Handicapper's Corner: 2026 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Gr. 1)

 

A Royal Sprint Scramble in the 

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

By: MaryJo Moncheski, ThoroFan Handicapper  

Royal Ascot’s final Group 1 race is also one of its most prestigious sprint contests. First run in 1868 as the Cork and Orrery Stakes, the race was renamed in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and simultaneously elevated to Group 1 level.

In 2023, it was permanently renamed in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, as the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

Now worth £1 million in prize money, the race regularly attracts the world’s leading sprinters and has been won by stars including Black Caviar, Blue Point and Lazzat.

The six-furlong event for older horses has a post time of 3:40 PM BST, or 10:40 AM EST.  

I am incredibly excited to handicap the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. It’s a full field with 19 horses. I narrowed my choices down to those who have had success on the Royal Ascot Racecourse and at this distance.

With a variety of amazing Jockeys participating, it can be challenging to pull out an opinion. I am going with Irish Jockey Jamie Spencer’s #11 Powerful Glory on top followed by Australian superstar, #17 Joliestar, #14 Satano Reve, and #16 Flora of Bermuda. Alright, let’s dive in!

Top Pair: #11 Powerful Glory and #17 Joliestar

I went with #11 Powerful Glory on top for several reasons. With middle post 10, Powerful Glory is primed for a good spot coming down the straight pending a successful start.

Despite faltering at Curragh, Trainer Richard Fahey told Horse Racing Life magazine his horse has been “running well and we know a strongly-run six furlongs here is right up his street.”

Powerful Glory is one of a few horses in the race that has won at Ascot at this distance. At 4 years old and winning 3 of his 6 starts already, I think he has a solid chance here.

#17 Joliestar is looking for her fourth win in a row with the 9 Post. Trainer Chris Waller famously led Winx to victory many times over. Waller has said she looks fantastic and has adapted to the flat straight of Ascot very well. I think she has what it takes to be in the exacta, especially with 2025 Longines World’s Best Jockey James McDonald aboard.

Bottom Pair: #14 Satano Reve and #16 Flora of Bermuda

In Post 18, we have Japanese import #14 Satano Reve trained by Noriyuki Hori and Jockey Ryan Moore onboard. Likely to go off as the favorite, he may come to the front of the pack after placing second by a neck in last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. I didn’t have him on top because he hasn’t consistently won at this distance in almost two years.

For fourth place, I like #16 Flora of Bermuda in Post 13. The Irish-bred mare last won with Jockey James Doyle at Newmarket on May 2 after an almost 7-month layoff. While she has never won at Ascot, she is familiar with this course and has placed in the money. James Doyle hasn’t been too shabby with his riding this week, either. 

Trifectas and Superfectas are $1 so bet within your budget!

Wildcards: #15 Stolen Kiss, #3 Comanche Brave, and #7 Kind of Blue

 

Handicapper's Corner: 2026 Delaware Oaks

Gunning for value in the Delaware Oaks

By: Laurie Ross, ThoroFan handicapper

The $300,000 Delaware Oaks (G3) tops Saturday’s stakes-filled card that also includes the Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3) and the listed Delaware Derby.

Nine 3-year-old fillies line up for the 1 1/16 mile event, which is carded as race 11 of 12 with a 6:00 PM ET post time.

Let’s review the most likely board hitters. 

Jumping the Gun (8-1)  fought the entire way in the 1 1/8 mile Black-Eyed Susan (G2) before the favorite My Miss Mo rebuffed her bid. The Andrew Simoff trainee should be able to save some ground with a rail trip; she drew outside for her last two starts. Delaware is Jumping the Gun’s happy place she has won three of four starts. She cuts back in distance and is making her third start off the layoff. Win Contender.

Sneaky Good (5-1) is living up to her name. She’s been knocking at the door and just missed by 3/4 length in the 7-furlong Beaumont (G2) over the Keeneland Mud. Her third-place finish in the Honeybee was a key race; the top six to run back from it include two winners, three runners-up, and the fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Oaks. The Brad Cox trainee can sit behind a projected quick pace and hopefully gain that elusive stakes victory. Win Contender.

