The summer racing schedule heats up this week not only with the opening of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Friday, but also with one of the biggest cards of the summer at the Jersey Shore on Saturday. Monmouth Park plays host to another Haskell (G1) with a plethora of additional stakes on the undercard. Here are my thoughts on all-14 races, including those involved in our $5000 Hit & Split. Just register for the promotion, connect on the late Pick 4 or late Pick 5, and share cash winnings with other Xpressbet and 1/ST BET customers able to do so. Head on over to the promotional landing page for more details.Grade Descriptions: A= Highest Degree of Confidence, B= Solid Play, C= Least Preferred or Pass, X= Likely Winner but at odds probably too short to wager on.Race 1:Grade: CUse: 1 Tall Risk; 3 Funky See Funky DoForecast: I landed on a pair of horses that competed last in New York in this $16k maiden claimer at two-turns over the grass. #1 Tall Risk did not do much running last out, but it came against better. The Florida-bred passed a number of tiring rivals late at Aqueduct before entering the Lindsay Schultz barn. He draws the rail and lures Paco Lopez. #3 Funky See Funky Do makes his second start of the form cycle for Chad Summers. He should find a prominent spot early on the stretch out to two turns and inside draw.Race 2:Grade: C+Use: 9 Admiral MoForecast: Most of the top contenders in this first-level allowance over the main track are drawn to the outside, including my top choice #9 Admiral Mo. The son of Uncle Mo sold at the FTD August ’25 sale for the low price of $34k, but has run five solid races on the dirt since moving into the Kelly Breen barn. He needs to avoid getting caught wide early to handle the class hike, but his confidence is up and he meets a few runners with big last numbers, but questions on whether they will repeat it on Haskell Day.Race 3:Grade: C+Use: 6 He’s Got This/1 Bar FourteenForecast: #1 Bar Fourteen moves into the Timothy Hills barn after a pair of tough beats on the front end. The 8YO gelding controlled the pace throughout in back-to-back races only to be nailed in the final strides. He should be there again at the wire, but might take too much heat from #9 Tocayo, so I prefer #6 He’s Got This. The son of Tapiture has not raced on the turf since a third-place effort against better at Aqueduct in October ’24. I like that trainer Chris Englehart lures Irad Ortiz Jr, who should have him in a perfect mid-pack spot early. Hopefully, he has the turn of foot I expect on the move back to the sod.Race 4: Monmouth Cup (G3)Grade: B-Use: 5 Skippylongstocking/1 Money GameForecast: The first stakes race of the afternoon is this 1 1/8-mile test over the main track where #4 Knightsbridge and #5 Skippylongstocking will likely to take the lion’s share of the public action. Knightsbridge heads south to the Jersey Shore after a runner-up effort to Nysos in the Met Mile (G1). He is likely to control the early pace, but has never travelled further than one-mile. I simply do not trust the son of Nyquist to get the added ground. Skippylongstocking on the other hand is 7 for 19 at the nine-furlong distance. He has been given a freshening since losing a tough one in the Alysheba (G2) and draws right outside Knightsbridge. He is my top choice, but #1 Money Game is not without a chance. The Brad Cox trainee lacks early speed, which easily could leave him too far back to win this, but if the pace is contentious he should be finishing full of run under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.Race 5:Grade: XUse: 5 Midway MemoriesForecast: #5 Midway Memories put in a dud last time as the 9-5-ML favorite at Churchill Downs for trainer Chad Brown, but prior to that finished second beaten less than a length to Belmont Oaks (G1) runner-up Faithful Departed. She gets some class relief in this spot and should get a favorable voyage under Flavien Prat. If not today, it might be time for the claiming ranks for this $300k Keeneland September ’23 purchase. The price is likely to be too short to jump in on, but I do not have much interest in trying to beat Midway Memories in this first-level allowance over the lawn.Race 6: Molly Pitcher (G2)Grade: XUse: 7 SplendoraForecast: It appears trainer Bob Baffert has found a good spot for #7 Splendora. The Audible mare was scratched out of the Fleur de Lis (G2) after handling the 1 1/16-mile test on May 30 in Louisville. She draws to the outside in this compact group, which gives Flavien Prat options out