until next Friday and the Withers at Aqueduct is up in the air due to frigid temperatures in the Northeast, so once again Hallandale Beach will be the focus. The $275,000 Holy Bull (G3) picks things up on Gulfstream Park’s Road to the Florida Derby after the Macho Macho Man kicked things off on January 3. Here are my horse-by-horse thoughts on the Derby prep that awards 20 points to the winner on Saturday afternoon.1-Incredibolt (pictured): Trainer Riley Mott sends out this son of Bolt d’Oro for his first start as a 3YO after a pair of impressive wins to end his 2YO season. The Pin Oak Stud colt raced against the flow in a sprint at Ellis to kick off his career and since then has done nothing wrong rattling off two straight strong finishes to win races over the Churchill Downs main track. There is no doubt Incredibolt can finish with energy, but the question is whether he is fully cranked and if he gets the setup he needs to be at his best. I will not be surprised if he takes another step forward in the Holy Bull and presents himself as a top contender for the Run for the Roses, but he may have too much to do work late in the Saturday finale. Therefore, I will pass on wagering on him this weekend with an eye towards even bigger races down the line.2-Roger That Dana: The Florida-bred is tough to endorse on the Win end in the Holy Bull, but he could play a major factor in the outcome nonetheless. The Awesome Slew ridgling dominated a field of fellow Florida-breds on debut this fall, but has been unable to go with the winner in a pair of spots since. From a class perspective, the Luis Ramirez trainee is up against it, but he has early speed and an inside draw, which could make things more difficult for those in with a bigger chance to get to the wire first.3-Project Ace: Trainer Dale Romans cross-listed this son of War of Will in the Withers at Aqueduct, but the Albaugh Family Stable colt has certainly showed the ability finish with serious energy thus far. The question for him is he can he find any early speed. Project Ace was well out of it early in all three starts as a 2YO, so has certainly needed things to go his way. He picked up the pieces late against a wire-to-wire winner to kick off his career and then continued to come with strong late runs against maiden fields when stretching out to two-turns. Project Ace is likely up against it in the Holy Bull since there is not a ton of early speed signed on, but if they happen to go at it early, he should be absolutely rolling late.4-Global Aviator: Heading into Thursday, trainer Rohan Crichton was 5-14 over the last 30 days for a $4.21 ROI. The red-hot conditioner will take a swing with this first out winner by Global Campaign. Global Aviator broke poorly in his first start going 6-furlongs over this surface back in late November, but made a strong middle move and had just enough late to hang on by a neck. He has not raced since and gets thrown to the wolves in his first start against winners. He could be a factor early on the stretch out if he cleans up his gate issues, but this is a tall task for the $12,000 FTK October 2024 purchase.5-Cannoneer: On the other side of things is this $1.75M Keeneland September 2024 purchase who returns to the races for the first time since late November for trainer Brad Cox. Cox debuted the Into Mischief colt in a live MSW event on June 1 where he let the public down after breaking awkwardly and rushing up to show speed before tiring late. Cox gave the Kentucky-bred time and he came back much more professional in his eye-popping victory at 7-furlongs in Louisville. The 7-figure purchase has been in Florida since late December and has pointed to this spot since. Like all Derby prospects in January, Cannoneer has lots of questions to answer, but this is a race he needs to win given race shape and distance if he plans to move forward and be a major player on the first Saturday in May.6-Buetane: Will not make the trip cross-country unfortunately due to his flight to Florida being cancelled.7-Nearly: This Florida-bred got off to a slow start in a 6-furlong event on debut in New York and had no shot from there in a race where they ran 1-2-3 around the track, but the Not This Time colt has been dominant in two races since arriving in the Sunshine State. Trainer Todd Pletcher has 2YO champion Ted Noffey gearing up for the Fountain of Youth next month, but in the meanwhile may find out he has another top contender under his care on Saturday. I have two concerns though. Firstly, Nearly has not been great from the gate. He needs to fix that obviously at some point. In terms of his chances on Saturday, I am concerned about regression. He has rattled off two big efforts in a row. Not only does he need to prove he can do similar at a route of