Picks: $17,329 Pick 5 carryover, KDBC/NHC Qualifier tournament
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horse to bet in a Pick 5 carryover at Laurel Park and a TwinSpires tournament involving Fair Grounds and Tampa Bay Downs.
Tournaments
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.
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Turfway’s $3,304 Super High 5 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, Jan. 9 at Fair Grounds, Santa Anita, and Turfway Park, including tickets for Turfway’s $3,304 Super High 5 carryover.
Fair Grounds
Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Gulfstream’s $28,543 Super High 5 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, Jan. 8 at Santa Anita, along with tickets for the $28,543 Super High 5 carryover at Gulfstream Park.
Gulfstream Park
Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: 10-1 at Tampa Bay Downs
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, Jan. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs, Delta Downs, and Turfway Park, including a 10-1 longshot.
Turfway Park
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Strategic Risk, My World impress
The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 116 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:
Triple Crown
Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Price plays at Turf Paradise
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Jan. 6 at Turf Paradise, including win bets on horses offering 6-1 and 8-1 morning-line odds.
Best Bets
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Ottinho aims for the Withers
The final days of 2025—and the first days of 2026—yielded a bevy of notable maiden winners with possible 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) aspirations.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Strategic Risk
Strategic Risk, winner of the Smarty Jones S. on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, doesn’t have the flashiest pedigree at first glance.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: My World
A tenacious triumph in the one-mile Jerome S. at Aqueduct has propelled My World into the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) picture.
Triple Crown
Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Carryovers at Sunland Park
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, Jan. 5 at Sunland Park, including horses to bet in Pick 5 and Super High 5 carryovers.
Best Bets
Gulfstream Park: Horses to bet in the $9,695 Super High 5 carryover
If you feel like chasing a non-jackpot Super High 5 carryover on Sunday, check out Gulfstream Park, where a $9,695 prize pool is up for grabs.
Gulfstream Park
Analyzing Saturday carryovers at Oaklawn, Turfway Park
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to bet in a pair of non-jackpot carryovers on Saturday at Oaklawn Park and Turfway Park.
Oaklawn Park
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Turfway’s $5,932 Super High 5 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, Jan. 2 at Oaklawn Park and Turfway Park, including horses to use in Turfway’s $5,932 Super High 5 carryover.
Oaklawn Park
Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: New Year’s Day plays
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, Jan. 1 at Gulfstream Park and Turfway Park, along with a horse to single in the $20,776 Pick 6 carryover at Oaklawn Park.
Gulfstream Park
Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Tampa’s $63,841 Pick 5 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Turf Paradise, along with a horse to single in the $63,841 Pick 5 carryover at Tampa Bay Downs.
Best Bets
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Smarty Jones, Jerome kick off 2026
The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 123 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:
Triple Crown
Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Lost in the Fog Juvenile Stakes
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Dec. 30 at Delta Downs and Turf Paradise, including an exacta in the Lost in the Fog Juvenile S.
Best Bets
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Secured Freedom steps forward
Secured Freedom, a maiden winner on opening day at Santa Anita, prevailed in a manner suggesting he’s a budding 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) contender.
Triple Crown
Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: 4-1 in the Blue Norther
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, Dec. 29 at Santa Anita, including a 4-1 shot in the Blue Norther S.
Best Bets
Oaklawn Park: Who to single in the $10,051 Pick 6 carryover
One of the best carryovers up for grabs on Sunday can be found at Oaklawn Park, where the $1 Classix Pick 6 has tossed up a non-jackpot $10,051 prize pool.
Oaklawn Park
Analyzing six-figure, mandatory-payout Pick 6s at Turf Paradise, Turfway Park
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to bet in a pair of six-figure, mandatory-payout Pick 6 carryovers on Saturday at Turf Paradise and Turfway Park.
Wagering
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Oaklawn’s $10,594 Pick 6 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park, and Turfway Park, along with analysis of Oaklawn Park’s $10,594 Pick 6 carryover.
Gulfstream Park
Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Parx's mandatory-payout Pick 5 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, Dec. 24 at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, along with a horse to single in the mandatory-payout $24,252 Pick 5 carryover at Parx Racing.
Gulfstream Park
Best international racetracks to play on Christmas Day
Christmas Day is a quiet one for U.S. horse racing, with Thoroughbred and harness tracks alike taking the day off. But internationally, many racetracks are in action.
International
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Chip Honcho, Express Kid emerge
The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 130 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:
Triple Crown
Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Exactas at Delta Downs
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Dec. 23 at Delta Downs and Turf Paradise, including exactas and a trifecta.
Best Bets
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Four from Fair Grounds, Turfway
On Saturday at Fair Grounds, unraced two-year-old Golden Tempo debuted with an eye-catching performance, suggesting he could be any sort of talent.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Express Kid
Express Kid, the gate-to-wire winner of the Remington Springboard Mile S. on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, was purchased for only $2,000 as a yearling.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Chip Honcho
Chip Honcho joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a determined win in the Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds. But his pedigree is a bit unorthodox for a Kentucky Derby (G1) contender.
Triple Crown
Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Doubles and a Pick 3 at Turf Paradise
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, Dec. 22 at Turf Paradise, including cold double and Pick 3 wagers.
Best Bets