Thursday, June 18, 2026
BEST BET: RACE 6 SPECTACULAR LEO
VALUE PLAY: RACE 11 BAMBINO JOE
RACE 1
6-Thirteen yr old millionaire warrior won in 155.2, home in 28.2
1-THROUGH THE STORM nice win in last race in 158.1, has rail
7-ATLANTIS 13 times in the money in 20 races, won from 8 post in 157.3, can he do it again?
6-1-7-3
RACE 2
4-PUZZLING was freshened up for a few weeks and shows he is ready with that good q race in 158.2, home in 29.2
6-CAPTAIN OF THE SEA form has been off this year, has dropped in class
5-CARTERS CAPER has some decent miles in April
4-6-5-1
RACE 3
4-LINDA’S BOY throw out last race with bad post, has been consistent with 12 times in money in 17 races
2-NO PULSE RICHIE last two races has had bad posts, raced well at this level
6-MV OK PALACIO BR has won in 158.3 at this level
4-2-6-5
RACE 4
4-ODDS ON BREXIT was very good earlier in the year, has dropped in class, win level?, has 8 wins on the year
1-DOCTOR BB showed life in last race, has rail
5-ROCKNROLL CHARM was competitive in last 3 races, improved form
4-1-5-2
RACE 5
2-CRAZY TRAIN best mile of the year in wire to wire romp in 154.3, lost to SWEET PARLEY two races back!
4-SWEET PARLAY which horse shows up?, loser to CRAZY TRAIN by 6 lengths or the one who beat him by 5 lengths
1-LIGHTEN UP FRANCIS ships in from NY where he had some good miles in nw 2 at Saratoga
2-4-1-5
RACE 6
3-SPECTACULAR LEO has two outstanding wins at Monti, tested his ability versus better at Yonkers, stay flat
6-RIKKI ROCKET has two thirds in last 3 races at this level
7-WICKED SPORT picked him to win last week at 42-1, not today!, SPECTACULAR LEO much better
3-6-7-1
RACE 7
4-PHOTOBOMBR HANOVER has been hot lately, lots of bad drives, first over, 3 wide, needs cover trip
5-STREET ART has raced against much better, dropped in class
7-LEVI last two races won nicely at this level, can win this race
4-5-7-3
RACE 8
4-DRAGON PLUS beat QUEEN HAYDEN in first over trip on May 13, last race couldn’t hang on to win off soft fractions, wide open race
1-QUEEN HAYDEN has been good at Monti since arriving from Saratoga, only lost to DRAGON PLUS by one length, post advantage
5-BUILDMEUPBUTTERCUP last 6 races has 5 seconds, can win this race
4-1-5-7
RACE 9
5-VILLAGE BLUE CHIP faded to 2nd but after fast 3rd quarter in 28.1, has won here in 155.1
7-MR BEAST form coming around, last race was in 157.3, home in 28.2
2-HUDSEN A Buffalo shipper raced at much higher class there, how will he compete at Monti?
5-7-2-1
RACE 10
5-YEPYEPYEP raced against much better , dropping in class from $10,000cl, has win in 155.3
2-TOTALLY TOXIC recent win had a good post, last 4 out of 5 races had bad posts
8-THIS DUDES PERFECT throw out last race, 3 wins in last 6 races, 8 post hurts
5-2-8-1
RACE 11
3-BAMBINO JOE nice mile from 8 post, 2 seconds at Tioga, faced better at Pocono, takes advantage of speed dual between BETTER MOON OVER and VINOVIO?
1-BETTER MOONON OVER where did that last mile come from, moved into Petrelli barn and ripped off a 157 mile!, mediocre at Buffalo, rail again, down the road?
2-VINOVIO has tons of early speed, will he contest lead with BETTER MOONON OVER?, needs to rate lead
1-3-2-7
BRIAN’S COMMENT: Today looks like a chalky card but at Monticello you never know. We always have surprise high priced winners on most cards.
