Throughout June, Tuesdays and Thursdays heat up at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet with our Summertime Scores promotion. Bet $100, Get $10 on select tracks this month. Next up Thursday will be Canterbury Park. Here’s how I’ll approach the night card in Minnesota with an assist from the Betmix Angler database.Canterbury Race 7 | 9:04 pm ET#6 Kentucky Starlet (12-1 morning line odds) has a price look as the longest shot in the morning line. Solid dirt effort upon her Canterbury return. She’s 0-2 on turf but certainly bred for it. Trainer Bruce Riecken may be 1-15 at the current meet but note he’s 50% in the money with his 10 prior grass starters and all 10 have been in the superfecta (average odds more than 8-1). Win-place bet #6. Exacta key-box 2,4 with 6. Picks: 6-2-4Canterbury Race 8 | 9:34 pm ET#1 Crew Dragon (7-2 morning line odds) goes first-off-the-claim for the red-hot tandem of trainer Jose Silva and jockey Manuel Americano. They’ve hit 35% together at the meet, and the barn is 13-17 in the exacta locally over the past 2 weeks. The 8-year-old doesn’t win often and has been sprinting on dirt the past few years but began his career with John Sadler successful on grass, a neck runner-up in Del Mar’s Oceanside on turf at age 3. Use with late-running #5 Brit Blitz at a square price. Win bet #1. Exactas 1-5 bigger and 5-1 smaller. Picks 1-5-6

Today’s Skinny:Day 3 of 5 from the prestigious Royal Ascot stand is headlined by Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup for the true stayers. The 2-1/2 miles test has 6 millionaire earners in the 11-runner lineup, including Coolmore’s 2025 St. Leger classic winner Scandinavia, a son of Justify, and defending champ Trawlerman for Godolphin, who seeks a fifth straight victory while making his first start since October. Meanwhile, Epsom Oaks runner-up Legacy Link should be solidly favored in the Group 2 Ribblesdale.No American-based runners are entered on the Thursday program, but several still to come Friday and Saturday during the stand.Free Wagering Guide:Download the free Sky Sports Racing Royal Ascot Wager Guide for today’s full card. ACCESS THE GUIDE Extra Incentives:Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet can enjoy a 15% boost on successful win bets – up to $25 total per day per player – during each race of the Royal Ascot meeting. VIEW OFFER Today’s Lineup:9:30AM ET | Chesham Stakes | 7 furlongs10:05 AM ET | King George V Stakes | 1-1/2 miles10:40 AM ET | Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes | 1-1/2 miles11:20 AM ET | Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup | 2-1/2 miles12:00 PM ET | Brittania Stakes | 1 mile12:35 PM ET | Hampton Court Stakes | 1-1/4 mile1:10 PM ET | Buckingham Palace Stakes | 7 furlongsFeatured Races | This WeekThursday | Group 1 Ascot Gold CupFriday | Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, Group 1 Coronation StakesSaturday | Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee StakesWagering Particulars | Commingled World Pool17.5% takeout Win & Place17.5% takeout Quinella17.5% takeout Omni (2 of 3 must finish top 3)19.5% takeout Exacta25% takeout Trifecta25% takeout Pick 326% takeout Place Pick 427% takeout Place Pick 630% takeout Superfecta

EXTRA INCENTIVES15% Win Boost | Royal Ascot | all races this weekSCHEDULE NOTESRoyal Ascot | meet daily through Saturday | first post 9:30 am ET | Betting Primer & Wager GuideNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $70,777 | Churchill Downs | begins Race 4 | 2:13 pm ETJackpot Pick 5 | $141,712 (CAN) | Assiniboia Downs | begins Race 4 | 9:50 pm ETKEY RACESRoyal Ascot | Race 1 | 9:30 am ET | G2 Queen Mary StakesRoyal Ascot | Race 4 | 11:20 am ET | G1 Prince of Wales’s StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXDelaware Park | Race 4 | 1:56 pm ETPenn National | Race 2 | 6:14 pm ETAssiniboia Downs | Race 7 | 11:05 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHKelsey Danner | Presque Isle, Horseshoe Indy | all 5 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Thistledown | jackpot pick 6 hit on single ticket for $188KPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMScott Shapiro: Churchill Downs Wednesday Spot PlaysFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Today’s Skinny:Day 2 of 5 from the prestigious Royal Ascot stand is headlined by reigning Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz aiming for a fourth straight win when contesting the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes vs. defending race winner Ombudsman. Breeders’ Cup Turf beaten favorite Minnie Hauk, second to Daryz at Longchamp last fall, adds to the spectacular field.Meanwhile, a trio of Americans will contest the card-opening Group 2 Queen Mary for 2-year-olds: Gulfstream’s Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies winner Celtic Dispute (Patrick Biancone), Keeneland debut winner More Champagne (Tom Morley) and Churchill debut winner Ruiva (Wesley Ward).Big fields abound with 4 of 7 races carded boasting at least 25 entries in each, an absurdity of potential combinations awaiting horseplayers.Free Wagering Guide:Download the free Sky Sports Racing Royal Ascot Wager Guide for today’s full card. ACCESS THE GUIDE.Extra Incentives:Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet can enjoy a 15% boost on successful win bets – up to $25 total per day per player – during each race of the Royal Ascot meeting. VIEW OFFER Today’s Lineup:9:30 AM ET | Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes | 5 furlongs10:05 AM ET | Group 2 Queen’s Vase | 1-3/4 miles10:40 AM ET | Duke of Cambridge Stakes | 1 mile11:20 AM ET | Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes | 1-1/4 miles12:00 PM ET | Royal Hunt Cup | 1 mile12:35 PM ET | Kensington Palace Stakes | 1 mile1:10 PM ET | Windsor Castle Stakes | 6 furlongsFeatured Races | This WeekWednesday | Group 1 Prince of Wales’sThursday | Group 1 Ascot Gold CupFriday | Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, Group 1 Coronation StakesSaturday | Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee StakesWagering Particulars | Commingled World Pool17.5% takeout Win & Place17.5% takeout Quinella17.5% takeout Omni (2 of 3 must finish top 3)19.5% takeout Exacta25% takeout Trifecta25% takeout Pick 326% takeout Place Pick 427% takeout Place Pick 630% takeout Superfecta

