Pacific Classic Exotics Plays
An outstanding field of 11 will run 1 1/4 miles on the Del Mar main strip in Saturday’s $1 million Pacific Classic (G1).
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John Mucciolo
Handicapper and journalist John Mucciolo has been a contributor to Brisnet and TwinSpires since 2004. Mucciolo's work has included efforts in the 'Notebook' series of The Handicapper's Edge in the early days of Brisnet.com and most recently on TwinSpires Edge. John has also offered selections for a varied array of Brisnet products. Outside of Mucciolo's frequent analysis on horse racing, Mucc is an acclaimed high school soccer coach who earned Times-Tribune's Coach of the Year honors in 2020.
How to bet the 2026 Del Mar Derby
A cast of nine sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles on the green in Sunday’s $300,000 Del Mar Derby (G2).
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How to bet the 2026 Ellis Park Turf Stakes
A deep field of 11 fillies and mares will travel 1 1/16 miles on the green in Sunday’s $175,000 Ellis Park Turf S.
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Betting With, and Against, El Potente in the Del Mar Mile Stakes
A deep and talented cast of 12 will jaunt eight panels on the lawn on Sunday in the $300,000 Del Mar Mile (G2).
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Spot Plays for Claiming Crown Showcase Day
Nine starter handicaps qualifying for the 28th Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs on Nov. 14 will take place at Colonial Downs on Saturday.
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Pick 3 of the Week: Del Mar Saturday, August 22
I will aim at a three-race sequence at Del Mar on Saturday that features a pair of exciting maiden races as the bookends and a deep turf dash in the middle.
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Pick 4 of the Week: Saratoga Saturday, August 22
The pair of graded stakes races on the Saturday card at Saratoga are the middle legs of the Pick 4 of the Week.
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Tipsheet: 2026 Alabama Stakes Tipsheet
A cast of six three-year-old fillies will go 1 1/4 miles on the dirt in Saturday’s $600,000 Alabama (G1) at Saratoga.
Analysis
Kensington Lane winning the Belmont Oaks (G1) at Saratoga. (Photo by Angelo Lieto/Coglianese Photos)
Tipsheet: 2026 Del Mar Oaks
An excellent and well-matched field of 10 sophomore fillies will travel 1 1/8 miles on the lawn at Del Mar in Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1).
Analysis
How to bet the 2026 King Edward Stakes
A cast of six turf performers will vie in the $200,000 King Edward (G2) at Woodbine on Saturday.
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How to bet the Rancho Bernardo Stakes
A cast of six will speed 6 1/2 furlongs on the Del Mar dirt in Sunday’s $100,000 Rancho Bernardo (G3).
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How to bet the 2026 Mahony Stakes
Seven speedy sophomores will run 5 1/2 furlongs over the Saratoga turf in Sunday’s $225,000 Mahony (G3).
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Pick 4 of the Week: Woodbine Saturday, August 15
A fun and challenging four-race sequence flooded with stakes contests will be the Pick 4 of the Week at Woodbine on Saturday.
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Pick 3 of the Week: Colonial Downs Saturday, August 15
A trio of black-type tilts will make up an all-stakes Pick 3 at Colonial Downs on Saturday.
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Exotics Plays for the Canadian Stakes
A cast of seven fillies and mares will run 1 1/16 miles on the inner lawn at Woodbine in Saturday’s $200,000 Canadian (G2).
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Betting With, and Against, Minaret Station in the Christophe Clement Turf
An especially well-matched and accomplished field of seven will travel 1 1/2 miles over the Saratoga green in Saturday’s $750,000 Christophe Clement Turf (G1). Grade 2 victor #6 Minaret Station (3-1) has been installed as the lukewarm morning-line choice in the excellent cast for trainer William Walden.
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Tipsheet: 2026 King’s Plate
A strong and deep field of 12 sophomores will run 1 1/4 miles on the Tapeta surface in Saturday’s historic, $1 million King’s Plate S. at Woodbine.
Analysis
Betting With, and Against, Explora in the Test Stakes
Grade 2 heroine #7 Explora (5-2) has been installed as the morning-line choice for Saturday’s $500,000 Test (G1) at Saratoga.
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Pick 3 of the Week: Del Mar Saturday, August 8
I’ll come swinging out of the gate by taking aim at the first three races on the Saturday card at Del Mar for the Pick 3 of the week.
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Pick 4 of the Week: Ellis Park Sunday, August 9
A total of six black-type races will highlight a fantastic card at Ellis Park on Sunday.
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How to bet the 2026 West Virginia Derby
An octet of sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Mountaineer main oval in Sunday’s $400,000 West Virginia Derby (G3).
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Tipsheet: 2026 Saratoga Derby
An excellent and well-matched field of 10 sophomores will travel 1 3/16 miles on the lawn in Saturday’s $750,000 Saratoga Derby (G1) at Saratoga.
Analysis
How to bet the Fourstardave Stakes
A splendid cast of seven of the top turf milers around will jaunt eight panels on the Saratoga inner turf course in Saturday’s $750,000 Fourstardave (G1).
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Saratoga Stakes Plays for Friday, Aug. 7
A strong pair of Grade 2 events for three-year-olds will take place on the Saratoga lawn on Friday.
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Exotics Plays for the Yellow Ribbon Stakes
An octet of fillies and mares will contest the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon (G2) at Del Mar on Saturday.
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Tipsheet: 2026 Whitney Stakes
A star-studded cast of eight fantastic thoroughbreds will run 1 1/8 miles over the Saratoga main oval in Saturday’s historic, $1 million Whitney (G1).
Analysis
Tipsheet: 2026 Adirondack Stakes
A nice group of nine two-year-old fillies will jaunt 6 1/2 panels on the main oval at Saratoga in Sunday’s $225,000 Adirondack (G3).
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How to bet the 2026 Glens Falls Stakes
An outstanding field of 11 fillies and mares will travel 1 1/2 miles on the Saratoga inner turf course in Sunday’s $250,000 Glens Falls (G2).
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Betting With, and Against, Seismic Beauty in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes
Eight fillies and mares will look to upend defending champ #8 Seismic Beauty (5-2) in Saturday’s $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar.
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Stakes Spot Plays for Ellis Park Sunday, Aug. 2
A handful of black-type events will close out the huge Sunday card at Ellis Park, and I have horses of interest in four of the contests.
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