of the gate, but I expect him to use her speed early. I am not sure if we have seen the best of the Maryland-bred yet or not, but she should have no issue getting the 8.5-furlongs against this bunch.Race 7: Matchmaker (G3)Grade: B+Use: 1 Sweet TreasureForecast: I like the chances quite a bit of #1 Sweet Treasure in this 1 1/8-mile event for fillies and mare over the grass. The Twirling Candy filly has shown strong versatility of late winning from well off-the-pace two-back at Keeneland before taking advantage of a slow early pace when wiring out the field in the Mint Julep (G3). She draws the rail in a race where there is limited speed signed on. Whether Irad goes to the front or opts to save ground early and come with a big run late, this Brad Cox trainee heads to Monmouth Park in the best form of her career.Race 8:Grade: B-Use: 1 Pogi/3 Roma ArtForecast: I am writing before morning lines are out, but I expect #11 Superfractor to take a lot of money. The son of Golden Lad has done little wrong on the dirt thus far, but comes off a non-effort in a Colonial Downs turf sprint on June 28. If that effort was only because of the surface switch and he is able to replicate his win over this surface on May 30, he will win this for fun. However, I am unwilling to completely toss his run at 8-5 in Virginia, so I will take a swing against with #1 Pogi. The 8YO gelding moves back into the Jersey-bred allowance ranks after tackling tougher in his four starts since being claimed by trainer Silvino Ramirez. He will need a good ride from low profile jockey Carlos Rojas, but I like the way he went and got the lone speed in his open company allowance victory on May 9. A repeat of that could be good enough.Race 9: Wolf HillGrade: BUse: 5 Alogon/7 Amoudi BayForecast: #5 Alogon was beaten by #1 Souper Quest last time in the Get Serious, but it is not difficult to argue Alogon was significantly better. Souper Quest saved ground mid-pack without an excuse, while Alogon bobbled a bit at the start, found himself in last, and was forced to make a wide move into the lane in his first start off the bench. The son of California Chrome moves to the outside and gets a big rider upgrade to Flavien Prat. He should run big. #7 Amoudi Bay is the speed horse I like most. The Ten Strike Racing gelding has been freshened up by Lindsay Schultz after a pair of races in Kentucky in April. He should be able to sit just off the hip of likely pacesetter #6 Nothing Better in this 5.5-furlong turf dash.Race 10: RegretGrade: B-Use: 11 Unsolved MysteryForecast: A pair of graded stakes winners as 3YOs for trainer Rusty Arnold are expected to make their first start since September in this $100k 6-furlong affair over the main track. #9 Kilwin and #5 Echo Sound ran big races at Saratoga last summer, but are coming off significant layoffs making them tough to trust. I can understand going several deep to kick off the Hit & Split Late Pick 5 opportunity taking stands against the two Arnold runners, but I am going to go thin against them with #11 Unsolved Mystery. The Goldencents mare has rattled off six straight against lesser and has only lost once over this surface. Hopefully, she does not regress too much off of that dominant win on June 20.Race 11: United Nations (G2)Grade: B-Use: 6 Uncle’s GoldForecast: #4 Program Trading and #7 Just a Touch hold the class edge and go to the gate for this year’s United Nations for some of the top outfits in the country. Both are capable of winning the first leg of the late Pick 4, but I prefer #6 Uncle’s Gold. The Florida-bred has to prove himself at this level, but has overcome a less-than-ideal trip in all three of his recent victories. Three-back at Tampa he was caught three wide throughout and finished well in his first start going nine-furlongs before overcoming a brutal trip to beat lesser at Delaware Park. He crushed a much lesser group in late June at Colonial and enters this spot in the best form of his career. Now he has to prove he can overcome his third race since June 4 in his first try going this long and that he is classy enough to beat this level of competition. I will need him to be the clear third choice at least to jump in on the Win end, but he is a very nice Live Oak Plantation homebred regardless of his off odds.Race 12: Haskell (G1)Grade: BUse: 4 The Puma; 6 Napoleon Solo; 5 Iron HonorForecast: This year’s Haskell lost some intrigue when Bob Baffert star sprinter Crude Velocity needed time off after a tough race at Saratoga during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. That said, they drew a competitive field of seven where I will try to beat 2-1-ML favorite #2 Further Ado. The Gun Runner colt has run some big races in Kentucky, especially Keeneland, but has yet to run a big race outside the Blue Grass. Plus, he has struggled to put back-to-back races together. That along with an inside draw are enough for me to take a swing against the likely chalk.