After a big weekend in the Mid-Atlantic and closing week out west at Santa Anita Park focus for most horseplayers will shift regions over the next couple of weeks. The Ohio Derby card at Thistledown headlines the stakes racing this weekend, but most of the best action leading up to that will be in New York and Kentucky.My focus for the next couple of weeks will be my old stomping grounds of Churchill Downs. Derby weekend is the best, but some of the strongest wagering opportunities in Louisville come over the final few weeks of their spring meet. Hopefully, we can make the most of it starting with Wednesday’s nine-race card that kicks off at 12:45 PM eastern. Here are a few horses I like on the first of five racing dates under the twin spires this week.Race 3:My first play of the week comes in this $50k maiden claimer at 7-furlongs over the main track where class dropper #5 Life’s Reward is likely to take a lot of public support. Not only does he exit protected maiden races last summer, but he is a Brad Cox trainee that will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. The Gary & Mary West homebred is obviously capable of winning, but is almost guaranteed to be an underlay regardless of result. For that reason, I will side against him with a runner that has some upside still.#8 My Lucky Penny debuted against slightly tougher at Keeneland in late April for trainer Matthew Sims. The son of Connect did not break particularly well that afternoon and then was moved up the inside to battle with the 6-5-favorite in the early stages. Not only is being down on the inside taking pressure not ideal for a debut runner, but the track did not favor that trip either on April 24. Therefore, I can forgive the fact that My Lucky Penny faded badly late to finish fifth. Now, Sims has given him nearly two months and he draws to the far outside in this compact group of 8. This should allow jockey Luan Machado to relax his gelding a bit more in the early stages, which ideally leaves him with far more energy late. At his 8-1-ML offering, I am very much willing to take my chances.Play: #8 My Lucky Penny (8-1 ML)Picks: 8-7-5Race 5:The pace scenario is murky in this seven-furlong dash over the main track for $50k starter allowance foes, but the price should be right to take a swing with #3 Frosty Indulgence. The 5YO gelding has earned 2 of his 3 career victories over the all-weather, but ran very well on the surface switch and cutback to a sprint in mid-April for trainer Chris Davis. In fact, he lost by a nose at odds of 25-1 in a first-level allowance at Keeneland, but was placed first via disqualification. The concern is whether jockey Luan Machado can avoid getting caught in a tight spot along the inside off a moderate early tempo, so I will need close to his morning line price to gamble. That said, his dirt race prior to this at Ellis last summer saw him get caught up in an early battle and tire badly late. That is not likely to occur in this spot, but I am hopeful he can use some of that gate speed to find early forward position. If so, I am confident he enters this spot in the best form of his career.Play: #3 Frosty Indulgence (10-1 ML)Picks: 3-6-8Race 8:The pace should be honest at the very least in this $141k allowance at 6-furlongs over the main track given the presence of #4 Tough Catch and #8 Macho Music. Neither 4YO colt enters this spot in their best form regardless of pace and are unlikely to have much left late in the final furlong. I am hopeful the pace is fast enough to set things up for #6 Thoughtthatcounts. The son of Sky Mesa makes his second start of the meet after his second consecutive runner-up finish since returning to Kentucky this spring. The prior one came at odds of 22-1 at Keeneland and in both starts he was done no real favors. Last out over the off track here at Churchill Downs, the 5YO gelding ran into an off-track front running monster in Harrodsburg and prior to that he nearly overcame being caught wide throughout at a big price. Given his previous success over this racetrack and his ability to finish, Thoughtthatcounts looms large in the Wednesday feature.Play: #6 Thoughtthatcounts (9-2 ML)Picks: 6-2-5

