The first Saturday of the Saratoga summer is a fun one with 11 races on the agenda, including the first four graded stakes races of the stand. Festivities kick off at 12:35 PM eastern with the stakes action getting started a little before 3PM. Here are my full card thoughts on the first of many big weekend days to attack over the next few months at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet.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: BUse: 3 Lovely ChristinaForecast: The opener is a first-level allowance at event 6.5-furlongs where a pair of fast debut winners aim to bounce back from disappointing runs in their first start against winners. 3-5-favorite #4 Mashallah ran to her $1.25M sales price on April 23 at Keeneland, but battled early and tired late at 4-5 on May 30 in Louisville. #1 Feminism also failed to live up to expectations two days earlier under the twin spires after an impressive start to her career in Arkansas. Both are capable of rebounding, but are tougher to trust at their likely prices. I prefer #3 Lovely Christina. The Todd Pletcher trainee ran a couple of strong races over this surface to kick off her career before being caught wide in a mid-pack finish in the Frizette (G1). Pletcher has given her plenty of time and should have her fit off a solid series of drills over Belmont’s training track. I like her chances in her first start since last October.Race 2:Grade: CUse: 6 New Rose; 8 Special WoodForecast: I wish I liked something in this first-level allowance over the Inner Turf because I do not trust the 8-5-ML favorite #2 Accent or 5-2-second choice #4 Eponine. Both are likely to find their way into the money, but crossing the wire first is another story. #6 New Rose ran well over this course last time, but her hot barn that week has cooled off quite a bit since. She makes the most sense though as a value option with class dropper #8 Special Wood slightly intriguing as well.Race 3:Grade: C+Use: 7 Home Wrecker/6 ShelzawaForecast: A number of those entered in this MSW over the grass at 1 1/16-miles exit the race the aforementioned New Rose won up here last month. There was not much passing late in that one, which likely benefitted the top two, but at her ML price #7 Home Wrecker is worth consideration right back. Yes, the Danny Gargan has had a lot of chances and was in a favorable spot throughout in the pocket, but jockey Kendrick Carmouche never found clear sailing. She galloped out with plenty of interest and did beat 5-2-ML favorite #6 Shelzawa to the wire. Shelzawa is the likeliest winner in this spot making her second start in the States for Chad Brown, but backing these types is far from a long-term strategy. She will take mostly deserving support, but has been there at the wire before in France and come away without her first win. I will tread lightly overall.Race 4:Grade: C+Use: 8 Grace and Grit/ 5 Queens CatForecast: The first state-bred race of the afternoon is at 6.5-furlongs over the main track where once again I do not trust the ML favorite. #1 Lightning Strike is listed at 9-5 after a slow break led to disappointment for those that backed in her return to the races on June 3. The daughter of Bolt d’Oro dazzled on debut over the dirt, but that came back in early March ’25. She did not make it back to the races until her turf sprint try during the Belmont Racing Festival. She obviously has the upside to beat these based on her first start, but there are plenty of questions to answer, including her lack of speed from the gate and the inside draw. I prefer #8 Grace and Grit. She comes in having finished first or second in four straight races since entering the Amelia Green barn this winter. The blinkers have helped a filly that was up against the track last month. #5 Queens Cat never had a chance when not making the lead last out. She has to prove herself at this class level, but her speed could be a weapon.Race 5: Sanford (G3)Grade: B-Use: 4 Pocket Listing/6 Jack’s Golden GoalForecast: I will live and die with California-bred #4 Pocket Listing in this six-furlong dash for 2YOs over the main track. The Doug O’Neill trainee popped the gate on debut and never considered looking back against far lesser at Santa Anita Park. Her gate speed should be more than this group can handle assuming she has the stamina to handle the final furlong.Race 6:Grade: B-Use: 1 Punto Forty; 10 Diliello; 2 Cristobal; 4 Truman’s Commander; 12 King PuckForecast: I lack a strong opinion in this 5.5-furlong turf dash for NY-bred first-level allowance foes other than I do not like 7-2-ML