Betting With, and Against, Nysos in the Pacific Classic
A stellar rendition of the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) will take place at Del Mar on Saturday with a robust field of eight set to go postward.
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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 2025 Spinaway Stakes
A fine field of 10 juvenile fillies will travel seven panels over the Saratoga main strip in Saturday’s $300,000 Spinaway S. (G1).
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Pick 4 of the Week: Kentucky Downs Saturday
Four closing races, three of which are of the graded stakes variety, with combined total purses in excess of $7.5 million, will be my aim with the Pick 4 of the Week at Kentucky Downs.
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Pick 3 of the Week: Del Mar Saturday
The Pacific Classic headlines a massive day of racing at Del Mar on Saturday, and I will go after the closing Pick 3 with the feature in the middle of the sequence.
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How to bet the 2025 Tapit Stakes
An overflow field of 16 is entered in the opening day feature at Kentucky Downs, the $500,000 Tapit S.
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How to bet the Perfect Sting Stakes
A total of 10 fillies and mares will travel one mile over the inner turf in Friday’s deep, $150,000 Perfect Sting S. at Saratoga.
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How to bet the 2025 Rancho Bernardo Handicap
Sunday’s $100,000 Rancho Bernardo H. (G2) at Del Mar attracted just five fillies and mares for the 6 1/2-furlong dash, but the affair features an intriguing contrast between the two main players in the heat.
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How to bet the 2025 Pat O’Brien Stakes
A berth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) is on the line in Saturday’s $250,000 Pat O’Brien S. (G2) at Del Mar.
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Pick 3 of the Week: Ellis Park Saturday, Aug. 23
A pair of two-year-old races will kick off the Pick 3 of the Week at Ellis Park on Saturday.
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Pick 4 of the Week: Saratoga Saturday
A total of five Pick 4 wagers will be offered on the massive Travers Day card at Saratoga on Saturday, and I found the one that intrigues me the most.
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How to bet the 2025 Jamestown Stakes
An octet of juveniles will jaunt 5 1/2 panels on the outer turf oval at Colonial Downs in Saturday’s $125,000 Jamestown S.
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Betting With, and Against, Sovereignty in the Travers
A compact field of five sophomores will travel 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga on Saturday in the $1.25 million Travers S. (G1).
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How to bet the 2025 Yaddo Stakes
A dozen New York-bred fillies and mares are entered for the turf in Friday’s $150,000 Yaddo S. at Saratoga.
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How to bet the 2025 Charles Town Classic
A sharp field of eight will run 1 1/8 miles in Friday night’s lucrative, $1 million Charles Town Classic S. (G2).
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How to bet the 2025 Bolton Landing Stakes
The Sunday feature at Saratoga is the $150,000 Bolton Landing S., a 5 1/2-furlong dash on the turf for juvenile fillies.
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How to bet the 2025 Del Mar Oaks
A deep and competitive field of three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/8 miles on the lawn in Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1).
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Pick 3 of the Week: Ellis Park Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025
I will take a swing at the closing Pick 3 on the Sunday card at Ellis Park, where my favorite types of races will be contested.
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Pick 5 of the Week: Woodbine Saturday
A fantastic card will be hosted by Woodbine on Saturday, led by the 166th running of the King’s Plate S.
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Exotics Plays for the Iselin Stakes
A compact field of six will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Monmouth Park dirt in Saturday’s feature, the $250,000 Philip H. Iselin S. (G3).
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Betting With, and Against, Good Cheer in the Alabama Stakes
A total of six three-year-old fillies, two of which are Grade 1 queens, will vie in Saturday’s $1 million Alabama S. (G1) at Saratoga.
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Future is Now wins the Caress S. at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Chelsea Durand)
How to bet the Smart and Fancy Stakes
Nine fillies and mares are entered for the turf in Friday’s $150,000 Smart and Fancy S.
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How to bet the Cab Callaway Stakes
A cast of eight Empire State-bred sophomores will vie in Thursday’s Cab Calloway division of the $150,000 New York Stallion Series S.
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How to bet the 2025 Sword Dancer Stakes
An accomplished field of nine will run 1 1/2 miles over the Saratoga inner turf in Saturday’s lucrative, $750,000 Sword Dancer S. (G1).
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How to bet the Yellow Ribbon Handicap
A very talented field of eight fillies and mares will travel 1 1/16 miles over the Del Mar turf in Saturday’s $200,000 Yellow Ribbon H. (G2).
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Pick 3 of the Week: Ellis Park Sunday
Ellis Park will host a six-pack of black-type events on Sunday, and I will focus on the trio of stakes tilts that will close out the card.
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How to bet the Mahony Stakes
Nine sophomores will speed 5 1/2 panels over the Saratoga turf in Sunday’s $175,000 Mahony S. (G3).
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Betting With, and Against, Integration in the Arlington Million
The $1 million Arlington Million S. (G1) is the headliner of a huge day of racing at Colonial Downs on Saturday.
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Exotics Plays for the Saratoga Oaks
A compact but competitive field of six sophomore fillies will travel 1 3/16 miles over the Saratoga main turf oval in Saturday’s $500,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. (G2).
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Pick 4 of the Week: Colonial Downs Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025
I will fire at the all-stakes Pick 4 at Colonial Downs on Saturday, which concludes with the $1 million Arlington Million S. (G1).
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How to bet the 2025 Ballston Spa Stakes
A total of nine fillies and mares are entered for the turf in Friday’s feature at Saratoga, the $300,000 Ballston Spa S. (G2).
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