The winter-spring racing season at Santa Anita Park started back in late December of 2025. A lot has happened in the world of thoroughbred racing since then, but things begin to come to an end starting on Thursday afternoon when the Great Race Place offers up the first of four cards to kick off closing week. Race 1 goes to post at 4 pm ET / 1 pm local time and includes a pair of $100,000 stakes. Here are the horses I plan to build my day around over the 9-race slate.Race 5:My first play comes in this MSW event for fillies and mares at one-mile over the grass where it appears relatively wide-open. 5-2-ML favorite #8 Cortina d’Amprezzo has had five chances already, including three in the States at 7-2 or lower and has failed to do better than third, while #7 Fire Ban is 0 for 10 despite 4 seconds. I do not trust them or the others that have competed in North America thus far, so I will turn to Irish-bred #5 Astronomically. The daughter of No Nay Never makes her first start since shipping overseas into the Paddy Gallagher barn. Gallagher is just 3 for 31 to start 2026, but the veteran trainer has meant business when he legs up jockey Juan Hernandez. This is evidenced by his 5 for 10-record over the last two years for a $9.52 ROI. Astronomically has to prove herself outside of Europe and on the move from synthetic-to-turf, but I like her chances to do just that against these.Play: #5 Astronomically (4-1 ML)Picks 5-1-7Race 8: AffirmedOne of the two stakes on the special Thursday afternoon slate is this 1 1/16-mile event for 3YOs over the main track where it is likely to be wagered on like a two-horse race. #4 Decisive Win holds the pace advantage and a fast last race over this surface to break his maiden for complete fun, but #3 Secured Freedom holds the class edge. The Practical Joke colt was on the Triple Crown Trail in Southern California for trainer Tim Yakteen before opting to try the cutback in the Pat Day Mile (G2) on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Secured Freedom broke well that day and ran fine finishing fourth beaten seven lengths, but just happened to run into arguably the two best 3YO’s in the country. Crude Velocity won that day, but runner-up Englishman returned the favor last weekend with a massive win in the Woody Stephens (G1) at Saratoga. Yakteen takes the blinkers off Secured Freedom for the first time on Thursday, stretches him back out to a route of ground, and legs up Joel Rosario. He is a quality horse that has tackled better than he encounters here. I am expecting this colt’s to visit the winner’s circle for the first time since his maiden score.Play: #3 Secured Freedom (8-5 ML)Picks 3-4-1Race 9:My final play of the day comes in this state-bred first-level allowance over the Hillside Turf Course where there is a serious lack of early speed signed on. #1 Maker and Sons is the likely pacesetter, but breaks from the rail and has done all of his best running thus far on dirt. Therefore, I want a horse that can sit just off the pace, take control at the top of the lane, and take advantage of the probable race shape. I will hope it is #9 Sogno Di Vino. The son of Vino Rosso makes his first start since late September ’25 for Peter Miller. The 4YO gelding has done most of his running at two-turns and has had a number of chances over the grass, but never over this unique configuration. With the likelihood he is a bit keen off the layoff, I expect him to be sitting second or third early under Juan Hernandez. If he finds that spot, he should be in a perfect position to take advantage of favorites that could be up against it given race dynamics. The price should be right to take a swing in the finale.Play: #9 Sogno Di Vino (12-1 ML)Picks 9-10-8

NOTABLE CARRYOVERSSuper Hi 5 | $8,018 | Churchill Downs | Race 1 | 12:45 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $148,531 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETJackpot Pick 5 | $105,387 (CAN) | Assiniboia Downs | begins Race 3 | 9:25 pm ETKEY RACESHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 7 | 5:16 pm ET | Swifty Sired Fillies HandicapHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 8 | 5:47 pm ET | Sagamore Sired HandicapLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXChurchill Downs | Race 9 | 4:55 pm ETHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 8 | 5:47 pm ETPresque Isle Downs | Race 8 | 6:39 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJamie Ness | Delaware Park, Parx | 5 of 6 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Parx | favorites won 7 of 9 racesPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Finger Lakes | today’s racesNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $140,159 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETPick 4 | $12,055 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | begins Race 2 | 2:41 pm ETPick 5 | $12,911 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | begins Race 4 | 3:43 pm ETPick 4 | $7,018 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | begins Race 5 | 4:14 pm ETJackpot Pick 5 | $105,387 (CAN) | Assiniboia Downs | begins Race 3 | 9:25 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXParx | Race 2 | 1:07 pm ETHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 8 | 5:47 pm ETLouisiana Downs | Race 5 | 6:57 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHLinda Rice | Finger Lakes, Presque Isle Downs | all 5 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Presque Isle Downs | jockey Gaddiel Martinez | 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third from 6 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Finger Lakes Bet $100, Get $10 Promo Picks for TuesdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Throughout June, Tuesdays and Thursday heat up at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet with our Summertime Scores promotion. Bet $100, Get $10 on select tracks this month. Next up Tuesday will be Finger Lakes. Here’s how I’ll approach Finger Lakes with an assist from the Betmix Angler database.Finger Lakes Race 1 | 12:55 pm ET#3 Rosie Lisa (6-1 morning line odds) makes her first Finger Lakes appearance after 8 starts on the NYRA circuit. Trainer Linda Dixon’s 6-for-13 mark at the meet is obviously remarkable, but note she’s had 3 starters via Aqueduct – a winner at nearly 18-1 odds, a runner-up at 9-2 and a fourth-place effort at 13-1. All have outperformed expectations in allowance/stakes races. Win-place bet #3.Finger Lakes Race 4 | 2:22 pm ET#3 Blame It On Daddy (7-2 morning line odds) steps up in class in a confident move by trainer Chris Englehart, who is doing everything right at the FL meet. The barn is a 9: 6-1-0 in allowance races at FL this year. The sprint-to-route move should suit the route runner who closed with interest in his local dash unveiling and survived the claim box. Could hold a fair price with a few others expected to get well-backed. Win bet #3.

NOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $127,486 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETMandatory Payout Pick 5 | $351,756 | Parx | begins Race 6 | 2:55 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXParx | Race 7 | 3:22 pm ETLouisiana Downs | Race 6 | 7:26 pm ETMountaineer | Race 5 | 8:40 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJon Arnett | Prairie Meadows | 4 of 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Mountaineer | favorites won 5 of 8 races on the cardPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Yonkers Raceway has a 9-race card. The $1.00 Pick 5 rolls in Race 5 and it has a $10,000 guaranteed pool. The $1.00 Late Pick 4 starts in Race 6, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 6 (8:25 PM EST)2-Keyang Taco A (6-1)-Shipped in from Hoosier and put in a decent effort in a 152.2 mile. Stayed inside finished 4th and was off over two weeks. This field isn’t as tough, and the team Stratton entry could be sitting on a big try.4-Bet On Big Joe (9/5)-Joe was bet down to 8/5 and beat this kind 2 back from post 4. Competes but is only 1-15 this year. Could win again with another choice post and will use against this field. Does need the right trip and will offer no value.Race 7 (8:45 PM EDT)4-Soho Firestone (2-1)-Got the pocket off the gate in last and then settled for 3rd on the rail as the eventual winner took control. Could have been pulled at the top of the last turn but George Brennan stayed inside. Could get a pocket ride tonight, and with Yannick Gingras at the controls there could be a different outcome.7-Sweet Beach Life (4-1)-As usual, flew off the gate and got the top last time but ended up in the pocket. The winner made an early move, got control, and couldn’t be caught down the lane. Comes back in sequence for the 2nd straight time and the beaten chalk could make amends.Race 8 (9:05 PM EDT)1-Verdun (2-1)-Had the rail in last and dropped to face a field it could wire and did so. This time a 2-hole trip could be the ticket. Does step up, 3 others do the same, and won’t blush at the competition.4-Captin Hamerhead (9/5)-Made a nice early move to get the top into a tepid opening quarter versus this kind. Scott Zeron worked a well rated 57.2 middle half and could not be touched down the lane. This will be the 3rd start in town, and might work the same game plan. Either way the 7-year-old could have more to give.Race 9 (9:25 PM EDT)4-Carabao (6-1>-Not an easy race to read and the 9-year-old has drawn post 8 in 3 straight since coming off the bench. With this post draw Jordan Stratton can have in play early on and faces a beatable field.5-Stonebridge Wizard (5/2)-Lightly raced 4-year-old isn’t out of place in this hodgepodge field. Yannick Gingras takes the lines and should have the Bako trainee in a position to win at the top of the lane.7-T H Tyson (5-1)-Jim Marohn sticks with the Chris Ryder entry after driving against better on 6-1. Raced evenly in last at 125-1, and could be overlooked here. Has hit the board in 4 of 8 at YR with 1 win and drops to a more competitive level. Could grind its way around and take a picture at a solid price.$1 Late Pick 42,4/4,7/1,4/4,5,7Total Bet=$24Check me out on X!