favorite #11 Von Vollenhoven. The son of Big Brown has been stuck at this level for over a year and is winless on the grass. The outside draw should lead to a clean trip, but there are better wagering options. #1 Punto Forty is one of those. The son of Nyquist draws the rail and takes on state-bred competition for the first time after four races in Southern California. His speed could prove dangerous in a wide-open start to the Pick 6.Race 7: Belmont Oaks (G1)Grade: C+Use: 4 Faithful Departed; 8 Abashiri/6 Fitz RightForecast: The first Grade 1 of the summer is this $600k 1 1/8-mile race for 3YO fillies over the Inner Turf where European invader #8 Abashiri is the one to beat. The daughter of Frankel comes to the States off of her third- place effort in the Irish 1000 Guineas (G1) in late May. She is the class, but the tote will show it. Perhaps #4 Faithfully Departed gets a bit overlooked at the windows despite a very impressive run and finish in the Regret (G3) on May 30. She has done little wrong, but is entered in this spot by a barn that has not started a horse at the Spa the last few years. Grant Forster is capable though and has been pointing to this race since minutes after her first graded stakes score. Do not underestimate her chances.Race 8: Suburban (G2)Grade: B-Use: 7 Antiquarian; 9 Stars and StridesForecast: The top two from last year’s Suburban (G2) #6 Phileas Fogg and #7 Antiquarian are both entered in this year’s event that drew a strong field of 11. Phileas Fogg is unlikely to have things his way on the front end though in 2026 with #2 Forged Steel drawn to his inside. The Gold Cup (G2) winner takes on the toughest field he has encountered, but is likely to ensure an honest pace. #7 Antiquarian, who missed by a head last year makes his third start off the bench. He gets some class relief after being involved early and tiring late in the Met Mile (G1). The decrease in competition and stretch out to a true route of ground both benefit his chances. #9 Stars and Strides is the up and comer. The Bill Mott trainee has been given time after back-to-back wins in March and April. He gets a class test today, but has shown no reason he can’t handle it.Race 9: Belmont Derby (G1)Grade: C+Use: 3 Remember Mamba; 10 Touch of Fire/6 Pacific AvenueForecast: The Belmont Derby came up loaded with several ways to go horses in this field of ten being logical at some level. #8 West End Kid is hard to knock off of his three consecutive wins for Will Walden, but has to answer to 1 1/8-mile test for the first time at a relatively short price. The same is true for #3 Remember Mamba, but he has been freshened and clearly pointed to this spot. I do not foresee the 9-furlong distance being an issue for the runner-up to Stark Contrast in the American Turf (G1) on Derby Day. He is the best finisher, if he works out the right trip. If not. I like #10 Touch of Fire. The Brad Cox trainee passed his first 1 1/8-test with flying colors in Kentucky last out and will get the jump on Remember Mamba. The outside draw is the biggest challenge in his first start against this level of competition.Race 10:Grade: BUse: 6 Tuscan Sky; 7 Capital IdeaForecast: My long shot play of the day comes in a competitive $130k allowance event at one-mile over the main track where I like #6 Tuscan Sky. The son of Vino Rosso made his first start off a nearly one-year break on May 22 for Todd Pletcher. He was outrun by the two speeds that day, but was by far the one finishing best from the back. He gets more ground after shaking off the rust at Aqueduct and hopefully is sitting on a big one before heading back into the stakes ranks.Race 11:Grade: B-Use: 3 Lyn’s Legacy/1 Morning Prayer; 11 Silly SeasonForecast: #11 Silly Season was made the 2-1-ML favorite by oddsmaker David Aragona in this state-bred MSW event to close the card. She showed talent in her first start last November and has been on the sidelines since. The outside draw is a challenge, but has been training up to this spot and makes sense as the one to beat. In terms of wagering though, I prefer her main rivals given likely off-odds. #1 Morning Prayer ran too good to lose on debut and now moves to an inside draw. She should fire another big shot, but #3 Lyns Legacy is my top choice. Trainer Miguel Clement and his father Christophe have always been able to get a horse ready for a two-turn turf start to begin their career. She is out of a mare that ran second on debut for the same ownership group and draws favorably along the inside for her first start. Hopefully, we get the 5-1-ML offering.