#5 Iron Honor and #6 Napoleon Solo are probably more likely to fire in Monmouth’s premier race than #4 The Puma, but The Puma’s upside is higher. Often times, I would question a horse making his first start since scratching prior to the Kentucky Derby, but not in this case. The connections have said all along that this was the goal and they have put six solid works into him down at Gulfstream Park. There is a good chance we see his best, but if not I anticipate one of the top two finishers from the Preakness getting to the wire first.Race 13:Grade: B-Use: 2 Copper Ghost/4 Spanish NobleForecast: I landed on #2 Copper Ghost in this first-level allowance over the grass. The Ghostzapper gelding has not lived up to his $375k sales price yet, but should get a far better trip than he did last out when he made an underwhelming four-wide move on the far turn. He attracts Paco and gets an inside draw against a modest group. If he fails to put in a strong run for the second time this meet, the 7YO gelding #4 Spanish Noble is in with a big chance to earn his sixth career victory. He has won two straight over the grass and is a stronger finisher than most of his competition. Veteran conditioner Kathleen O’Connell has had a strong 2026 and has a live one entered in the start of the late Double.Race 14:Grade: B-Use: 1 Complex Music; 7 Dragonite; 5 Guapo AgainForecast: Trainer Panagiotis Synnefias has won 3 of his last 8 heading into Haskell week and brings #1 Complex Music into the finale. The son of Complexity returned on quick rest before his win over this surface on June 6 and then was wheeled back on just 11 days for his most recent start at Delaware Park. The Kentucky-bred has now had a full month’s rest and draws the rail in his second career start at Monmouth Park. He should be a fair price in with a big shot to close out both the late Pick 4 and Pick 5.

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. The opening day 10-race card gets the full treatment as we embark on another summer where the turf meets the surf. First post is 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT.Del Mar: Race 1 | claimingClass-dropper #5 Cowboy Mike (8-1 morning line) broke his maiden here back in 2023 and note trainer Steve Miyadi is one of the strongest summer meet-starting barns at Del Mar (25: 5-6-6 with a positive ROI). Placed for success. #8 Pioneer Prince (5-1) brings turf class to the table with little dirt resume to embrace, but may fit with these if able to use natural speed and avoid kick-back. Speedy favorite #7 Hard to Figure (8-5) hasn’t been consistent pairing big efforts and could be overbet off last victory while changing barns. Picks 5-8-7.Del Mar: Race 2 | allowance/optional claimingSire Bated Breath is nearly a blind-bet trust for me at Del Mar and represented here by #6 Waiting For You (6-1). His offspring win a wild 30% on the local lawn with a boastful $1.49 ROI for every $1 bet over the past 5 years. Consistent French form now gets a second domestic start and first over this course. #2 Red Cherry (8-5) is the chalk but has lost margin to the winner in the stretch in 4 of 5 career starts and distance extends here as a further and farther question. Picks 6-2-3.Del Mar: Race 3 | maiden/optional claimingExperienced 2YOs this time of year at Del Mar win nearly 14% compared to 11% for rookies, and after watching the debut runners’ uninspired workouts available at 1st.tv, this race probably runs through the experienced runners. Mick Ruis has had success over the years in his on-again, off-again training career with Del Mar juveniles and his home-bred #3 Boss Man Bolt (4-1) gets a very tepid lean in a race without an obvious player. #1 Charlie’s Clock (2-1) might just outfoot them from the rail after showing some pace at Churchill in the slop last month. His trainer Peter Miller is 4-30 with July runners at Del Mar in recent years, not getting off to blazing meet starts. Picks 3-1-6.Del Mar: Race 4 | claimingLooking for a bounce-back effort from #6 Tom Seaver (15-1) at a big price. Two terrible efforts since missing a year, but trainer Steve Miyadi is one of the