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Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch Oct. 5, 2023
Selected features, stakes coverage and the never-ending TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch list (H2W) share keys to success in exotics, win, place and show payoffs.
Harness
Keeneland All-Stakes Pick 3 for Friday, Oct. 6
A trio of graded stakes events will highlight the much-anticipated opening day of the Keeneland Fall Meet on Friday.
Wagering
TwinSpires $2,500 NHC Qualifier Feeder: TwinSpires rolls out new $10 win bet tournaments
Outside of working at a racetrack, to me, there’s no better experience as a handicapper than going to the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC). TwinSpires announced a new tournament, the TwinSpires $5,000 NHC Qualifier, offering two seats.
Education
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: Oct. 4, 2023
Jason opens the show talking Keeneland opening day and making racing more "fun." Then we welcome in Dawn Lupul to the show to talk about her new gig in British Columbia, racing from Hastings, working in management, and more!
Racing Podcast
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Oct. 4, 2023
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Wednesday, Oct. 4 at Aqueduct and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a pair of Grade 2 stakes.
Wagering
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Thursday's card at Presque Isle Downs.
Analysis
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Meet the Contenders: 2023 Breeders' Futurity
Meet the horses running in the 2023 Breeders' Futurity. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well.
Analysis
Racing Roundtable: Breeders' Cup Classic picture, Cody's Wish, Arc weekend
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson convene the Racing Roundtable to discuss Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) preps, Cody's Wish's victory in the Vosburgh (G2), and the weekend action in Europe.
Breeders Cup
Catching my eye: Closing week of Churchill Downs’ September meet
Kevin Kilroy discusses a few standout horses that caught his eye on the closing weekend of Churchill Downs' September meet.
Analysis
Subtle class drops between tracks can yield winning bets
Knowing the ins and outs of racing quality in a given state or region can generate winning plays when horses from a major track take on easier competition at a minor track.
Wagering
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: Oct. 3, 2023
Jason opens the show catching up on some news from the last week in racing and debuts a new song parody. Then he welcomes in trainer Chad Summers to talk about his win in this weekend's Lukas Classic, his training career, and much more!
Racing Podcast
Japan’s Ushba Tesoro streaks into Breeders’ Cup Classic
The captain of Japan's Breeders' Cup team is Ushba Tesoro, the Dubai World Cup (G1) winner who rides a six-race winning streak into the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
Breeders Cup
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Oct. 3, 2023
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday, Oct. 3 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a 5-1 shot with a regal pedigree.
Wagering
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Wednesday's card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Maiden Watch: Stronghold is strong
Three maiden special weights at Churchill Downs last week produced possible Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and/or Road to the Kentucky Derby contenders.
Breeders Cup
Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Oct. 2, 2023
Half of this week’s Breeders’ Cup qualifying action took place at ParisLongchamp in France, where a quintet of Group 1 races awarded “Win and You’re In” tickets.
Breeders Cup
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Oct. 2, 2023
Jason looks back at his break from racing as well as some of the topics that came up from this past weekend of racing.
Features
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Oct. 2, 2023
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Monday, Oct. 2 at Finger Lakes and Presque Isle Downs, including horses to play in the $2,316 Pick 6 carryover at Finger Lakes.
Wagering
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: Oct. 2, 2023
Jason comes back from vacation and catches up on his doings during his time off. He also looks back at this weekend's racing action from Churchill, Belmont at the Big A, and Santa Anita.
Racing Podcast
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Tuesday's card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Oct. 2, 2023
Dick Powell handicaps the Monday card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Harness Weekly Update: H2W list delivers 45% in the money
Harness racing weekend offers high-percentage across-the-board prices and Grand Circuit feature scores.
Harness
Churchill: Singles for the mandatory-payout $150,260 Pick 6 carryover
Sunday is closing day of the Churchill Downs September meet, which means the $150,260 jackpot carryover in the 20-cent “Derby City 6” Pick 6 is slated for a mandatory payout.