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Colonial Downs | today’s racesSCHEDULE NOTES | HEAT ADJUSTMENTSColonial Downs | early 10:45 am ET first postPresque Isle | early 12:30 pm ET first postParx | late 5 pm ET first postCharles Town | late 8 pm ET first postHorseshoe Indianapolis | cancelledBelterra Park | cancelledEllis Park | cancelledDelaware Park | cancelledWoodbine | cancelledTOURNAMENT TIME$40 Canterbury Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $97,011 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 5:00 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXColonial Downs | Race 4 | 12:09 pm ETEvangeline Downs | Race 3 | 7:09 pm ETCharles Town | Race 6 | 10:32 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHMac Robertson | Canterbury Park | all 4 entrants 7-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Mountaineer | favorites won 6 of 8 racesPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Colonial Downs Bet $100, Get $10 Promo PicksFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The Lead:Fourth of July sparkles Saturday at Gulfstream Park with co-featured stakes races, the Soldier's Dancer and the Smile Sprint. They'll go back-to-back on the 11-race holiday card with the Smile Sprint second up in Race 10. The 6-furlong heat was once part of the Summit of Speed and matches open 3-year-olds and older.​​Field Depth:Stakes winners entered include CLASSIC OF COURSE, ROLANDO (pictured), NAUGHTY RASCAL and GUNS LOADED, all at the listed level. BEACH COLT and CON COMPANIA were stakes winners in their native Chile. The top strengths of schedule here belong to CLASSIC OF COURSE, ROLANDO and a little gap to GUNS LOADED.​Pace:There's no firm commitment to the front, but early speed certainly is in possession of ROLANDO, VIKING, BEACH COLT and CON COMPANIA based on rider intent.​Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.1-CLASSIC OF COURSE: Rail closer has lost 7 straight and is 0-3 at this distance which is short of his best. Will need a total pace meltdown to get the big prize but capable of rallying for a bottom share with some class edge on several.2-TO THE EASTSIDE: Found the Big Drama Stakes class rise last time above his grade when unable to contend early. The tempo doesn't get easier at 6 furlongs vs. 7 that day, which likely puts him in a chase mode. Sure, he's 3-for-4 at 6 furlongs, but those came against much, much easier rivals. Not for me.3-ROLANDO: Obvious win threat has won 5 of 9 locally and 4 of 7 at this trip. His 7F Big Drama win June 6 was his fourth in his last 5 Gulfstream starts - with many subpar road trip results soiling his form in-between. This is his game and jockey Diego Herrera is going very well.4-VIKING: Stakes debut in start 10 for this newcomer to the David Fawkes barn. Owns 6F victories at Oaklawn and Horseshoe Indianapolis, but has yet to try Gulfstream or this level of competition. Fawkes is lighting it up at GP now and hits a wild 31% with horses moving to his barn first time. Son of GP's Pegasus World Cup winner City of Light. Of some interest but need 5-1 or more.5-BEACH COLT: Only win in 9 US starts came wire-to-wire and it's difficult to project he's going to get a comfortable trip several pace players in the lineup around him. At 1-4 locally and 1-7 at the distance, won't be using him on my tickets but he'll impact the pace and how the race unfolds.6-CON COMPANIA: Extremely consistent sort under a mile on dirt and exits one of his best races, an allowance victory here May 23. No match for Rolando over this 6F trip when second-best in April. Some concern without Lasix based on his past performances but his pace versatility could play out under Miguel Vasquez as they're drawn outside most of the projected speed. Contender, but seek 5-1 or more.7-NAUGHTY RASCAL: Stalker could get a favorable trip in his first start since April. Tampa-based Gerald Bennett got 3 recent works over the track for the 2024 local Proud Man Stakes winner at this 6F distance. Last start snapped an 8-race losing streak and this one ran well off of 2 freshenings in the past. The horse to fear late under reunited pilot Samy Camacho.8-GUNS LOADED: Opened his career like he was destined for big things, but his 3-year-old season in 2025 never materialized its potential. Only start this year was wildly forgettable in allowance company for Jose D'Angelo and since has been transferred to the Saffie Joseph Jr. barn. Trio of new works for the new outfit to figure him out and they've decided to race without blinkers for the first time. Best version can win this. Confidence we see that? Mixed. Price likely an underlay to find out with Husbands-Saffie this time of year.Most Likely Exotics Contender:ROLANDO is 9-9 in the trifecta on the Gulfstream main track and is among the classiest in the field.Best Longshot Contender:NAUGHTY RASCAL typically doesn't get bet hard, and while not a bomb projection, should be a fair, mid-range offering with a big chance at all of it.​Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$40 win NAUGHTY RASCAL. $30 exacta box NAUGHTY RASCAL and ROLANDO ($60).