fastest-starting barns at Del Mar each summer and this outfit wins 33% in Del Mar turf sprints the past 5 years. Son of elite Cal-bred Enola Gray is 3-5 in turf sprints, so we’ll excuse the last on dirt. Price is right. #2 Mubtadaa (12-1) gives us another price player. His Del Mar form was very good over this course/trip in ’24 and few better than Joel Rosario when he’s dialed in riding turf sprints. Trainer Vladimir Cerin highly impactful in Dmr turf sprints last 5 years(8-19 exacta, + ROI). Picks 6-2-4.Del Mar: Race 5 | maiden special weightAs mentioned in Race 3, experienced juveniles have a statistical edge on rookies at Del Mar in July over the past decade-plus. Well-bred #8 Lihue Princess (12-1) is out of a super-sharp 2YO win-early type named Dothraki Queen (won Pocohontas, 2nd Alcbiades, 3rd BC Juvenile Fillies in 2015). She has been reasonably well-backed in 2 prior starts at Santa Anita and might benefit getting outside more runners today. I’ll exacta key-box her with a couple of first-timers who could be ready. #6 Rosa’s Miracle (4-1) may be best of the rookies. $250K son of champion 2YO Corniche has shown some morning ability at 1st.tv. #4 Looks Like N Angel is a rookie with some early gas on video to fear as well. Picks 8-6-4.Del Mar: Race 6 | allowance/optional claimingSpeedball #7 Charlie’s To Blame (4-1) wired a turf mile here in ’24 in his only local appearance and catches a field where he could exercise his pace advantage. He’s drawn inside #10 Tempus Volat (15-1), the only other pace player, and that’s important with the elbow start out of the infield chute, making this almost a 3-turn race. Best bet so far on the card and will attack intra-race exotics with top choice keyed. Picks 7 / 10-3-1-4-8.Del Mar: Race 7 | claiming#1 Fomo Joe (8-1) has the best maiden win on the record amongst this field of non-winners of 2 lifetime races, a favorable rail draw and speed jockey in Edwin Maldonado to punctuate that edge. Dirt is the question for turf-centric runner, but if he goes to the front from the rail, he’ll never feel any of it kicked back in his face. #4 Pacer has won at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos and his sire Nyquist’s runners have an 8% positive ROI on the Del Mar dirt the last 5 years (also in play with #8 Skyquist). Decent lean on the top pick but would want to spread deep for coverage beyond him in exotics. Picks 1-4-5.Del Mar: Race 8 | Oceanside HandicapIn a stakes for 3-year-old turf milers, there’s a real lack of turf milers in the lineup. Lotta dirt, lotta sprint. The turf mile stakes form last year by #4 Proletariat (8-1) comes in handy while hitting a great spot in his form cycle. Love when sprint-to-route, allowance-to-stakes and second-off-the-layoff all collide. #1 Iriseach (8-1) also is proven goods in turf miles but settles for the underneath too often to take on top. #5 Bust Out (4-1) ran into a solid one in Alpyland last out and should fit well back home with these. Picks 4-1-5.Del Mar: Race 9 | allowance/optional claimingThis might be a reach with #7 Kerry Gold (15-1) as trainer Dan Azcarate is 0-18 in 2026. But this same outfit has lit up Del Mar’s tote during the opening weeks of summer meets in recent years. He’s 9: 2-0-3 during July at Del Mar the past few seasons with $29 and $21 winners. This veteran ran second at 18-1 in a similar spot the last time we saw him in the autumn meet. Demand a big price, but don’t be shocked if he fires. #6 Geezer (12-1) has a couple of local wins for a Doug O’Neill barn that’s gotten off to good Del Mar summer starts in recent years (13% profitable ROI in July at Del Mar). Favorite #4 Matt At Five (4-1) is adept on 2 surfaces but might be better on turf. Picks 7-6-10-4.Del Mar: Race 10 | maiden special weightBest bet on the card comes via #4 Pentle Bay, a dee-closing sort prepped perfgectly for Del Mar off his Santa Anita return from 7 months away. Trainer Simon Callaghan is a July phenom early in the Del Mar meeting in recent years with $21, $47 and $116 winners plus 20-1 and 22-1 runners up from just 18 starters. Expect readiness. #7 Goodies (5-1) knocked on the door at SA and could kick it down at Del Mar as sire Collected’s offspring are razor-sharp 29% Del Mar turf course winners with a $1.30 ROI for every $1 bet. Will be tying these 2 threats up repeatedly. Picks. 4-7-12