ground, but needs to avoid a bounce off his five-length score on January 2. I will let him beat me at his likely price in this year’s Holy Bull, but certainly will not be surprised by another big run.8-Bravaro: Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. ran 1-2 in the Pegasus World Cup last Saturday. Joseph looks to spring another upset in the feature with this New York-bred colt that enters the Holy Bull a perfect 2 for 2. The son of Upstart won both of his starts going away as a juvenile, but those efforts game against much weaker competition. That said, he comes into his first try against open company foes off a strong series of drills at Palm Meadows and should be able to avoid a wide voyage into the first turn given the scratch of Buetane to his inside. It would be a big surprise if Bravaro put in a big run on Saturday, but this barn has done it before.9-Game for It: Bypassing the Holy Bull with his eyes on the Sam F. Davis at Tampa next week.Unfortunately, finding value on top in the 2026 Holy Bull (G3) looks tough to achieve with one of the three logicals likely to get to the wire first. Perhaps, a horse like Project Ace can come running late to spruce up the exotics, but this is Cannoneer’s race to lose. He should find a prominent position early under Irad Ortiz and be tough to get by late if he can handle the two-turn test.   Photo: Coady/Churchill Downs

SCHEDULE NOTESAqueduct, Mahoning, Charles Town, Turfway | cancelled due to weatherTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Gulfstream Park Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $41,375 | Gulfstream Park | begins Race 5 | 2:20 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $72,427 | Fair Grounds | begins Race 4 | 3:15 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $170,380 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 4:12 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXGulfstream | Race 1 | 12:20 pm ETFair Grounds | Race 4 | 3:15 pm ETTurf Paradise | Race 7 | 6:02 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHCarlos David | Gulfstream Park | 4 of 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Delta Downs | trainer Allen Landry | 1 win, 3 seconds from 4 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The Lead:We'll stay at Gulfstream Park for a third straight Race of the Week analysis after $361 and $451 returns the past 2 weeks. Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby prospects strut their stuff Saturday in the Holy Bull Stakes. It’s part of a 5-stakes menu on a 12-race card that also includes Oaks hopefuls in the Grade 3 Forward Gal Stakes, our Xpressbet Race of the Week. The Forward Gal goes as Race 10 and features 6 last-out winners and a pair of narrow runners-up in the field of 8.Horseplayers at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet be sure to take advantage of a $1,000 Late Pick 4 Hit & Split on Saturday’s card at Gulfstream Park, which includes the Forward Gal as well as the featured Holy Bull Stakes.​​Field Depth:Grade 3 winner MYTHICAL (pictured) has the field’s signature score to date. Listed stakes winners include TESSELLATE, SNEAKY GOOD and ON TIME GIRL. Hard to argue against MYTHICAL having held the strongest strength of schedule over the course of her 5 prior stakes bids.​Pace:For a 7-furlong sprint, this race doesn’t have a serious of obvious pace players, though every filly in the field has shown the ability to be 1-2 early when called upon. It’s a difficult pace projection with so much style versatility.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.#1-MUSIC BURST: Churchill maiden breaker Nov. 13 against well-bred Cox filly who returned to win Jan. 4 at Gulfstream. Runner-up in Turfway allowance behind multiple stakes-placed filly, so this one has kept solid running lines despite this being her first stakes attempt. Trainer Rusty Arnold won this race in 2023 and jockey Luis Saez has owned the Forward Gal – winning 4 of the last 5 editions and 5 times overall.#2-TESSELLATE: Two-time stakes winner at Gulfstream and Tampa Bay Downs for Saffie Joseph Jr., who saddled the 1-2 finishers in last week’s Pegasus World Cup. One of 3 fillies in field to have already won over 7 furlongs. Joseph won this race in 2020 and 2024 and turns the reins over to Junior Alvardo for the first time as Edgard Zayas rides Mythical on Saturday.#3-SECANE: Second shot here for Saffie Joseph Jr. to notch a third Forward Gal victory, this filly finished third in the Tempted at Aqueduct and most recently Gulfstream’s Cash Run. Daughter of Florida Derby winner Audible is proven over the track with a maiden romp here last summer. Jockey Micah Husbands rides for the first time as Irad Ortiz Jr. hops to pilot On Time Girl.