Pashimina (3-1) is another need-the-lead type. She made the pace in the 1 1/8 mile Gazelle (G3) while going wide, but was green in the stretch, shying from the crop around the 1 1/16 mark, then hopped the tracks forty yards from the wire. Despite her antics, she was beaten only 1 1/4 lengths by Always a Runner, who won the Kentucky Oaks in her next start. The Rob Atras trainee faded to eleventh in the Oaks while racing three wide and outside her customary pacesetting position. Like Dazzling Dame, Pashimina hasn’t been able to sustain her stretch drive yet, but she can handle the distance. Last year’s Delaware Oaks winner Fondly was eleventh in the Kentucky Oaks and won at Delaware in pacesetting fashion. Exotics.

Dazzling Dame (5-1) pressed through fast early fractions in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) before fading late. The confirmed pacesetter did the same in the Virginia Oaks, pressing a quick early pace, but Bottle of Rouge flew by and opened up by 4 1/4 lengths, while Dazzling Dame settled for best of the rest. This Brittany Russell trainee hasn’t won beyond a mile. With other speed in the race, the best hope is to hang on for a minor award. Exotics.

Luv Your Neighbor (2-1) has run some very good races, but she can’t get the job done. She’s a polite filly and lets others go first, including her last start, where she made a strong stretch move but hung like a cheap dress. Count her most likely to finish second. Exotics.

Analysis

Previous Starts: Only two 9 of the last 15 Delaware Oaks heroines won their last start, only two placed worse than fourth.

Run Style: Pace pressers and closers are the most successful. Four pacesetters got the job done.

Favorites: Bet the favorite, only one has placed worse than fourth. However, the last three years favorites placed second or third.

Post Position: Post position isn’t a factor, and four won from the rail.

The pace projects quick early fractions, which should set up for a presser. There are no confirmed one-run closers in the field.

Jumping the Gun loves Delaware, gets to take the short way around, and has tactical speed. She’s a value play at 8-1.

Luv Your Neighbor also in class, but owns just one win in eight starts, with five second-place finishes. Not a good win bet at 2-1.

Sneaky Good enters for the power team of Cox and Irad Ortiz, Jr. she also has tactical speed and is also dropping in class. Anything close to 5-1 is a gift.

Pashimina and Dazzling Dame could grab minor awards.

Selections

1 Jumping the Gun (8-1)

7 Luv Your Neighbor (2-1)

9 Sneaky Good (5-1)

2 Pashimina (3-1)

  

Handicapper's Corner: 2026 Belmont Stakes

 

 

Belmont Stakes Handicappers’ Consensus:        Will Familiar Foes or Fresh Faces Shine?

The Grade 1 Belmont Stakes is usually a test of stamina and speed, arriving at the end of a grueling season of graded stakes races. This year includes leg-weary runners from the Kentucky Derby, plus later-maturing newcomers ready to travel 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga.

Rain looms once more, setting the stage for a soggy showdown between familiar foes Golden Tempo and Renegade. Will one of them rise to the occasion, or will one of the other seven contenders splash into the spotlight with a breakout performance?

The ThoroFan Handicappers have poured (pun intended) over the past performances and delivered their expert consensus.

Which handicapper most closely matches your picks? Let us know!

 

HANDICAPPER	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD	LONGSHOT
Michael Amo	Emerging Market	Renegade	Chief Wallabee	Golden Tempo
John Caro	Emerging Market	Renegade	Commandment	Chief Wallabee
Nick Costa	Renegade	Chief Wallabee	Golden Tempo	Commandment
Stuart Marc deVoe	Commandment	Chief Wallabee	Emerging Market	Powershift
Robert Marks	Emerging Market	Golden Tempo	Renegade	Commandment
MaryJo Moncheski	Golden Tempo	Renegade	Commandment	Powershift
Laurie Ross	Chief Wallabee	Renegade	Commandment	Powershift