Form has held well on the Monmouth Park turf course this month. Nine of the 15 winners were dismissed at 3-1 odds or less and only one was double-digit odds. Two crowded grass tests surround the main-track Mr. Prospector Stakes on the card this Friday, an inviting proposition for a Late Pick 3 wager to lead off Haskell weekend. Don't forget Saturday's $5,000 Hit & Split promotions with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet for Haskell Day at Monmouth. Here’s a closer a look at Friday's pick 3:Monmouth Park 6th Race (4:45 p.m. EST)THAT’S HOW WE LOVE debuts for a 24-percent turf barn. Her Triple Crown-winning sire, Justify, produced three multiple Group 1-winning millionaires in other countries and several graded stakes winners in the U.S. that included Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hard to Justify. ACADEMIA tracked a snails-like pace on the Aqueduct lawn, found her best stride in the stretch and went down fighting after she was herded by the winning favorite near the eighth pole. Trainer Chad Brown also sends out $400,000 sales buy ASSET LIGHT, 2-1/2 months after her debut in a Maiden Special Weight dirt sprint that featured a smashing winner and the Brown-trained runner-up Directive, who romped to a 91 Beyer in a MSW victory and repeated in allowance company. Her sire, Into Mischief, is the No. 7-ranked turf sire in North America this year. Price players need not look farther than SWEET SCIENCE, who was last seen in 2025 lacking room into the final turn, getting fanned 7-wide at the top of the stretch and rallying mildly behind recent allowance winner Bojaca Blessing (11/2-2-4, $97k). Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is on a 5-for-21 run with turf routers off more than six months.Monmouth Park 7th Race (5:21 p.m. EST)BOOK 'EM DANNO (pictured), the 2025 Eclipse Award winner as champion sprinter, looms a deserving, odds-on favorite in the featured $200,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes. He tracked the dueling leaders through torrid fractions and surged by them late while in-hand to repeat in the True North Handicap at Saratoga for his fourth graded stakes win in his last five starts. If he doesn’t produce his eighth triple-digit Beyer, QUINT’S BREW could seize the moment at a much bigger price. He lacked room through the turn in a minor stakes race at Delaware Park but closed determinedly when free to remain perfect at 6F. He’s 6-for-11 the last two years, winning at three distances with an average 98 Beyer.Monmouth Park 8th Race (5:55 p.m. EST)BOLTAGE is 2-for-24 with no seconds and several trouble lines. But he has the best numbers on the class drop and gets plenty of speed to rally into on yet another jockey change. HERE COMES LEO awakened with Lasix and blinkers, breaking his maiden in a “triple key” sprint on Gulfstream Park’s synthetic surface and repeating in a starter allowance that produced next-out runaway Win N Juice (78 Beyer). He returns to the turf off similar rest. NEW YORK STRONG beat a suspect field at Penn National to snap a two-year winless drought, but he looked good doing it. He steadied near the top of the lane, regrouped with a 4-wide rally and widened his winning margin on the gallop out, a good sign with an extra half-furlong to navigate today.Suggested $1 Pick 3MTH 6th Race: 3, 7, 8, 9MTH 7th Race: 2, 3MTH 8th Race: 5, 7, 10Cost for a $1 ticket: $24

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Belterra Park | today’s racesRed Shores Super Saturday Sweepstakes | Summerside (harness)SCHEDULE NOTESDelaware Park | 10:20 am ET early first post Woodbine, Thistledown | cancelled due to air qualityTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Saratoga Feeder | details$40 The Meadows (harness) feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $156,690 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETPick 6 | $166,702 | Saratoga | begins Race 4 | 2:56 pm ETKEY RACESFair Meadows Tulsa | Race 6 | 9:20 pm ET | Route 66 StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXColonial Downs | Race 4 | 11:21 pm ETDelaware Park | Race 5 | 12:12 pm ETSaratoga | Race 9 | 5:46 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHRobert Cline | Belterra both entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Horseshoe Indianapolis | favorites won 7 of 9 races on the cardPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Saratoga Pick 6 Carryover Key Plays for ThursdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The Lead:The first of the summer "majors" for the Triple Crown alumni comes up with the Grade 1 Haskell. That will be followed by the Travers in August and the Pennsylvania Derby in September among the Grade 1 dirt routes. Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Golden Tempo awaits a date at the Spa, while several of the prime Preakness players are back to match up in the Haskell.The 1-1/8 miles race will be part of the $5,000 Hit & Split promotion for Saturday's card at Monmouth. Bet the late pick 4 or pick 5 with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet and earn your share of bonus cash.​​Field Depth:Grade 1 winners include NAPOLEON SOLO and FURTHER ADO. Both THE PUMA and IRON HONOR are Grade 3 winners and Grade 1-placed. OCELLI also is Grade 1-placed. Those 5 all match up pretty evenly in terms of strength of schedule, perhaps FURTHER ADO was an edge, albeit not wide.​Pace:NAPOLEON SOLO under Paco Lopez likely will be the aggressor and set the tempo. Horses like FURTHER ADO could line up next along with longshots BABY VINO and STAR SWEEPER. The tempo does not look to overcook on paper. Closers could need some help on a historically fast strip.​Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.1-STAR SWEEPER: Longshot looks to be in a no-lead, no-pass situation and overmatched against superior talent. He’s 0-7 in stakes and both wins in 9 starts came at 6-1/2 furlongs.2-FURTHER ADO: Decent bounce-back win in the Matt Winn Stakes for the Kentucky Derby beaten favorite. But it was a far cry from his impressive Keeneland performances. Trainer Brad Cox continued sharpening the knife with fast works in early July at home at Churchill. Monmouth surface may benefit him the faster and tighter they make it, which can often be the case on Haskell Day. Hard to argue with 5: 4-1-0 record when Irad Ortiz Jr. rides. Obvious contender, but likely an underlay price at below 2-1, which are my fair odds.3-BABY VINO: Progressive sort has improved in every start and exits a career-best victory in the Pegasus over this track. Wildcard needs another big leap forward against this level of competition and not sure the damside pedigree gives him enough punch to win over 1-1/8 miles against this bunch.4-THE PUMA: The field’s best finisher hasn’t raced since the Florida Derby in late March, but was in training through the Kentucky Derby when an eleventh-hour scratch. Missed a month on workout tab thereafter but has 6, perfectly spaced drills with this target in mind all summer. Gustavo Delgado trainee got stronger deeper into his form cycle this winter/spring and loses regular rider Javier Castellano to injury. Replacement pilot Luis Saez may not be the perfect style fit for a finisher like this. Still, probably the one to fear late and wouldn’t surprise me to win.5-IRON HONOR: Preakness runner-up already has seen the middle jewel’s third-place finisher Chip Honcho return to win the Ohio Derby. That he remained at Belmont and didn’t go with the A-team to the Spa in recent months indicates that’ve had their eye on this Jersey Shore prize for some time. Some concern over 9F that if he stays closer to the pace – like he did in the Wood vs. the Preakness – that he won’t have enough late firepower. Monmouth isn’t the kind of track on Haskell Day where patience is rewarded. Mixed vibes.6-NAPOLEON SOLO: The horse to beat exits a Preakness score that re-wrote his future forecast. He wiped away tiring losses in the Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial and carried his winning stamina around 2 turns for the first time. The Haskell long has looked like his best chance at a major in the sophomore ranks – and he, frankly, got there sooner at Laurel. Jockey Paco Lopez for all his glaring flaws has been winning at an unfathomable 46% rate this meeting and he’s a speed jockey on a clear speed horse – vs. a field largely made up of horses who’d rather chase from second or third. Catch him to win.7-OCELLI: Deep closer remains a maiden through 9 starts and does enough most times to tease you along for another chance. The Haskell typically doesn’t fall apart to a horse from the clouds like this amd the quality runners in this field all have a major tactical edge on him. This surface might play closer to Colonial from his Viriginia Derby effort, which was not one of his best. Not for me today.Most Likely Exotics Contender:Lopez is nearly 75% in the money at the meet and his style and pace situation fit NAPOLEON SOLO quite well, despite the horse's up-and-down campaign in 2026.Best Longshot Contender:None projected. Top-4 wagering choices look dialed into the exacta, and likely trifecta.​​Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$90 win NAPOLEON SOLO. $10 exacta NAPOLEON SOLO over THE PUMA.

