To quote Bon Jovi, “Oh, we’re halfway there” to the 2026 Fun in the Sun Final Table. Four of 8 qualifying weeks are in the books for the annual Saratoga / Del Mar handicapping contest at Xpressbet. So far 19 players have claimed 20 of the 40 available seats in the Labor Day Final Table, whose progressive jackpot now stands at $13,315 with $10,000-added from Xpressbet.Week 5 this Saturday once again features the final 5 races at Saratoga and first 5 races at Del Mar. Those contest heats include the Grade 1 Christophe Clement Turf and the Galway Stakes from the Spa.Week 4 featured Franco Pacione topping all players with a $264.20 bankroll to earn the $1,144.50 first prize and Final Table seat. Runner-up Joseph McKay ($243.70 bankroll, $476.88 prize) and George Scott ($239.00 bankroll, $286.12 prize) also cashed. The top-5 who earned Final Table seats were rounded out by Terence Severson ($236.20 bankroll) and Gregory Caliway ($209.40 bankroll).Fun in the Sun contestants play for weekly prize money and a chance to join each week’s top-5 players in the tournament’s Final Table on Labor Day. The 9-week Fun in the Sun handicapping contest runs 8 Saturdays from July 18-September 5 and concludes with the 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.

EXTRA INCENTIVES1 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split | Saratoga | late pick 4 todayTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Saratoga Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $151,379 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETPick 6 | $192,498 | Saratoga | begins Race 4 | 2:56 pm ETPick 5 | $78,887 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | begins Race 5 | 4:14 pm ETPick 4 | $76,709 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | begins Race 6 | 4:45 pm ETJackpot Pick 5 | $56,431 | Assiniboia Downs | begins Race 3 | 9:25 pm ETKEY RACESHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 8 | 5:47 pm ET | Ellen’s Lucky Star StakesHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 9 | 6:18 pm ET | Snack HandicapAssiniboia Downs | Race 4 | 9:50 pm ET | Phil Kives StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXSaratoga | Race 6 | 4:04 pm ETHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 8 | 5:47 pm ETMountaineer | Race 3 | 7:50 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHChad Brown | Saratoga | 5 of 6 entrants 9-2 or less odds (3 at 8-5 or less)DID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Horseshoe Indianapolis | Race 6 | nation’s highest paying win ($90), exacta ($540), trifecta ($1473) and superfecta ($99,679)PUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Saratoga Carryover Pick 6 Key Plays for WednesdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The new racing week at Saratoga Race Course begins in style since no horseplayers were able to piece together the $1 Pick 6 on Sunday afternoon. This leaves us with $192,498 in the traditional Pick 6 heading into a nine-race Wednesday card that begins with a steeplechase stakes event. The big money sequence kicks off shortly before 3PM eastern with Race 4. Here are a few horses I consider must uses over the final six races.Race 6:This full-field auction-restricted MSW event for 2YO fillies sprinting over the grass is likely to test Pick 6 players quite a bit that make it through the first two legs. A number of first-time starters have good chances, but I like a filly with experience most. #8 Sweet Grace was scratched off the also-eligible list in a similar spot on Sunday afternoon, but lands squarely in the body of this group. The Candy Ride filly was beaten out of the gate on debut on July 16, but showed professionalism from there relaxing kindly along the inside with a mid-pack position in the early stages. She put in a run trying to get to the easy winner that day, but tired mid-stretch and ended up finishing fifth. Trainer James Ryerson is 3 for 11 at the Spa dating back to the start of July with a massive $10.27 ROI and sends out a gal that holds the experience edge against the majority of her rivals. If she can find a better position early on, I expect jockey Christopher Elliott to make a strong run late at a fair ML price.Play: #8 Sweet Grace (6-1 ML)Picks: 8-4-5Race 7:This full-field state-bred MSW event for 2YOs over the main track is not much easier for horizontal players given the fact the 12 runners entered in the main body have three total races under their belt. Once again, I will endorse one of those with experience #4 In the Queue. The daughter of Honest Mischief drew in off the AE list for her debut last month, so she was drawn to the far outside with Dylan Davis in the saddle. In the Queue broke well and was right off the pace early on, but while being caught wide throughout. She battled with two rivals to her inside before understandably tiring badly late. Now, she returns to the races with a favorable start under her belt where she flashed good early speed, moves to an inside post, and attracts a better front-end rider for her second try in Luis Saez. Saez should have her involved early and hopefully tough to catch late at a square 8-1-ML offering.Play: #4 In the Queue (8-1 ML)Picks: 4-5-10Race 8:The Wednesday feature is this first-level allowance at 1 1/8-miles over the main track where I do not expect the pace to be too fast in the early stages. #3 Higher Force might be the aggressor, but #2 Hidden Rose should find a favorable prominent position on the backstretch like she did out of the Wilson chute on July 9. The Connect filly has yet to compete at nine-furlongs over the dirt, but finished strong two-back in a true two-turn race at Finger Lakes before a solid runner-up effort to heavy favorite Soaring High on July 9. The probable trip plus her ability to show tactical speed and still get the distance make her my top choice in the penultimate leg of sequence.Play: #2 Hidden Rose (3-1 ML)Picks: 2-1-7

