In The Money Telegraph
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 · By ITM Staff
Big news on the contest front to start the week: the In the Money HorsePlayers Tour is going all-in on Saratoga.
The ITM Tour Heads to the Spa
In honor of opening day at Saratoga, the In the Money HorsePlayers Tour is switching to an all-Saratoga format. The Spa throws open its gates for a 46-day summer meet on Friday, July 3 — the start of the July 4th Racing Festival, with America’s 250th to celebrate and a loaded opening weekend that includes the Belmont Derby, Belmont Oaks, and Suburban on Saturday. From that first card on, our weekly Tour feeders run straight off the Saratoga races.
The kickoff is a $20 Pick & Pray on HorsePlayers.com played over Saratoga races 4 through 11 on opening day. True to the format, you lock in a single Win/Place horse in each of the eight contest races before the first one goes off — then no changes once you’re in. Scoring is $2 Win/Place per runner, with payout caps of 20-1 to win and 10-1 to place. You can fire up to three entries per account.
What you’re playing for runs two ways. One entry for every 10 earns a paid seat into the Saturday, July 4 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) Qualifier — awarded automatically, so a strong Friday puts you live in the big one on Saturday. And the top four finishers punch their tickets straight to the In the Money HorsePlayers Tour Playoffs. You can win both in the same contest. Best of all, every dollar of proceeds benefits Breeders’ Cup Charities.
The Playoff Field So Far
Before we turn the page to Saratoga, here’s the full field that’s qualified for the In the Money HorsePlayers Tour Playoffs — the top four from every Friday feeder to date:
June 12 — Ryan Veiga, David Pyrz, Michael Arena, Brett Wiener
June 19 — Robert Egan, Conrad Hoetger, Daniel Edwards, Stephen McNatton
June 26 — Togo Travalia, Austin Cail, Phil Matzat, Kevin Engelhard
That’s twelve players locked in, with four more punching their tickets every Friday between now and the Breeders’ Cup. Win your way in at Saratoga and you could be next.
On ITM Today
The weekend, recapped. PTF sits down with Churchill Downs morning-line maker Nick Tammaro to go through a memorable few days — Magnitude’s emphatic Stephen Foster and the Gun Runner comparisons that come with it, where a flat Sovereignty goes from here, and a bittersweet farewell to the Big A. ▶ Watch on YouTube →
The data on Sovereignty. PTF and Adam Mills of Total Performance Data dig into the GPS and sectional numbers from the Foster to ask whether the Derby winner regressed or simply ran his race — and what the late-speed and stride data say about his form heading toward Saratoga. ▶ Watch on YouTube →
A playable Tuesday night. Mikee P and Adam Discepolo handicap the Assiniboia Downs late Pick 4 for Tuesday, June 30 — a $1-minimum wager with a $50,000 guarantee. ▶ Watch on YouTube →
ITM Plus
Nick’s Notebook Returns for Saratoga
Churchill Downs morning-line maker Nick Tammaro brings his Saratoga notebook back to ITM Plus — detailed written analysis and angles all meet long, alongside exclusive podcasts and premium selections every day, right through to the Breeders’ Cup.
More all week at inthemoneypodcast.com, with daily previews on the ITM YouTube channel and premium tips on ITM Plus.