Wagering
Scully: Belmont at Aqueduct Spot Plays for Oct. 1
The New York Racing Association moved Saturday’s card to Sunday due to heavy rainfall in the area, and the 11-race program features four graded events, including the 70th running of the $400,000 Woodward (G2).
Wagering
How to bet the 2023 Zenyatta Stakes
A compact field of four will go postward in the $200,000 Zenyatta S. (G2) at Santa Anita on Sunday.
Wagering
How to bet the 2023 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes
A total of eight turf specialists will travel 1 1/4 miles on the Santa Anita lawn in Sunday’s $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship S. (G2). Conditioner Phil D’Amato has a trio of formidable contenders in the contest, but I will give top billing to another in the well-matched field.
Wagering
TwinSpires horse racing podcast playlist for Sept. 29, 2023
Come join our TwinSpires experts as they make special appearances on horse racing podcasts, including At the Races and Horse Racing Radio. Be sure to tune in before races begin!
Racing Podcast
Scott Shapiro's picks for Sep 30 at Churchill Downs
Find out what Scott Shapiro's picks are for September 30, 2023 at Churchill Downs. Follow him and other experts to find horse racing expert picks before the races
Wagering
Churchill Downs: How to bet the $9,774 Super High 5 carryover
$9,774. That’s the size of the non-jackpot Super High 5 carryover up for grabs in Saturday’s opening race at Churchill Downs. It’s not quite five figures, but it’s close, and it’s an enticing prize pool.
Wagering
The Jury: Bets and fades for Sept. 30
The Jury has searched far and wide, from Iowa to France and other places in between, to collect their best opinions for an exciting weekend of racing that includes numerous Breeders' Cup preps.
Wagering
How to bet the 2023 Eddie D Stakes
A talented field of 11 will dash about 6 1/2 furlongs down the Hillside Turf Course at Santa Anita in the $200,000 Eddie D S. (G2). The "Win and You’re In" event will provide the winner with a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at this venue on Nov. 5.
Wagering
International spotlight: Breeders’ Cup WAYIs on Arc Day 2023
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) is figuratively, and almost literally, the centerpiece of the Sunday action at ParisLongchamp, as the fourth of nine races on the fantastic card. Thus the other Group 1s, including four Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events, are stacked all around it.
International
How to bet the 2023 Awesome Again Stakes
A berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) is on the line in Saturday’s $300,000 Awesome Again S. (G1) at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Wagering
Betting Strategies: Building tickets with the market in mind
In terms of building multi-race tickets, we are betting into the races blindly, meaning we do not have any tote information about where the money is going and who might be underlays or overlays. Therefore, a lot of horseplayers end up writing tickets that simply reflect their opinions of who could win, forgetting about the notion of value.
Analysis
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Sept. 29, 2023
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Friday, Sept. 29 at Aqueduct, Churchill Downs, and Santa Anita, including a win bet capitalizing on the Churchill Downs $10 Money Back promotion.
Wagering
The Heart that Wears the Crown: Secretariat
Fifty years and 31 lengths ago, Secretariat sailed into the history books as the ninth horse to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, our American Triple Crown.
Triple Crown
How to bet the 2023 Chillingworth Stakes
An excellent field of seven fillies and mares will run 6 1/2 furlongs on the Santa Anita dirt in the $100,000 Chillingworth S. (G3) on Friday.
Wagering
How to bet With, and Against, Zozos in the 2023 Ack Ack Stakes
A total of seven runners will go postward in the $400,000 Ack Ack S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The winner of the event will receive an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
Wagering
Exotics Plays for the 2023 Lukas Classic
John Mucciolo goes over the best exotic plays for the 2023 Lukas Classic this Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY.
Wagering
Kaitlin Free's picks for Sept. 28 at Churchill Downs
Find out what Kaitlin Free's picks are for September 28, 2023 at Churchill Donws. Follow her and other experts to find horse racing expert picks before the races.
