by ITM Staff
ITM Telegraph — Friday, May 29, 2026
Your daily briefing on what to watch, read, and bet from In The Money Media and the world of horse racing.
🐎 Today’s Racing
👉 Laurel Park Tips and Trips (Friday) — Will Humphrey
Selections, trip notes, and Horses to Follow for all nine races. Today’s standouts: Whatsyourbigidea (R1, blinkers off, pace upgrade), Holy Synchronicity (R7, pace upgrade cutting back to 7f), Chimney Sweep (R9, major upgrade second off the bench).
👉 Santa Anita Selections & Analysis (Friday) — Dean Keppler
Best Bet: Proud Racer (Race 6). Full card analysis and commentary for all nine races.
Also on the stakes calendar tonight: the $400,000 Penn Mile (G3) headlines a stakes-packed Friday evening at Hollywood Casino at Penn National (first post 5:00 PM ET). A field of seven 3-year-olds will contest the one-mile turf race, which has historically served as a springboard for turf stars — past winners include Bobby’s Kitten and Major Dude. (ABR)
🎙️ From ITM: Legends of Broadcasting Week
Tom Durkin: “A Life’s Calling” — Tom Durkin sits down with PTF to talk about his new book, A Life’s Calling: The Voice Behind the World’s Greatest Horse Races (Bloomsbury, 2026). Among the highlights: the gigantic lie his buddy Jim Forret told a stranger on Highway 41 that launched his entire career, the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Classic that nearly made him quit, the hypnosis technique that used the Twin Spires as a mental trigger, how agent Sandy Montag got him “Rolls Royce money” from NBC on the back of the John Madden negotiation, and his all-time favorite call — the first Breeders’ Cup Classic in 1984. Durkin speaks at the National Museum of Racing on June 3, free and open to the public. The book is available now on Amazon and at Northshire Books in Saratoga Springs.
Watch the full conversation and drop your favorite Tom Durkin race call in the comments — we’ll be doing a follow-up.
Donna Brothers: Embrace the Belmont III — Donna Brothers rejoins PTF for her first visit since retiring from NBC after 26 years and all 26 of the network’s Kentucky Derby broadcasts. Donna previews the third and final Embrace the Belmont event — Tuesday, June 2, 5:00–7:30 PM at Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs. She talks about what drove her to create the event for the year-round Saratoga community, the work of charity partner Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga — which gives retired racehorses second careers in equine-assisted psychotherapy — and what Cherie DeVaux’s historic Derby win means in light of her own mother being one of the first half-dozen women licensed as a jockey in 1969. VIP guests include DeVaux and Jenna Antonucci, the first woman to train a Belmont Stakes winner. Tickets: THSaratoga.org — $58 GA / $158 VIP.
👉 The Gallop Out — Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs
Ryan Anderson and Kyle Roscoe examine the key stakes on Saturday’s Churchill card.
🏇 Belmont Week Approaches
The Belmont Stakes is eight days away. The probable field stands at 10 after Vitruvian Man (Doug O’Neill / Antonio Fresu) was added Wednesday. One question mark remains: America’s Best Racing reports that trainer Whit Beckman has not yet confirmed Ocelli but is leaning toward entering. If he runs, Ocelli would be the only 3-year-old to compete in all three legs of the 2026 Triple Crown — and he’d do so as a maiden. (ABR)
Latest overseas odds (Oddschecker, best available price):
Renegade 7/4 (Irad Ortiz Jr.) · Chief Wallabee 9/2 (Junior Alvarado) · Golden Tempo 13/2 (Jose Ortiz) · Commandment 13/2 (John Velazquez) · Emerging Market 13/2 (Flavien Prat) · Growth Equity 10/1 (Manny Franco) · Ocelli 20/1 (Tyler Gaffalione) · Powershift 20/1 (TBA) · Ottinho 20/1 (Dylan Davis) · Vitruvian Man 50/1 (Antonio Fresu)
The post-position draw is Monday, June 1 at 5 PM ET. Post time for the Belmont Stakes is 7:04 PM ET on Saturday, June 6, live on FOX.
DeVaux Joins TRF Belmont Pledge
Derby-winning trainer Cherie DeVaux has joined the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Belmont Pledge, committing a portion of her Belmont Festival earnings to support retired racehorses. Tom Morley and Graham Motion also joined this week, building on earlier pledges from Michael McCarthy, George Weaver, Whit Beckman, and Amelia Green. DeVaux: “These horses have blessed my life in countless ways, and we have a responsibility to ensure they are cared for long after their racing careers are over.” (TDN) (Paulick Report)
Also Around the Sport
Elmont/Belmont Parade tomorrow. The annual Paul Sapienza Elmont/Belmont Parade steps off at approximately 10:00 AM Saturday from Gate 5 at Belmont Park. Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa is posthumously honored as Grand Marshal. Free food, prizes, and giveaways at the finish. (NYRA)
Bentornato and Book’em Danno set for True North showdown at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Last year’s champion sprinter takes on Bentornato in one of the undercard highlights. (TDN)
Belmont coverage PLUS the first month of Saratoga — included with ITM Plus. Horse Player Happy Hour returns Belmont week Friday.