The summer must be upon us because it is time to head back up north to historic Saratoga Race Course. The summer in upstate New York gets an earlier start this year with the Fourth of July festivities kicking things off at the country’s most popular meeting. The Opening Day card commences on Friday afternoon at 1:10 PM eastern and is headlined by a trio of stakes events. Here are the horses I like most to get things rolling for a meet I will be locked in on this summer at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET.Race 1:The opener is a first-level allowance event that will start run in front of the crowd given the 1 1/8-distance over the main track. Will Walden conditioned #4 Fact was made the understandable 5-2-ML favorite by oddsmaker David Aragona after his neck gate-to-wire victory at Horseshoe Indianapolis last month. He attracts Flavien Prat and is the one to beat, but I prefer #6 Founders. The son of Constitution was moved from turf-to-dirt by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. this winter at Gulfstream Park and put forth a strong runner-up finish to co-favorite Steeze. The 4YO colt backed that up with another strong second against similar competition at Aqueduct in April when he was caught four-wide into the first turn despite a compact field of six. Joseph has given Founders time and brings him back in a spot where his stamina and newly realized dirt route form can be utilized best. I like his chances to run this group down in the final furlong under jockey Manny Franco.Play: #6 Founders (3-1 ML)Picks: 6-4-3Race 8: Wild ApplauseThe first of a trio of non-graded stakes races begins with this $150k event for 3YO fillies, which have never won a stake where I like the chances of #6 Smexy. The Irish-import makes her third start in the States for trainer Brendan Walsh after being caught wide throughout in each of her first two tries. Two-back in her North American debut, the daughter of Mehmas was beaten out of the gate before being caught five-wide into the first turn and three-wide on the backstretch before being caught four-wide early in the Penn Oaks in late May. She draws a more favorable post on Friday, which should allow Tyler Gaffalione to avoid a wide voyage like the two riders before him. If Gaff is able to do so, I like Smexy’s chances of finding the Saratoga winner’s circle for the first time.Play: #6 Smexy (7-2 ML)Picks: 6-7-1Race 10: SaranacI will try a price in the male counterpart to the Wild Applause. This 1 1/16-mile event over the lawn for the boys sees Chad Brown conditioned #11 Arizona Territory listed as the 5-2-ML favorite off of back-to-back wins this spring. He merits major respect, but draws outside at a short price. I will take a swing with the bargain basement $12k purchase #3 Go Grey. The son of Knicks Go has rattled off consecutive wins against lesser since moving to the sod in April. He was able to run down a lone speed horse last out without a major setup taking on first-level allowance foes at Delaware Park. The competition gets a lot tougher in this spot, but he draws favorably and gets Paco Lopez in the saddle this time around. Paco is sure to give us a run for our money and at a pretty good price. Hopefully, it is good enough to spring the Opening Day upset.Play: #3 Go Grey (12-1 ML)Picks: 3-9-11

A field of eight 2-year-old fillies – five coming off Maiden Special Weight victories – will get their first stakes try in the $100,000 Sharp Susan Stakes at Gulfstream Park this Friday,. The featured race kicks off a 50-cent Late Pick 4 that shapes up this way:Gulfstream Park 6th Race (3:06 EST)BOOTS impressed in her debut, now enters the barn of trainer Carlos David, who is 37-for-185 (20 percent) the last three years with 2-year-old fillies. She was reluctant to load but sped to the front and inched away from 4-to-5 choice Celtic Dispute, who came back to beat the boys in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes on the turf. ELEGANTE MIZ sustained a 4-wide rally from the far turn to the 5F finish line and surged late to win despite losing momentum while drifting in the stretch. She should get a good pace flow to rally into, but might show more speed off a fastest-of-47 workout since her first race. Speaking of fast workouts, first-time starter CANDY COLE sandwiched a pair of gate preps around a :48 bullet that was a full second or more faster than all but three others at 4F on June 15.Gulfstream Park 7th Race (3:48 p.m. EST)IFYOUSAIDSO dueled for the lead while inside of two rivals who finished behind her in the Grade 3 Mamzelle Stakes on the Churchill Downs lawn. There’s speed in this field, too, but she deserves a second look considering the deep closers in her last start were led by Cy Fair, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner, and Slay The Day, who returned with an easy win and a 93 Beyer speed figure in Grade 3 Soar Softly at Saratoga. CALYPSO MOON salvaged inside position from post 8, tracked a torrid pace and found room 3-wide in early stretch. She appeared to have the embattled leaders measured but was denied victory in the 5F