Throughout August, Tuesdays and Thursdays stay hot at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet with our Midsummer Money promotion. Bet $100, Get $10 on select tracks this month. Next up Tuesday will be Finger Lakes. Here’s how I’ll approach the card in New York with an assist from the Betmix Angler database.Finger Lakes Race 5 | 2:51 pm ET#3 America’s Justice (6-1 morning line odds) gets a price look for a small barn that got hot all of the sudden the past 2 weeks with $17 and $28 winners from just 3 starters after going 1-for-14 at the meeting prior. Race loaded with sprinters and stamina shouldn’t be an issue off an even-running effort. Win-place bet #3. Picks: 3-6-2Finger Lakes Race 8 | 4:18 pm ET#4 Plex (4-1 morning line odds) has crossed the line first in both career 2-turn races and exits a popular maiden breaker at an odds-on price. Natural rise in class here for a Dana Saul barn hitting 36% at the meet and jockey Jose Baez winning at 34%. Saul is 3-for-6 with local routers since July 8. Win bet #4. Picks: 4-1-5

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Finger Lakes | today’s races | Plonk's PicksNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $151,379 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 7 | 5:16 pm ETFairmount Park | Race 8 | 5:25 pm ETMountaineer | Race 3 | 7:50 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHPaul Barrow | Finger Lakes | all 4 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Thistledown | trainer Robert Cline | 3 wins, 1 second from 5 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

