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The July 4^th weekend brings a lot of stakes action across the country and it gets started on Thursday.  Hollywood Park, site of Saturday’s American Oaks and Royal Heroine, the Le Cle Stakes will be run.

Normally its Friday Night lights for Hollywood Park, but this week the Inglewood track goes under the lights on Thursday.  The feature race is the Le Cle for three-year-old fillies on the turf and with no stand out it’s a great betting affair.  It Tiz made her turf debut a winning one and has yet to finish worse than fourth in her career.  She should be in a great stalking position throughout.  Only half of the field has won on the turf and Glory Pride is one of those.  She comes in off a layoff, but also rates a look.  Crisis of Spirit has decent turf breeding as does class-dropper Crisp.  Got an Itch is far behind the field on speed figures, but gets Bejarano in the irons and did have a bit of a troubled trip.  The switch to two turns should help her chances as a longshot.

Churchill Downs has a carryover in the pick-6 tonight of over $114,000 that gets started with race six around 8:30 PM on the East.  The good thing about leg one, a maiden race for two-year-olds, is that it is the first race and bettors can see the tote action.  That is probably the best place to start.  If Peace Bottom duplicates her maiden victory then she stands out in race seven, but there are several others that could win as well.  In race eight Great Crusade, Northern Prince, Don’t Put It Back, and Saratoga Sinner are all dropping into the conditioned claimer and appear most likely to win.  Jedi Code and Zion also figure, but are either stepping up or making a lateral move.

Let’s Dream Again and Finish in Style drop down in class in race nine, but it is a spread race.  Adelina Rose also figures, but likes to finish second.  Red Carpet Lady is an interesting long shot.  The last time she was going a mile on the turf she won at Gulfstream and could be the speed here.  She also drops from the allowance ranks.  Her and Finish in Style are the only two with wins at this mile distance.  Race 10 is the feature, the Kelly’s Landing, and matches Hamazing Destiny and Here Comes Ben.  Both were uber impressive in their last and both love the Churchill surface.  Race 11 is for two-turn maidens and is a grab bag, but the feeling is Raven Hawk is ready to win. He just lost by a nose in his last and was almost seven lengths clear of the third place horse.

Saturday at Prairie Meadows are two races for three-year-olds and both drew good fields.  The Iowa Oaks goes before the Derby and is race six on the nine race card.  Draw a line through the Fantasy at Oaklawn and All Due Respect deserves plenty of support.  Her last race was outstanding as she was able to go to the lead, set comfortable fractions and then powered away to win by over 10 lengths.  The dirt is a bit of a concern, but she does have a win over the muddy Fair Grounds surface earlier this year.  Harissa was tough to settle in her last and it probably cost her, but her win prior at Sunland makes her a fit here.  Quiet Temper and Seeking the Title also fit coming in from Belmont Park and Remit won the local prep race.  It may be a single or all race in the late pick-4, which starts with the Oaks and has a 50-cent minimum.

Winslow Homer was on his way down the Triple Crown path after his win in the Holy Bull, but an injury sidelined the colt.  He shows up here for trainer Tony Dutrow with some very good works.  Ramon Dominguez flies in from the East and if Winslow Homer is at his best he will be tough.  Concord Point ships in from the West for Bob Baffert and Martin Garcia and will probably be the pace of the race.  He may face pressure from Forestry Type.  The Cornhusker is also in the late pick-4 sequence and that also appears to be a spread race.  Even if Winslow Homer wins the payout could be very good.

Wednesday brings us a $136,973 pick-6 carryover at Hollywood Park and the sequence appears to be manageable with one or two possible singles.  The first leg is race three, a maiden race for two-year-olds and a check of the tote board will probably be needed.  First-time starters Certainly Certain and Lucky Mr. K should take some support as well as the ones with experience Mr. Gennaro, Buddha Belly and Hector. Race four is a five horse field and should either be a race to single or hit the all button.  Race five could be the first most likely winner in the sequence with Westwood Pride.  He ships in from Calder but looks to have talent.  Sheeza Beast makes her first start on turf for top connections and could upset the top pick.

Race six is the other single with Mind the Minister.  Remus should also be considered, but comes in off a layoff and takes a multiple level class drop.  Race seven is an interesting turf sprint as there appears to be some speed.  A quick pace would help the chances of Royal Taat and Brookie Girl.  Apt to Be Amazing is an interesting horse and gets a huge jock switch.  In the last race it appears the winner will be Mister Jazz, Connagher, Essex County, Aeromon, Tequila Blues or Olympic Magic.

It seems like the theme of this weekend’s stakes races are turf routes.  From Colonial Downs, to Arlington Park, to Delaware Park, to Monmouth Park, to Canterbury Park and west to Hollywood Park.  The stakes race on Saturday at Hollywood Park is the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap for three-year-olds.  The race drew a field of nine and with really no standout it could be an interesting betting race.

Summer Movie was a long shot pick on this blog earlier in the Arlington meet and the horse didn’t run a step.  In a good position throughout the Holy Bull colt couldn’t sustain his position and faded badly.  Maybe one more chance? Maybe.  Golden Itiz was an impressive winner in his last and could be the pace of the race.  The $240,000 Keeneland sale purchase is bred for the turf and jockey Tyler Baze is a master on the front end.  Mindblower is another Keeneland sales graduate and is also bred for the turf being by Giant’s Causeway, but he was in another zip code of Golden Itiz.  Alphie’s Best is another with a big chance and returns to face straight three-year-olds after his tenth place finish in the Jim Murray.  He broke his maiden on the turf and should appreciate the return to the grass.  The race is part of the late pick-4, which does not appear to have a single in the sequence.