Tipsheet: 2026 Southwest Stakes
A massive cast of 13 sophomores (with the expected scratch of morning-line choice #5 Litmus Test) will run 1 1/16 miles on the Oaklawn Park surface in Friday's lucrative, $1 million Southwest (G3).
Kentucky Derby
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.
Betting With, and Against, Pony Express in the San Pasqual Stakes
The John Sadler-trained #5 Pony Express (9-5) has been installed as the morning-line choice for the $200,000 San Pasqual (G2) at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Analysis
Exotics Plays for the Endeavour Stakes
A deep and well-matched field of 11 fillies and mares will vie in Saturday’s $175,000 Endeavour (G3), one of two graded stakes tilts on the strong Tampa Bay Downs card.
Wagering
Pick 4 of the Week: Gulfstream Park Saturday, Jan. 31
The Pick 4 of the Week will come from Gulfstream on Saturday, and my focus will be on the early four-race sequence.
Wagering
Pick 3 of the Week: Laurel Park Saturday, Jan. 31
A pair of black-type races for three-year-olds are on the Saturday card at Laurel, and the co-features will both be included in the Pick 3 of the Week.
Wagering
Tipsheet: 2026 Withers Stakes
A cast of eight sophomores will run nine panels on the Aqueduct main surface in Saturday’s $200,000 Withers S.
Kentucky Derby
How to bet the La Coneja Stakes
A total of eight fillies and mares will contest Sunday’s $80,000 La Coneja S. at Sunland Park.
Wagering
Tipsheet: 2026 Holy Bull Stakes
A strong field of seven sophomores will travel 1 1/16 miles over the Gulfstream Park main oval in Saturday’s $275,000 Holy Bull (G3).
Kentucky Derby
Pick 3 of the Week: Sam Houston Saturday, Jan. 24
Sam Houston will host a handful of black-type races on Saturday, and I will make an all-stakes Pick 3 play on the big card.
Wagering
How to bet the Baffle Stakes
A very good field of seven three-year-olds will go 6 1/2 panels down the Hillside Turf Course at Santa Anita in Sunday’s $100,000 Baffle S.
Wagering
How to bet the Interborough Stakes
An octet of fillies and mares will run seven-eighths on the Aqueduct main oval in Saturday’s $135,000 Interborough S.
Wagering
Exotics Plays for the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf
An overflow field of 14 has been entered for Saturday’s $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Pegasus World Cup
Pick 4 of the Week: Gulfstream Park Saturday, Jan. 24
Gulfstream Park offers four Pick 4 wagers on their sensational card on Saturday, and I would love nothing more than to pad my bankroll early, leading into the marquee races later in the day.
Wagering
Betting With, and Against, Disco Time in the Pegasus World Cup
A full field will vie in Saturday’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Wagering
How to bet the 2026 Astra Stakes
A compact field will trek 1 1/2 miles over the Santa Anita turf course in Monday’s $100,000 Astra S.
Wagering
How to bet the Riley Allison Derby
A competitive field of nine will travel one mile on the Sunland Park main strip in Sunday’s $100,000 Riley Allison Derby.
Wagering
Pick 3 of the Week: Santa Anita Saturday, Jan. 17
I will take aim at the all-stakes Pick 3 that closes out the big day of action at Santa Anita on Saturday, and I feel that the sequence could pay very well if my handicapping is on point.
Wagering
How to bet the Ladies Stakes
An accomplished field of eight fillies and mares will go postward in Saturday’s $135,000 Ladies S. at Aqueduct.
Wagering
Pick 4 of the Week: Fair Grounds Saturday, Jan. 17
The Pick 4 of the Week comes from Fair Grounds on Saturday, and I will attack the middle of the three individual four-race plays that are offered on the excellent 13-race card.
Wagering
Exotics Plays for the Leonatus Stakes
A cast of nine three-year-olds will run one mile on the Tapeta at Turfway in Saturday’s $125,000 Leonatus S.
Wagering
Betting With, and Against, Just a Touch in the Louisiana Stakes
A solid field of eight will travel 1 1/6 miles on the dirt at Fair Grounds in Saturday’s $175,000 Louisiana (G3).
Wagering
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).
Wagering
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.
Wagering
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.
Wagering
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).
Wagering
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.
Wagering
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.
Wagering
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.
Wagering
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.
Wagering
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.
Wagering