#4-MYTHICAL: Rolled to back-to-back Florida Sire Stakes series victories to close a 5-for-6 juvenile campaign. Jorge Delgado’s Florida-bred won the Tremont and Adirondack at Saratoga against open company and is 3-for-3 locally. Edgard Zayas partners in place of Emisael Jaramillo, who has moved his tack to Santa Anita.#5-SNEAKY GOOD: Unbeaten winner of a Keeneland debut sprint and Tampa Bay Downs’ Sandpiper Stakes, both at 6 furlongs. Daughter of top stallion Into Mischief overcame a wide post and trip in her last to win with mostly a hand ride. Tyler Gaffalione rides for trainer Brad Cox, whose stable is 3: 2-1-0 in the Forward Gal, including a 1-2 finish a year ago.#6-ON TIME GIRL: The more accomplished of the Brad Cox uncoupled duo as that barn looks to continue its Forward Gal precision strikes. Not The Time filly has won 3 of 4 and avenged her 1-length loss in Keeneland’s Myrtlewood by dusting A Fine Chardonnay in their Fern Creek Stakes rematch at Churchill Downs. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides this filly out of Pocahontas Stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile third-place finisher Girl Daddy. Five workouts on cue since her Nov. 29 victory in Louisville.#7-HOLLEN DRIVE: Regally bred half-sister to champion sprinter Mitole and fellow Grade 1 winner Hot Rod Charlie. She’s won 2 of 3 for trainer Will Walden, a barn fresh off a Grade 3 Christophe Clement Stakes victory last Saturday at Gulfstream. Disappointed on a wet track in Laurel’s Smart Halo, her only stakes attempt, but may be looking for a dry track to show her best. Jorge Ruiz rides the daughter of Practical Joke.#8-IMPERATRICE: Four-time Forward Gal Stakes-winning trainer Todd Pletcher brings this Dec. 13 maiden winner back to the site of her first career success. Daughter of Pegasus World Cup and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light cuts back from a mile in which she had a rather easy trip in victory. She ran second in her debut to Pletcher stablemate With a Kiss, a highly promising Gun Runner-Cathryn Sophia blueblood who hasn’t returned since that Oct. 26 unveling.Most Likely Exotics Contender:ON TIME GIRL is a length from perfection in 4 starts and never worse than second while navigating 3 different surfaces. She galloped out far in front last time and has trained right on schedule for this return spot.Best Longshot Contender:MUSIC BURST should be a fair price. She's by sire Maclean’s Music, whose offspring win a strong 20% of their Gulfstream Park sprints and include elite past GP sprinter Drain the Clock.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$40 win MUSIC BURST. $30 exacta ON TIME GIRL over MUSIC BURST. $20 exacta MUSIC BURST over ​ON TIME GIRL. $5 exacta part-wheel and MUSIC BURST over HOLLEN DRIVE and IMPERATRICE ($10).

Miami Valley has a 14-race card with the 1st post coming at 4:00 PM EST. The 0.50 Late Pick 4 starts in Race 11, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 11 (7:20 PM EST)1-Topmost (2-1)-This 5-year-old has made only 11 starts and it has breaking issues. Has been on the bench since 12-17 and put in 4 qualifiers all at MVR. Did do well in the last one on 1-23. Stayed flat, got on the engine, and drew off by 22 lengths in 156.3. Risky, especially at a short price but will use as David Miller is in the bike the same as in the last qualifier.3-Full Moon Howl (9/2)-Left hard in last and got the top from post 7 just before the 1/4 pole. Ended up in the pocket and the leader faded down the lane. Raced better than the line looked and this race should set up differently. Can end up in a close up seat and then roll by off cover.Race 12 (7:40 PM EST)1-Ocean Tide (2-1)-Made its MVR debut a winning one going gate to wire. Starts inside again and this might not be as easy, but it isn't a salty group.7-Always By The Sea (9/2)-Went the back half in 58.1 to finish 3rd leaving from post 7. That was the 1st race since 9-17 and should be better here. Looking for an honest pace and that could help this grinder roll by down the lane at a nice price.Race 13 (8:00 PM EST)2-Fear Danie (2-1)-Finished 2nd last time at 1/1 and was caught inside sitting 3rd. Got out at the top of the last turn but a well-meant long shot winner was gone. Comes back in sequence, draws inside, and has done good work at MVR (3-1-1-1). Should be much closer to leader around the last turn and could make amends tonight.Race 14 (8:20 PM EST)1-Sure Did (5/2)-Drops to a more comfortable level and had excuses in recent starts. Doesn't need the lead off the gate but does do best with a close-up trip. Against this company Jeremy Smith should have the Eli Miller trainee engaged when the wings fold. This looks like an opportunity for a picture with a smooth trip.$3.00 Late Pick 41,3/1,7/2/1Total Bet=$12Check me out on Twitter!