EXTRA INCENTIVES1 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split | Gulfstream | $3 Players Late Pick 310X 1/ST Rewards Points | Summer Sweep 5 | Gulfstream / Fort ErieSPECIAL WAGERSSummer Sweep Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 6-7-8, Fort Erie Races 1-2--$1 minimum, 15% takeout, no CAWNOTABLE CARRYOVERSMandatory Payout Pick 6 | $24,168 | Gulfstream Park | begins Race 3 | 1:22 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $145,812 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETKEY RACESGulfstream | Race 6 | 2:58 pm ET | In Summation StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXGulfstream Park | Race 8 | 4:00 pm ETFort Erie | Race 7 | 7:18 pm ETMountaineer | Race 2 | 7:25 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHRobert Cline | Thistledown | 4 of 5 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Mountaineer | favorites won 7 of 10 races on West Virginia Derby DayPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMBrian Nadeau: Gulfstream Park Full-Card Monday PicksFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Gulfstream Park's Monday action includes a mandatory payout in the Rainbow 6, which starts the day with a $24,168 carryover that track officials estimate will result in a pool in excess of $400,000. Horseplayers at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet can enjoy a 1 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split promotion on the $3 Players Late Pick 3 bet as well as 10X 1/ST Rewards Points when playing the Summer Sweep 5 today (which matches Gulfstream Races 6,7,8 to Fort Erie's Races 1 and 2.Race 1:It’s Best Bet time in the opener with 1 LORD HENRY, who ran well with trouble when a distant 2nd sprinting in his debut, is bred to run long, drew perfectly, and meets a weak group on paper. Both 4 MORE POWER TO YOU and 6 CARRIBEAN COMET will offer better prices, with the former stretching out and trying turf, while adding blinkers to an already speedy package, while the latter debuts with a slew of works for Biancone, who is sterling 35% first-turf. SELECTIONS: 1-4-6-3Race 2:If 6 BUNDALAY runs back to that neck 2nd in her Tapeta debut then the rest are all vying for the scraps, as it would be way too much for these to handle, though you are allowed to wonder if she doesn’t regress a bit. The main danger is dropper 1 SWEET TASTE, who didn’t fire running long on turf, but should certainly like this group better. The gap to the rest, including 2 LIONESS LILLIAN, seems a seismic one. SELECTIONS: 6-1-2-5Race 3:It sounds crazy, but that distant 7th for 35k two-back from 2 WORKINCLASSKID seemingly wins this, as no one else has done anything close to that, which makes him imposing on the drop. It looks like 7 HOLY COW woke up on turf and the freshening off the trainer switch to Tessore, so if he can keep it going, he’s a big threat, though his Tapeta runs weren’t much. No doubt 8 FLYING CHIEF wouldn’t have to be a monster to play with these, but it’s hard to win your debut on Tapeta at two turns, from a wide draw, no less. SELECTIONS: 2-7-8-1Race 4:Give credit to 4 TO JOEY for that MCL win, as he had to duel for 4 furlongs (with a rival who was later eased) before kicking clear, in an effort that was way better than the slow figure it earned, and one that might allow him to double up while facing winners. Getting back to dirt makes 3 SPIRIT OF THE LAW imposing, as that “fast”’ 2nd two-back wins this, though at 1-for-15 lifetime, he’s tough to take at a short price. Can’t see 5 NOBLE PRINCE winning this off his recent efforts, but they are enough to get him a piece. SELECTIONS: 4-3-5-2Race 5:There’s enough speed to give 1 EVIL EMPIRE a chance late, and that 2/6 turf run fits with these, so he can surprise for a hot Lerman barn. The pace will help 7 KINGSWEARCROWNS too, who drops slightly off a decent 5th in his turf debut as well. Not interested in a short price on 4 WHEELHOUSE while trying turf for Saffie, as he’ll be overbet with no edge, and was 0 for-4 on grass for previous connections. SELECTIONS: 1-7-4-3Race 6:Looking forward to see what 3 SUM OF SUCCESS does for an encore in the In Summation, as his debut win was wowzers after cleared early and widened for fun with a big figure, in an effort that might have only scratched the surface of his talents. Conversely, 2 AMERIAN ROADSTER stalked and pounced in a more workmanlike debut win, but any time a 2yo passes horses in their unveiling, it’s worth noting, and the pace will be to his liking today as well. The same can be said for 5 SPICY TACO, who settled and rolled over Florida breds, and is another who will get set up up front. SELECTIONS: 3-2-5-6Race 7:A race void of pace might allow 5 HELLO POOCHY LOU to get brave up front, as she dueled and tired last time, but should have to lay down :22-flat today. The works whisper ready for 1 FORGOTTEN ABOUT, who debuts for Fawkes with a sterling AM tab, though the rail and 7Fs are tough asks. Don’t sleep on 4 CAMBER, who ran well routing on turf in her debut for 35k and is bred to love the main track. SELECTIONS: 5-1-4-7Race 8:It’s Longshot time in the finale with 7 SPICY PRINCESS, who was a decent 4th off the break while facing older, and should be able to build off that effort, while facing no world beaters. That was some comeback from 3 DEFIANT LASS, who was rolling late in a neck loss, in what was her first start in 14 months, and first on turf and for Toner too, which makes her scary, while getting added ground too. No real knocks on 2 CITY MINUTE, who was 2nd to a repeat winner when last seen on turf, though she will be overbet for Saffie. SELECTIONS: 7-3-2-4Best Bet: R1: #1 Lord Henry (9-5)* Good 2nd with trouble in debut* Bred to relish the added ground* Meets a suspect group on paperLongshot: R8: #7 Spicy Princess (6-1)* Encouraging 4th in return, facing older* Still has upside, should be tighter today* No standouts on paper, keeps Herrera

Yonkers Raceway has a 9-race card. The 0.50 Pick 5 with a $10,000 guaranteed pool rolls in Race 5. The Spot Plays are in Race 2, Race 3, and Race 5. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 2 (7:05 PM EDT)1-Whats Stanley Got A (6-1)-This isn't the easiest horse to read. But deserves a long look from the inside against a group that is moving up and or not proven at this level. The veteran moves up off a big effort from post 8 and was aided by some quick fractions. Usually is in the mix at YR with an inside draw and does know how to beat this kind. #4 Finvarra at 6/5 is similar in some ways and loses Bartlett to an injury most likely. Would rather lean here at a better price with regular driver Jordan Stratton aboard and will rely on a big effort coming.Betting #1 Whats Stanley Got A to Win1-3-4Race 3 (7:25 PM EDT)4-Twin B Powerball (12-1)-After making 39 starts last year the 8-year-old has only raced 5 times in 2026. Has a win and a 2nd place finish but was put away in mid-February and made its return on 8-13 versus better. Started from post 7 and put in a no-move mile racing from the back of the pack. Comes right back and lands in a very competitive level if ready to go. Will fade the program chalk #7 Federer who is 7/5 and will likely be without Bartlett. Looking for a big price, and from a choice post will take a swing the Team Lachance entry will be dialed on high.Using #4 Twin B Powerball in a Win Bet4-5-7Race 5 (8:05 PM EDT)4-Black Hawk Joe A (6-1)-Rolled the 2nd half in 56.3 in last but it wasn’t enough after being 11-lengths back at the half. That was from post 7 and now starts in a prime slot. Beat this kind 2 back from another choice post and will look for that type of performance.Playing #4 Black Hawk Joe A to Win4-3-1Check me out on X!