Wagering
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Sept. 28, 2023
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Thursday, Sept. 28 at Churchill Downs and Charles Town, including horses to play in carryovers at Churchill and Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Wagering
Hanson: Newmarket spot plays for Rockfel, Joel
This week's three-day Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket is highlighted by the eponymous handicap and a trio of historically important juvenile events on Saturday.
Wagering
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Thursday's card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Scott Shapiro's picks for Sept. 27 at Churchill Downs
Find out what Scott Shapiro's picks are for Sept. 27 at Churchill Downs. Follow him and other experts to find horse racing expert picks before the races.
Racing Podcast
Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch Sept. 28-Oct. 2
Selected features, stakes coverage and the never-ending TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch list (H2W) share keys to success in exotics, win, place and show payoffs.
Harness
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Sept. 27, 2023
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Presque Isle Downs, Delaware Park, and Churchill Downs, along with tickets for the $2,706 Super High 5 carryover at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Wagering
International spotlight: 10 storylines for 2023 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Sunday’s €5 million Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) is living up to its historic legacy as a fascinating intergenerational clash, pitting current classic winners versus older stars.
International
Racing Roundtable: Penn Derby Day and Churchill Downs After Dark
The Roundtable gang of James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson are back to comment on the weekend action highlighted by Pennsylvania Derby Day at Parx and Downs After Dark at Churchill Downs.
Analysis
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Wednesday's card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Identifying versatile sires can lead to lucrative payoffs
When a male racehorse enjoys success racing over a particular surface (dirt, turf, or synthetic), it’s easy to assume his progeny will follow suit. But sometimes they prove more versatile than expected.
Analysis
Churchill Downs: Early Pick 5 for Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023
On Wednesday, Churchill Downs fires up the final week of the September meet. Here is an early Pick 5 play that kicks off with a single in the opening leg.
Wagering
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Sept. 26
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday, Sept. 26 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Presque Isle Downs, including a 10-1 longshot.
Wagering
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023
Dick Powell guides you through the Tuesday card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Catching My Eye: Bauer and Walsh's strong weekends at Churchill Downs
Trainer Philip Bauer had a huge weekend, scoring with three of his four entries on Saturday and Sunday.
Wagering
Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Sept. 25, 2023
Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Saudi Crown is expected to target the Breeders’ Cup, with both the Classic (G1) and the shorter Dirt Mile (G1) being viable options.
Breeders Cup
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Maiden Watch: Asmussen trainees score at Churchill
A pair of second-time starters from the Steve Asmussen barn graduated in seven-furlong maiden special weights at Churchill Downs last Friday, emerging as possible Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and/or Road to the Kentucky Derby contenders.
Breeders Cup
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Sept. 25, 2023
Dick Powell gives his insights on Monday's card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays Sept. 25
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Monday, Sept. 25 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Presque Isle Downs, along with tickets for the $1,722 Super High 5 carryover at Golden Gate Fields.
Wagering
Harness Weekly Update: 15% win rate for H2W list
The TwinSpires Harness Blog Weekly Update covers our successes and failures from selected features and the H2W (horses-to-watch list).
Harness
Carryovers: Churchill’s $10,457 Super High 5, Aqueduct’s $62,294 Pick 6
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson analyzes a pair of Sunday carryovers at Churchill Downs and Aqueduct.
Wagering
Scott Shapiro's picks for Sept. 23 at Churchill Downs
Find out what Scott Shapiro's picks are for September 23, 2023 at Churchill Downs. Follow him and other experts to find horse racing expert picks before the races.
Wagering
TwinSpires horse racing podcast playlist
Come join our TwinSpires experts as they make special appearances on horse racing podcasts, including Horse Racing Radio, and Jason Beem's podcast. Be sure to tune in before races begin!