allowance by a nose.Gulfstream Park 8th Race (4:10 p.m. EST)ROAR OF THE BEAST plays catch-me-if-you-can at a distance which he boasts a 10-length maiden win and 13-length allowance victory off similar rest. STEAL SUNSHINE, a winner and runner-up in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G-2) the last two years, might have lost a step at age 7. But he rallied 6-wide to finish second to the pace setter in a five-horse allowance last out and has posted a 90-plus Beyer in half of his 38 lifetime starts. LIGHTNING TONES, his $400,000 Gulfstream Park bankroll intact, started from an outer half post position in 8 of his last 10 starts this year, but he draws the rail today and looms a late-running threat.Gulfstream Park 9th Race (4:42 p.m. EST)GANADOR got the jump with a 3-wide bid into the stretch and beat four follow-up winners when he last raced on turf in March. The last time MEGACLES ran this distance on turf, he set the pace to the stretch on short rest in a stakes race for Florida-breds dominated by closers. The race produced a stakes runner-up and two next-out winners, including Maiden Special Weight runaway Serac. Use him as a longshot on the Pick 4 ticket. MALCOLM X steadied sharply off heels and dropped back to last on the backstretch, but recovered to finish second in the same spot two starts ago. DAVID PEPPERMAN beat GANADOR to break his maiden, but he seeks his first win since February for trainer Daniel Hurtak, who is on a 12-for-80 run since late March with a $11 average win mutuel.Suggested Pick 4GP 6th Race: 4, 5, 7GP 7th Race: 5, 8GP 8th Race: 1, 6, 7GP 9th Race: 3, 4, 7, 10Cost for a 50-Cent ticket: $36

Throughout July, Tuesdays and Thursdays heat up at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet with our Red, White & Bet promotion. Bet $100, Get $10 on select tracks this month. First up Thursday will be Colonial Downs, which has an early start time to beat the heat. First post will be 10:45 am ET and here’s how I’ll approach the card in Virginia with an assist from the Betmix Angler database.Colonial Downs Race 3 | 11:41 am ET#2 Hay Grace Brennan (8-1 morning line odds) has shown some early life in open maiden races at Laurel and note the Laurel runners are showing a positive ROI early in the Colonial meet while the Churchill shippers have been widely disappointing at shorter prices. This race has a 3-5 ML favorite via Churchill that will help the prices elsewhere. Picks up Paco Lopez, a top speed jockey, with an inside draw in a turf mile. Catch her to score. Win bet #2. Picks: 2-4-6-5Colonial Downs Race 8 | 2:01 pm ET#5 Taco Cat Backwards (8-1 morning line odds) wasn’t anything special on synthetic at Turfway for a modest barn but showed significant improvement on turf at Laurel last out for Madison Meyers. The underrated trainer’s runners are 3-for-3 in the exacta early in the Colonial meet and firing ($14 winner, 12-1 runner-up). Jock-trainer tandem sparkles with huge ROI of $3.31 for every $1 bet at Colonial over 17 starters last summer. Win bet #5. Exacta key-box 5 with 7,4. Picks: 5-7-4-9Eligible tracks and days:• Thursday, July 2 // Colonial Downs• Tuesday, July 7 // Thistledown• Thursday, July 9 // Canterbury Park• Tuesday, July 14 // Finger Lakes• Thursday, July 16 // Belterra Park• Tuesday, July 21 // Mountaineer• Thursday, July 23 // Penn National• Tuesday, July 28 // Horseshoe Indianapolis• Thursday, July 30 // Charles Town

SCHEDULE NOTESDelaware Park | early 11 am ET first post due to heatFinger Lakes | early 11:55 am ET first post due to heatHorseshoe Indianapolis | cancelled due to heat | Thursday also cancelledBelterra Park | cancelled due to heat | Thursday also cancelledNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 5 | $5,049 | Delaware Park | begins Race 3 | 12:00 pm ETJackpot Pick 5 | $88,072 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETJackpot Pick 5 | $263,857 (CAN) | Assiniboia Downs | begins Race 5 | 9:50 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXDelaware Park | Race 5 | 1:00 pm ETMountaineer | Race 8 | 9:55 pm ETAssiniboia Downs | Race 7 | 11:05 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHErnesto Padilla-Preciado | Parx | 5 of 6 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Last 2 Days | Finger Lakes | favorites won 11 of 16 racesPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Fort Erie | today’s racesNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $76,956 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETJackpot Pick 5 | $242,667 (CAN) | Assiniboia Downs | begins Race 3 | 9:25 pm ETSuper Hi 5 | $3,539 (CAN) | Assiniboia Downs | Race 7 | 11:05 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 8 | 5:47 pm ETFort Erie | Race 6 | 6:50 pm ETMountaineer | Race 8 | 9:55 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJonathan Wong | Louisiana Downs | 7 of 8 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Finger Lakes | favorites won 6 of 8 races on the cardPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Fort Erie Bet $100, Get $10 Promo PicksFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section