Over the next 9 weeks, horseplayers at Xpressbet can test their skills on the summer’s 2 hottest meets – Saratoga and Del Mar. The annual Fun in the Sun handicapping contest runs 8 Saturdays from July 18-September 5 and concludes with the $10,000-added 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.

The racing week at Saratoga Race Course kicks off in a big way since the Pick 6 carryover from Sunday was pushed back to Thursday afternoon after communication issues between the New York Racing Association and the jockeys. Therefore, there will be a $1 traditional Pick 6 carryover of $166,702 starting in Race 4 (2:56 PM eastern) on Thursday. Here are a few horses I consider must uses within the sequence.Race 4:This $100k maiden claimer at one-mile over the Inner Turf kicks things off where #9 Franklin Delano appears a vulnerable 5-2-ML favorite. Yes, the Liam’s Map colt gets class relief after failing four times against protected maidens to kick off his career for Todd Pletcher, but his last race was extremely underwhelming against just an average group at Aqueduct. He has kept stronger company, but overall but does not strike fear into me by any stretch. #1 Arabian Power has had his chances with favorable trips as well. His last two starts since moving to the grass, adding blinkers, and stretching out to two turns have been better, but also have resulted in losing lone leads without any real excuse. The advantage he is on Thursday is the inside draw over an Inner Turf Course that greatly favors those that can avoid wide voyages into that first turn. The inside draw and slight cutback to eight-furlongs make this Not This Time gelding a must use to kick things off.Play: #1 Arabian Power (7-2 ML)Picks: 1-8-6Race 6:This MSW event for fillies and mares at 1 1/8-miles appears wide-open. 5-2-ML favorite #4 Ati Girl has had eight chances already, while #6 Pippa Adds tries a route of ground for the first time after three speed and fade efforts going one-turn. I trust neither and prefer a trio of 3YO fillies that should offer more value. #1 Morning Menace was not competitive late in her third-place finish going 6.5-furlongs off the bench in May, but draws the rail and Prat on the stretch out, while #5 Moonlit ran into a good-looking winner in each of her first two starts for Miguel Clement and gets more ground. They are both worth consideration, but I landed on the other Clement #7 Jadorlinija. The Moyglare Stud Farm homebred is by Curlin out of a Scat Daddy mare that won eight races, albeit on the grass, for the same connections. She shook off the rust last out and should relish the 9-furlong trip. Ricardo Santana Jr. has been riding well and hopefully uses his gate skills to get her into the race out of the gate.Play: #7 Jadorlinija (6-1 ML)Picks: 7-1-5Race 7:This non-winners of two for $35k claimers at 1 1/16-miles over the Inner Turf is another race that could prove tough for chalk players. #8 Ciro di Marzio drops in for a tag for the first time off a year layoff for Wesley Ward. He has raced against the best competition, but the layoff for the 5YO gelding and return to claimers does not breed confidence he is ready for his best off the bench. Second choice #2 English Law holds the recency edge over the favorite, but his only win came in December ’24. The fact he has been unable to hit the board over his first three starts for Will Walden says a lot. I will try to beat them both with #6 Vintage Vino. The son of Vino Rosso lacks early speed, but gets a massive rider upgrade to Irad Ortiz Jr. If Irad can keep him within shouting distance early, he should have the kick to run this group down late for trainer Linda Rice.Play: #6 Vintage Vino (4-1 ML)Picks: 6-8-2

EXTRA INCENTIVESRed Shores Super Saturday Sweepstakes | Summerside (harness)SCHEDULE NOTESDelaware Park | cancelled due to heatTOURNAMENT TIME$40 Assiniboia Feeder | details$40 The Meadows (harness) feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $378,672 (CAN) | Assiniboia Downs | begins Race 3 | 9:25 pm ETKEY RACESFair Meadows Tulsa | Race 3 | 7:56 pm ET | Muscogee Creek Nation StakesAssiniboia Downs | Race 3 | 9:25 pm ET | Hazel Wright Sire StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 3 | 3:12 pm ETThistledown | Race 8 | 4:20 pm ETMountaineer | Race 4 | 8:15 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJuan Pablo Silva | Mountaineer | 6 of 8 entrants 3-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Monmouth | Saturday’s Haskell field drawn, featuring Napoleon Solo, Further AdoPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMBrian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section