Racing Podcast
Parx: How to bet the mandatory-payout $264,765 Pick 5 carryover
Saturday is shaping up as an awesome day of racing at Parx. The betting action is made lucrative by the mandatory payout of a $264,765 carryover in the 50-cent “Philly Big 5” Pick 5 wager.
Wagering
The Jury: Bets and fades for Sept. 23
The Jury reconvenes this week to deliberate upon the racing action at Churchill Downs and Parx.
Wagering
Betting Strategy: Identifying lucrative multi-race sequences
On Sunday, Sept. 17 at Churchill Downs, the Late Pick 5 paid $136,938.65. With a pool of $322,227, only two tickets correctly identified the winners of Races 6 through 10. Not one horse bet to favoritism in the win pools crossed the finish line first.
Wagering
Scully: Singles bookend Pick 4 play on Downs After Dark program
James Scully recommends a Pick 4 play on Saturday's Downs After Dark program.
Wagering
Joe Kristufek's picks for Sept. 22 at Churchill Downs
Find out what Joe Kristufek's picks are for September 22, 2023 at Churchill. Follow him and other experts to find horse racing expert picks before the races.
Wagering
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Sept. 22
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Friday, Sept. 22 at Churchill Downs and Charles Town, along with a horse to single in the $4,300 Pick 5 carryover at Penn National.
Wagering
Remington Park Derby and Oaks Selections
A total of eight stakes races, led by a pair of Grade 3 tilts for sophomores to conclude the card, will highlight a huge evening of racing at Remington Park on Sunday.
Wagering
How to bet the 2023 Presque Isle Debutante Stakes
A dozen juvenile fillies will go postward on Monday in the $80,000 Presque Isle Debutante S. The 6 1/2-furlong affair on the All-Weather strip features a well-matched field with numerous intriguing prospects in it, and my focus will be on a trio of youngsters in the heat.
Wagering
Kaitlin Free's picks for Sep 21 at Churchill Downs
Find out what Kaitlin Free's picks are for September 21, 2023 at Churchill Downs. Follow her and other experts to find horse racing expert picks before the races.
Wagering
How to bet the 2023 Noble Damsel Stakes
Update: Aqueduct has canceled live racing on Saturday due to the adverse weather forecast. The $150,000 Noble Damsel S. (G3) will be postponed to next Friday, Sept. 29.
Wagering
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast Sept. 21, 2023
Jason opens by discussing some show feedback. This will be the final show before his vacation. He also looks ahead to a Churchill Downs Saturday night card, as well as racing from Parx.
Racing Podcast
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for Sept. 21, 2023
Jason discusses his upcoming vacation, and how important it is to take breaks from things we love.
Racing Podcast
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis Sept. 21
Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Thursday's card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Sept. 21
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Thursday, Sept. 21 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Churchill Downs, along with a horse to single in the $86,515 Pick 6 carryover at Aqueduct.
Wagering
How to bet With, and Against, Yesternight in the Dogwood Stakes
A well-matched field of nine sophomore fillies will vie in the $300,000 Dogwood S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Analysis
Exoitcs Plays for the 2023 Turf Monster Stakes
An overflow field of 15 has been entered for Saturday’s $250,000 Turf Monster S. (G3) at Parx. The competitive dash at five furlongs on the lawn attracted numerous viable win contenders in a deep and talented field.
Wagering
Stakes Spot Plays for Parx for September 23
A total of 10 stakes contests, headlined by a pair of Grade 1 tilts, will headline a massive day of action at Parx on Saturday. The signature day of the meeting attracted a bevy of top horses and races, and I have multiple horses of interest on the fine card.
Wagering
Stakes Spot Plays for Churchill Downs on September 23
A quartet of stakes tussles for sophomores highlights the fine Saturday card at Churchill Downs on. The Dogwood S. (G3) is the feature, but I will focus on the trio of black-type events on the undercard for this piece.
