Two plays for five Sunday tournaments at Churchill Downs
The Sunday card at Churchill Downs is the focus of five TwinSpires tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $40 to $600.
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.
Picks and plays for Saturday tournaments at Churchill Downs
If you’re on a roll betting Preakness Day and want to keep the action going in the evening, be sure to check out the Saturday evening card at Churchill Downs.
Tournaments
2026 Preakness Stakes purse: How much prize money the winning owner and trainer will earn
The purse of the Preakness (G1) has come a long way since its inaugural running in 1873, when the winning horse earned $1,850 and the runner-up $200.
Triple Crown
STUDY: Is skipping the Preakness beneficial for Belmont horses?
Does skipping the Preakness give Kentucky Derby starters an advantage in the Belmont? Or has this prep approach become so widespread that wins are inevitable?
Triple Crown
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: $22,400 Super High 5 at Churchill Downs
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, May 15 at Gulfstream Park, Churchill Downs, and Laurel Park, including a ticket for Churchill’s $22,400 Super High 5 carryover.
Gulfstream Park
Everything to know about the 2026 Preakness post positions
How relevant are historical post position statistics for determining which horses drew favorable post positions in Saturday’s $2 million Preakness (G1) at Laurel Park?
Triple Crown
Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Churchill’s $10,040 Super High 5 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, May 14, at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Churchill Downs, including a ticket for Churchill’s $10,040 Super High 5 carryover.
Best Bets
Everything to know about the 2026 Preakness post positions
How relevant are historical post position statistics for determining which horses drew favorable post positions in Saturday’s $2 million Preakness (G1) at Laurel Park?
Triple Crown
Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Ekati Flatter in the Corningstone
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, May 13 at Delaware Park and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a 6-1 shot in the Corningstone H.
Best Bets
Deicke wins Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge, Petrunyak takes TwinSpires Tour
High-profile tournament action made headlines during Kentucky Derby (G1) week when Ed Deicke nabbed first prize in the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge (KDBC) and Ryan Petrunyak emerged victorious in the TwinSpires Tour.
Tournaments
Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Sprint to route at 10-1
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, May 5 at Finger Lakes and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a 10-1 shot stretching out in distance.
Best Bets
Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Horseshoe Indianapolis longshots
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, May 11, at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a pair of double-digit longshots.
Best Bets
Analyzing Sunday carryovers at Churchill Downs, Santa Anita
Sunday is Mother’s Day, and it’s also a great day for horse racing at Churchill Downs and Santa Anita. Each track has a non-jackpot carryover up for grabs.
Wagering
The Smartest Bet in Horse Racing: 4 Strategies for Success
What is the smartest bet in horse racing? The answer is both incredibly complex and surprisingly simple.
Education
Churchill Downs: How to bet the $14,604 Super High 5 carryover
No one solved the $1 Super High 5 in the final race at Churchill Downs on Friday, triggering a $14,604 carryover into Saturday’s card.
Wagering
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: $42,057 Pick 6 carryover at Santa Anita
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, May 8 at Gulfstream Park, Churchill Downs, and Santa Anita, including horses to single in Santa Anita’s $42,057 Pick 6 carryover.
Gulfstream Park
Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: 8-1 shot at Churchill Downs
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, May 7, at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Churchill Downs, along with horses to play in the $850 Pick 6 carryover at Hawthorne.
Best Bets
2026 Kentucky Derby: How far did the top finishers run?
Just how much extra ground did Golden Tempo cover by racing wide in the Kentucky Derby? And did any of the other starters run farther?
Triple Crown
Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Triple Crown nominee at 6-1
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, May 6 at Thistledown and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including an unraced Triple Crown nominee at 6-1 morning-line odds.
Best Bets
Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: $12,615 Pick 5 carryover at Louisiana Downs
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, May 5, at Finger Lakes and Horseshoe Indianapolis, along with horses to single in the $12,615 Pick 5 carryover at Louisiana Downs.
Best Bets
Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Doubles at Thistledown
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, May 4 at Thistledown, including a pair of daily doubles.
Best Bets
Horses to single in the $37,229 Sunset Six carryover
The Sunset Six, a special Pick 6 wager featuring the final three races per day at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita, boasts a $37,229 carryover for Sunday.
Gulfstream Park
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Golden Tempo
Can Golden Tempo go where no son of Curlin has gone before: to the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner’s circle?
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Ocelli
A rallying third-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G2) launched Ocelli into the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) picture.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Danon Bourbon
A powerful homestretch drive carried Danon Bourbon to a 3 1/2-length victory in the Fukuryu S. on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Triple Crown
Keep the winnings rolling: Racing to play after the Kentucky Derby
If you’re flush with winnings from the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) and want to keep the momentum rolling, you’ll be happy to hear that a busy post-Derby evening of horse racing awaits.
Kentucky Derby
2026 Kentucky Derby Purse: How much prize money will the winning owner and trainer earn?
Have you ever wondered how much prize money the owner of a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner receives? Or what the payday for the winning trainer looks like?
Kentucky Derby
How to bet the Kentucky Derby Day mandatory-payout $110,100 Pick 6 carryover
One of the best betting opportunities on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs is the 20-cent “Derby City 6” Pick 6, which features the mandatory payout of a $110,100 carryover.
Kentucky Derby
How Keeler Johnson is betting the 2026 Kentucky Derby
As I outlined when sharing my fair odds for the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1), I view this year’s Run for the Roses as a wide-open race with many possible win contenders.
Triple Crown
2026 Kentucky Derby purse: How much prize money the winning jockey will earn
The jockey who rides the winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs is set to receive a six-figure payday.
Kentucky Derby