Congratulations are in order to Week 4 winner Steven Busching, who earned the weekly $1000 first prize in the 21st season of the Xpressbet Beat the Host handicapping contest. Gulfstream Park oddsmaker and racing analyst Brian Nadeau will be the host to beat this Saturday in Week 5 action, which features the Holy Bull Stakes on the Florida Derby and Triple Crown prep trail.On the individual front, Busching's $269.50 bankroll paced the contest in Week 4, running away from all players. James Bryson’s $209.50 was good for second place and earned a $750 prize. Tina Clark finished third with $188.00 and earned a $250 prize. Overall, 88 players managed to Beat the Host (Scott Shapiro). That means 462 spots have been punched to the Beat the Host Championship Round on March 7.The $65,000 Beat the Host competition encompasses 10 races each contest Saturday, split between the final 5 Gulfstream Park races and first 5 from Santa Anita. Contestants place $5 win bets on the Xpressbet platform for each of the 10 Beat the Host races, earning their parimutuel winnings as well as prize pools.All contestants who beat the cumulative bankroll total of the host each Saturday qualify for the Beat the Host Championship on March 7. Weekly prize pools of $2,000 are also in play for the top-3 finishers, while a $6,500 Sweep the Host bonus split is in store for those sharp enough to top the host totals all 9 weeks of the contest. Only 17 of 740 registrants remain eligible for the Sweep the Host bonus after 4 weeks this season.Our first check-in for the season-long leaderboard in contest earnings shapes up this way: Christopher Cupples leads at $413.75, followed by Phillip Perkins ($350.25), Ron Watson ($340.00), Steven Dalbec ($337.00) and Richard Atlass ($329.75). Last week’s winner Steven Busching is sixth ($307.25).The BTH Championship pits all weekly winning players against one another in pursuit of seats in the lucrative Pegasus World Cup Betting Challenge, Xpressbet Santa Anita Derby Challenge and Xpressbet Florida Derby Challenge tournaments.Last season, 496 of 711 Beat the Host players were able to top the host total at least once during the season. Glenn Gulden paced all players in the cumulative season totals last year, while George Blanchard took down the top prize in the Beat the Host Championship round finale.Tournament & Host Schedule:Saturday, January 3, 2026 - Pete AielloSaturday, January 10, 2026 - Millie BallSaturday, January 17, 2026 - Michelle YuSaturday, January 24, 2026 - Scott ShapiroSaturday, January 31, 2026 - Brian NadeauSaturday, February 7, 2026 - Tom QuigleySaturday, February 14, 2026 - Samantha PerrySaturday, February 21, 2026 - Zoe CadmanSaturday, February 28, 2026 - Ron NicolettiSaturday, March 7, 2026 – Beat the Host Championship Round

SCHEDULE NOTESAqueduct, Mahoning, Parx, Charles Town, Turfway | cancelled due to weatherNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $142,032 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 4:09 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXTampa Bay Downs | Race 7 | 3:25 pm ETTurf Paradise | Race 7 | 6:01 pm ETDelta Downs | Race 2 | 6:13 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHAllen Landry | Delta Downs | 3 of 4 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Turf Paradise | trainer Jose Silva | 2 wins, 2 seconds from 5 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Tampa Bay Wednesday Spot PlaysFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section