EXTRA INCENTIVES15% Win Boost | Royal Ascot Bet $100, Get $10 | Mountaineer | today’s racesSCHEDULE NOTESRoyal Ascot | meet Tues-Sat | first post 9:30 am ET | Betting PrimerNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $172,750 | Thistledown | begins Race 3 | 1:50 pm ETJackpot Pick 5 | $126,401 (CAN) | Assiniboia Downs | begins Race 3 | 9:25 pm ETKEY RACESRoyal Ascot | Race 3 | 10:40 am ET | G1 King Charles III StakesRoyal Ascot | Race 4 | 11:20 am ET | G1 St. James’s Palace StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXParx | Race 9 | 4:16 pm ETHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 7 | 5:16 pm ETMountaineer | Race 1 | 7:00 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJuan Pablo Silva | Presque Isle, Thistledown, Mountaineer | all 10 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Presque Isle Downs | favorites only 1 for 8 on the cardPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Mountaineer Bet $100, Get $10 Spot Plays for TuesdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Throughout June, Tuesdays and Thursdays 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 Mountaineer. Here’s how I’ll approach the night card in West Virginia with an assist from the Betmix Angler database.Mountaineer Race 1 | 7:00 pm ET#2 Frozen Four (5-1 morning line odds) makes his first start for trainer Wilson Langley, whose 3 turf starts at the meeting have produced 2 wins and a runner-up. This gelding hasn’t been on the grass since breaking his maiden at Mnr in his only local turf try last September. Win bet #2. Exacta key-box 2 with 1,6. Daily Double 2-1. Picks 2-1-6Mountaineer Race 2 | 7:25 pm ET#1 My Lucky Deia (3-1 morning line odds) has a sharp 5: 2-2-1 turf mark and fires second off the layoff and first off the claim for a red-hot barn. Trainer Juan Pablo Silva has gone 31: 10-6-3 over the past 4 weeks locally, landing 32% winners and 52% in the exacta over that span – including 11: 4-2-1 when paired with jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. Win bet #1. Picks 1-5-10Eligible tracks and days:• Tuesday, June 16 // Mountaineer• Thursday, June 18 // Canterbury• Tuesday, June 23 // Thistledown• Thursday, June 25 // Colonial Downs• Tuesday, June 30 // Fort Erie

‍Today’s Skinny:Day 1 of 5 from the prestigious Royal Ascot stand is headlined by a trio of Grade 1 races and some names quite familiar to American racing enthusiasts. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Notable Speech should go as favorite in the Group 1 Queen Anne in the meet’s opening race for Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and William T. Buick.Undefeated Bow Echo looks for five straight as England’s headliner in the Group 1 St. James’s Palace, where 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Gstaad stands in the way for Coolmore, Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. Kentucky Downs’ 2025 Nashville Derby winner Wimbledon Hawkeye takes his shot in the 10-furlong Wolferton Stakes.The Group 2 Coventry is the meet’s first juvenile dash and goes with 22 entered – while the Group 1 King Charles III lines 26 across the grass in a 5-furlong melee. Jockey John Velazquez has the call on Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien’s Aeronautic in the Copper Horse.Free Wagering Guide:Download the free Sky Sports Racing Royal Ascot Wager Guide for today’s full card. ACCESS THE GUIDE Extra Incentives:Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet can enjoy a 15% boost on successful win bets – up to $25 total per day per player – during each race of the Royal Ascot meeting. VIEW OFFER Today’s Lineup:9:30AM ET | Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes | 1 mile10:05 AM ET | Group 2 Coventry Stakes | 6 furlongs10:40 AM ET | Group 1 King Charles III Stakes | 5 furlongs11:20 AM ET | Group 1 St. James’s Palace Stakes | 1 mile12:00 PM ET | Ascot Stakes Handicap | 2-1/2 miles12:35 PM ET | Wofterton Rated Stakes | 1-1/4 miles1:10 PM ET | Copper Horse Stakes | 1-3/4 milesFeatured Races | This WeekTuesday | Group 1 Queen Anne, Group 1 St. James’s PalaceWednesday | Group 1 Prince of Wales’sThursday | Group 1 Ascot Gold CupFriday | Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, Group 1 Coronation StakesSaturday | Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee StakesWagering Particulars | Commingled World Pool17.5% takeout Win & Place17.5% takeout Quinella17.5% takeout Omni (2 of 3 must finish top 3)19.5% takeout Exacta25% takeout Trifecta25% takeout Pick 326% takeout Place Pick 427% takeout Place Pick 630% takeout Superfecta ‍