DAILY HORSE RACING PICKS

NYRA Bets is bringing you expert picks for the entire Royal Ascot meet from Matthew DeSantis. Check back as we continually update with more picks and analysis.

EXPERT PICKS FOR ROYAL ASCOT: SATURDAY, JUNE 22

Analysis: The other two group-stage races on Saturday have strong favorites with Continuous and Middle Earth facing off in the Hardwicke (G2), which might feature the best chance the United States has at a winner with Missed the Cut. Then River Tiber is a strong choice in the Jersey (G3) later in the day. As a result, I’ll focus on the headlining race that features a competitive field of 14 runners. #5 Mill Stream (9/2) has come back as a four-year-old in even better form logging a close second in the Abernant Stakes (G3) before improving in his second start of the season when he took the Duke of York Clipper Stakes (G2) last time out with jockey William Buick aboard. Buick remains on the mount. Distance should be no issue and it was good to see him excel over firmer ground last time out. It is not uncommon for horses to mature even more going into their four-year-old campaign and that appears to be the case. Expect him to sit with a couple lengths of the lead as he possesses good tactical speed and will not rely on coming from too far back at the end. Meanwhile, #11 Washington Heights (12/1) is facing off against Mill Stream for the third time this year. He got the better of him in the Abernant\ (G3) before missing by a half-length in the Clipper Stakes (G2). Trainer Kevin Ryan already has two wins this week at Royal Ascot and he is another runner who seems to have taken a step forward over the winter. You could make the argument that his last two races have been his best two in his career, and he still provides a good price. He is 7-11 in the exacta at six furlongs and expect him to be forward, perhaps even in the lead on Saturday. One thing to note is that he has had issues out of the gate but has traditionally been able to overcome those to get into the best position. #6 Mitbaahy (6/1) has not traditionally been one to string wins together, but the five-year-old son of Profitable trained by Charlie Hills has improved in each of his three starts in 2024. Last time out he won the Greenelands (G2) over Regional who finished second to Asfoora earlier this week in the King Charles III (G1). My only hesitation picking him up top is that he has traditionally run at five furlongs, but his last two victories came at six, including one over soft ground. Distance should not be a limitation, but I do wonder if last time out was the time to get him at a nice price as he won at 9/1. Finally, morning line favorite #4 Kinross (4/1) is coming off an eight-month layoff having not raced since October 2023 at Ascot. He is a seven-time group stage winner including the 2022 British Champions Sprint (G1), which was the same year he finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Keeneland. My hesitation with the Ralph Beckett trainee is that he has never been one to fire first time the bench, including in this same race last year where he finished seventh by five lengths. Maybe they figured things out, but at a short price, I would have liked to have seen at least one race under his belt for the now seven-year-old.