Betting on underdogs: When and how to spot profitable longshots
Spotting profitable longshots in horse racing is easier said than done. But a few handicapping guidelines can help you identify underdogs worth betting.
Education
J. Keeler Johnson
J. Keeler Johnson (also known as “Keelerman”) is a writer, blogger, videographer, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast who was drawn to the sport by Curlin's quest to become North America's richest racehorse.
Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Federal Judge drops in class
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, May 19 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Presque Isle Downs, including a graded stakes winner dropping in class.
Best Bets
Picks: Santa Anita’s $45,807 Pick 6, Churchill Downs tournaments
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to play in a Pick 6 carryover at Santa Anita and a pair of tournaments at Churchill Downs.
Tournaments
Pimlico: Analyzing Preakness Day mandatory-payout carryovers
A couple of five-figure jackpot carryovers will be dispersed in mandatory fashion on Preakness Day at Pimlico.
Preakness Stakes
2025 Preakness Stakes purse: How much prize money the winning owner and trainer will earn
Have you ever wondered how much prize money the winning Preakness owner and trainer receive? We have the answers.
Triple Crown
Best way for beginners to bet $10 on the 2025 Preakness Stakes
Saturday’s 150th running of the $2 million Preakness (G1) at Pimlico is a perfect opportunity for beginning bettors to test the waters with a $10 horse racing bet.
Preakness Stakes
Analyzing the running styles of 2025 Preakness contenders
How fast a pace will we see in Saturday’s 150th running of the $2 million Preakness (G1)? Perhaps analyzing the field will reveal the answer.
Triple Crown
Preakness Stakes pedigree profile: Heart of Honor
After falling a nose shy of victory in the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai, Heart of Honor passed on a start in the Kentucky Derby (G1) to await the Preakness (G1).
Triple Crown
Preakness Stakes pedigree profile: Pay Billy
Back-to-back triumphs in the 1 1/16-mile Private Terms S. and 1 1/8-mile Federico Tesio S. have stamped Pay Billy as a contender for the 2025 Preakness (G1).
Triple Crown
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Black-Eyed Susan undercard
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) undercard at Pimlico on Friday, May 16, along with horses to play in five-figure carryovers at Churchill Downs and Santa Anita.
Best Bets
Everything to know about the 2025 Preakness post positions
Nine horses are entered to race in Saturday’s $2 million Preakness (G1) at Pimlico. Post positions for the second leg of the Triple Crown were drawn on Monday evening.
Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes pedigree profile: Clever Again
It was striking to see Clever Again show talent on dirt with a blowout triumph over Grade 1 winner Gaming in the one-mile Hot Springs S.
Triple Crown
Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Second-time starter at 20-1
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, May 15 at Gulfstream Park, Horseshoe Indianapolis, and Churchill Downs, along with horses to play in a pair of carryovers at Hawthorne.
Gulfstream Park
Preakness Stakes 2025: Meet the jockeys and trainers
Nine jockeys and nine trainers are partnering to race nine horses in Saturday’s $2 million Preakness (G1) at Pimlico.
Triple Crown
Preakness Stakes pedigree profile: Goal Oriented
Back-to-back maiden and allowance optional claiming wins have thrust Goal Oriented into the picture as a 2025 Preakness (G1) contender.
Triple Crown
Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Reining Flowers can upset 2025 debut
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for a trio of stakes on Wednesday, May 14 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a 15-1 longshot.
Best Bets
Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: 3 tracks, 3 exactas
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, May 13 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Will Rogers Downs, and Thistledown, including a trio of exactas.
Best Bets
Horse racing speed figures and class ratings explained
Speed figures and class ratings are two types of data handicappers use to analyze horse races and identify horses worth betting.
Education
Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: 10-1 at Horseshoe Indianapolis
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, May 12 at Thistledown and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a 10-1 shot cutting back from routes to a sprint.
Best Bets
Picks and plays for Sunday tournaments at Churchill Downs
The Sunday card at Churchill Downs is the focus of two tournaments on TwinSpires.com.
Tournaments
Picks for tournaments, $67,675 Pick 6 carryover at Churchill, Santa Anita
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to play in two TwinSpires tournaments and a lucrative Pick 6 carryover on Saturday at Churchill Downs and Santa Anita.
Tournaments
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Aqueduct’s $22,381 Pick 6 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, May 9 at Churchill Downs, along with horses to play in the $22,381 Pick 6 carryover at Aqueduct.
Best Bets
Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Mo Grey can win debut
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, May 8 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Churchill Downs, including a first-time starter at 8-1.
Best Bets
Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Play these 8-1 shots
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, May 7 at Thistledown and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a pair of 8-1 shots.
Best Bets
Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: More Than Even Stakes exacta
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, May 6 at Thistledown and Will Rogers Downs, including an exacta in the More Than Even S.
Best Bets
Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Horseshoe Indianapolis $9,776 Pick 5 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, May 5 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a single for the $9,776 Pick 5 carryover.
Best Bets
Sunday picks: Gulfstream, Aqueduct, and Santa Anita Pick 6 carryovers
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to single in a trio of Pick 6 carryovers on Sunday at Gulfstream Park, Aqueduct, and Santa Anita.
Gulfstream Park
2025 Kentucky Derby winner: Sovereignty (7-1) wins the 151st Kentucky Derby
A determined rally over a sloppy track carried Sovereignty to victory in the 151st running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Jockey Profile: Umberto Rispoli
Of all the jockeys riding in the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1), few can boast more international experience than Umberto Rispoli.
Kentucky Derby
Saturday night tracks to bet with your Kentucky Derby winnings
Horse racing doesn’t end after the Kentucky Derby. Several other tracks are available to bet on in the evening after the Derby is run.
Wagering