Wagering
Expert Pick of the Week: 2023 Dogwood Stakes
A talented field of nine sophomore fillies will travel seven-eighths of a mile on the Churchill Downs main oval in Saturday’s $300,000 Dogwood S. (G3).
Wagering
How to bet the 2023 Cotillion Stakes
An excellent field of nine three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Parx dirt in Saturday’s lucrative $1 million Cotillion S. (G1).
Wagering
Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch Sept. 21-25
Selected features, stakes coverage, and the never-ending TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch list (H2W) share keys to success in exotics, win, place, and show payoffs.
Harness
Churchill Downs Early Pick 5: Wednesday, September 20, 2023
One week into the Churchill Downs Fall meet and the Early Pick 5 payouts are averaging just over $10,000. This five-figure trend will likely continue on Wednesday as the sequence has several vulnerable morning line favorites, including one who will surely be singled on the majority of tickets.
Features
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast Sept. 20, 2023
Jason opens the show talking about the closing of Turf Paradise. Then we welcome back Ed DeRosa for an in person interview from Toronto, where the guys discuss a wide range of topics.
Racing Podcast
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Sept. 20
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Wednesday, Sept. 20 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Churchill Downs, along with a horse to single in a pair of Pick 5 carryovers at Delaware Park.
Wagering
Scott Shapiro's picks for Sept. 20 at Churchill Downs
Find out what Scott Shapiro's picks are for September 20, 2023 at Churchill Downs. Follow him and other experts to find horse racing expert picks before the races.
Wagering
When betting lightly raced juveniles, analyze the horses they’ve run against
When handicapping lightly raced juveniles who have only run one or two times, it’s helpful to examine the quality of horses they’ve competed against to get a feel for which runners are coming out of high-quality races.
Analysis
First-crop sires: State-bred winners keep Maximus Mischief hot
One month has passed since we introduced Maximus Mischief as the early leader among first-crop sires of 2023. It’s safe to say he remains a dominant force among young stallions.
Pedigree
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: West Saratoga
It’s only fitting that West Saratoga won the one-mile Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs, the first leg of the 2023-24 Road to the Kentucky Derby. The gray colt is bred top and bottom for success in the spring classics.
Triple Crown
Brereton C. Jones: Former Kentucky Governor's four noted Thoroughbred connections
Brereton C. Jones, who along with his wife Libby founded Airdrie Stud in 1972 and later served one term as governor of Kentucky from 1991-95, died on Sept. 18 at the age of 84.
Features
Catching My Eye: Opening Week at Churchill Downs
On Thursday the three-week Fall meet at Churchill Downs kicked off, and by Saturday, a track record for most wins at Churchill Downs was secured. Thirteen races were run for juveniles, and although opening weekend saw strong efforts from older stakes horses, all eyes were on the two-year-olds as it's never too early to start thinking about the first weekend in May.
Wagering
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis by Dick Powell Wednesday 09/20/23
Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Wednesday's card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Racing Roundtable: 2024 Derby, Oaks trails kick off and Master of the Seas
A scaled-down version of the Racing Roundtable looks back at the first preps for the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), a top turf miler, and other notes of interest from the weekend.
Features
Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Sept. 19
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday, Sept. 19 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Assiniboia Downs, along with a ticket for the $5,188 Pick 5 carryover at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast Sept. 19, 2023
Jason opens the show catching up on some news from around the world of racing. Then we welcome in horseplayer Tommy Massis to the show to talk about his life as a gambler, how he got into it, stories from the road, and so much more!
Racing Podcast
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Maiden Watch: Private Desire posts fast win
Seven weeks out from the 2023 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, possible Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) contenders continue to emerge from maiden special weights around the country.
Breeders Cup
Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Sept. 18, 2023
The Saturday card at Woodbine in Canada featured three Grade 1 stakes awarding “Win and You’re In” berths to the Breeders’ Cup.
Breeders Cup