EXTRA INCENTIVES10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Woodbine | today’s racesSCHEDULE NOTESSaratoga | Belmont Stakes Racing Festival | final daySPECIAL WAGERSCoast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 9-10; Santa Anita Races 4-5-6Sunset 6 | Gulfstream Races 8-9-10; Santa Anita Races 8-9-10TOURNAMENT TIME$40 Santa Anita feeder | details$40 Canterbury Park feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSSunset 6 | $8,201 | Gulfstream/Santa Anita | begins GP Race 8 | 4:45 pm ETPick 6 | $166,019 | Los Alamitos (AQHA) | begins Race 3 | 10:06 pm ETKEY RACESSaratoga | Race 4 | 1:46 pm ET | Poker StakesChurchill Downs | Race 6 | 3:18 pm ET | Leslie’s Lady StakesSaratoga | Race 8 | 4:04 pm ET | Soaring Softly StakesMonmouth | Race 7 | 4:14 pm ET | John J. Reilly HandicapChurchill Downs | Race 8 | 4:22 pm ET | Matt Winn StakesWoodbine | Race 8 | 4:50 pm ET | Queenston StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXGulfstream | Race 1 | 12:50 pm ETSaratoga | Race 5 | 2:20 pm ETChurchill Downs | Race 7 | 3:50 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJay Bernardini | Mountaineer | 7 of 8 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Saratoga | favorites won 3 of 14 races and are 8-49 (16%) during Belmont FestivalPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeff Bratt: Woodbine Full-Card Picks for Sunday’s 10X 1/ST Rewards PromoScott Shapiro: Saratoga Sunday Spot PlaysScott Shapiro: Churchill Downs Sunday Spot PlaysBrian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Sunday marks the fifth and final day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival after Golden Tempo won his second Triple Crown race in last-to-first fashion under jockey Jose Ortiz. Today is not quite the same stakes-laden card as yesterday, but does include a pair of graded stakes. Here are the horses I like most to close things down until summertime at Saratoga.Race 6:This 2YO MSW event at 5.5-furlongs over the main track goes through second-time starter #9 Booked. The Yaupon colt went off the even-money favorite in his debut at Churchill Downs in late April before being shuffled back along the inside early, but rallying late to earn second. The move off the inside to an outside draw and the invaluable racing experience is likely to move the Steve Asmussen trainee forward, but the same can be said for #6 Beach Sandals. The Gary Barber homebred broke sharp, led early, and tired late to finish second in his debut in mid-May in Louisville. He lacked energy late in that first start, but that is certainly not a problem Mark Casse trainees have had this week in Saratoga Springs. In fact, the veteran conditioner won three Grade 1 events between Friday and Saturday. Beach Sandals could be set for big improvement as Johnny V takes over riding duties.Play: #6 Beach Sandals (6-1 ML)Race 7:This optional claimer at 1 1/16-miles over the Inner Turf kicks off the late Pick 5 where #3 Gene and Jude looks like he should get a perfect trip after an easy win against non-winners of two foes at Churchill Downs in late April. The son of Kitten’s Joy was claimed last June by trainer Mike Maker and since then has hit the board in 3 of 5 starts, including his second career victory last out. The start before he went to the bench in December, Gene and June saw a trip limited by traffic issues, but that was not the case in Louisville when jockey Flavien Prat got the gelding into a favorable forward position and proved much best late. He meets a tougher group this afternoon, but should be poised for the class hike given his upside still and likely voyage.Play: #3 Gene and Jude (7-2 ML)Race 11:The final race of the festival is this 6.5-furlong state-bred MSW event at 6.5-furlongs. #11 Irish Goodbye was made the 5-2-ML favorite by oddsmaker David Aragona after a pair of runner-up efforts as a 2YO for trainer Brad Cox. The Cairo Prince colt is obviously capable of beating this group, but at the same time is likely to be an underlay. So, I will try to beat him with #4 King Farro. The Robert Falcone Jr. trainee came back off a near 6-month break on May 10 at Aqueduct at one-mile where he was down on the rail in a tussle on a day where the outside was the better place to be. After shaking off the rust on the wrong part of the track last month, the son of King for a Day cuts back in distance and attracts Kendrick Carmouche. I like his chances to put forth a career best run to close the card.Play: #4 King Farro (4-1 ML)