Tipsheet: 2026 Lecomte Stakes
A super competitive field of 11 sophomores will travel 1 1/16 miles over the Fair Grounds main oval in Saturday’s $250,000 Lecomte (G3).
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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.
Exotics Plays for the Las Cienegas Stakes
Turf sprint standout #1 Queen Maxima will lead a field of nine fillies and mares postward in Sunday’s $100,000 Las Cienegas (G3) at Santa Anita.
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How to bet the Likely Exchange Stakes
A field of eight fillies and mares will jaunt one mile on the Tapeta at Turfway in Saturday’s $125,000 Likely Exchange S.
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Betting With, and Against, Buetane in the San Vicente Stakes
A compact field of five will dash seven panels on the Santa Anita dirt in Saturday’s $200,000 San Vicente (G2).
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Pick 3 of the Week: Fair Grounds Saturday, Jan. 10
The Pick 3 of the Week will come from Fair Grounds on Saturday with a route race on the main oval sandwiched by a pair of sprints on the green.
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Pick 4 of the Week: Tampa Bay Downs Saturday, Jan. 10
The Pick 4 of the Week comes from Tampa Bay on Saturday and kicks off with a stakes tilt.
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How to bet the Eddie Logan Stakes
A total of seven talented sophomores will travel one mile on the Santa Anita green in Thursday’s $100,000 Eddie Logan S. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) runner-up #2 Stark Contrast (7-5) bagged the Zuma Beach S.
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Mucciolo’s Top 5 Horse Betting Strategies for 2026
Playing the ponies is an inexact science that is ever-evolving for me. Horse racing offers the most diversity from a gambling perspective.
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How to bet the 2026 Mockingbird Stakes
Seven sophomore fillies will speed six panels on the Oaklawn Park dirt in Sunday’s $150,000 Mockingbird S.
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Tipsheet: 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes
A field of nine juveniles will travel 1 1/16 miles over the Oaklawn Park oval in Saturday’s $250,000 Smarty Jones S.
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Pick 3 of the Week: Fair Grounds Saturday, Jan. 3
The Pick 3 of the Week comes from Fair Grounds on Saturday, consisting of two turf races as well as a stakes dash on the main oval.
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Betting With, and Against, Explora in the Santa Ynez Stakes
Update: Santa Anita has canceled racing on Saturday in anticipation of significant rain.
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Tipsheet: 2026 Jerome Stakes
A compact field of four sophomores will travel a one-turn mile on the Aqueduct dirt in Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome S.
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Pick 4 of the Week: Oaklawn Park Saturday, Jan. 3
There is a trio of Pick 4 wagering opportunities at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, and the middle sequence is the one that I will take aim at for the Pick 4 of the Week.
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Exotics Plays for the 2026 Turfway Prevue Stakes
A total of seven three-year-olds will travel 6 1/2 panels on the Tapeta at Turfway Park in Saturday’s $125,000 Prevue S.
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How to bet the 2026 Coach Overnight Stakes
A cast of six four-year-old colts will go 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park in Friday’s $135,000 Coach Overnight S.
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How to bet the 2026 Gowell Stakes
An octet of newly turned sophomores will run six furlongs on the Tapeta at Turfway Park in Thursday’s $125,000 Gowell S.
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How to bet the Mrs. Claus Stakes
A full field of 12 fillies and mares will run seven panels on the Parx dirt in Wednesday’s $75,000 Mrs. Claus S.
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How to bet the Parx Future Stars Stakes
A nice field of seven juveniles will dash seven-eighths on the Parx main strip in Tuesday’s $75,000 Future Stars S.
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How to bet the 2025 Joe Hernandez Stakes
The about 6 1/2-furlong dash down the Hillside Turf Course features a bevy of legitimate win threats, and I feel compelled to find some value in the contest.
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Knightsbridge rolled in an allowance at Aqueduct in first-time blinkers (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
How to bet the 2025 Mr. Prospector Stakes
Knightsbridge is the main player after the scratch of White Abarrio.
Wagering
Exotics Plays for the 2025 Last Hurrah Stakes
A well-matched field of nine three-year-olds will run 1 1/8 miles over the Tapeta at Turfway Park in Saturday’s $125,000 Last Hurrah S.
Expert Picks
Pick 4 of the Week: Santa Anita Sunday, Dec. 28
An all-graded stakes sequence will close out the 11-race card during opening day at Santa Anita on Sunday.
Expert Picks
Pick 3 of the Week: Fair Grounds Saturday, Dec. 27
A three-race sequence concluding with one of the two black-type races on the Saturday card at Fair Grounds will make up the Pick 3 of the Week.
Expert Picks
Oaklawn: How to bet the 2025 Pippin Stakes Dec. 26
A cast of six fillies and mares will vie in the $150,000 Pippin S. at Oaklawn Park on Friday.
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Gulfstream: How to bet the 2025 Rampart Stakes Dec. 26
A total of nine fillies and mares will go a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park on Friday in the $125,000 Rampart S.
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Gulftream: How to bet the Via Borghese Stakes Dec. 24
A talented field of eight fillies and mares will run 1 3/8 miles over the Gulfstream Park turf in Wednesday’s $125,000 Via Borghese S.
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Pick 4 of the Week: Turfway Park Sunday, Dec. 21
Three of the four stakes races carded on the fine Turfway Park Sunday card will be in my Pick 4 of the Week.
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How to bet the Prairie Bayou Stakes
A full field of 12 will go one-mile on the Tapeta in Sunday’s $250,000 Prairie Bayou S. at Turfway Park, one of four black-type races on the fine card.
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Pick 3 of the Week: Oaklawn Park Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025
I will take aim at the closing three-race sequence on Saturday at Oaklawn Park for the Pick 3 of the Week.
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