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Newmarket: Spot Plays for July Festival on Thursday
It lacks the prestige of some of England's other major fixtures, but this week's three-day July Festival at Newmarket, which runs from Thursday through Saturday, will have plenty of interest.
Wagering
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: July 12, 2023
Jason looks ahead to the Colonial Downs meet that gets underway on Thursday. He also welcomes in the new Director of Racing at Colonial Downs Frank Hopf to talk about his life in racing and the upcoming season.
Racing Podcast
Why seemingly good trips can actually be bad
In horse racing, the simplest form of a “bad trip” is racing wide and losing ground against a rail-skimming rival. But on the other hand, saving ground doesn’t automatically constitute a good trip.
Analysis
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of July 12
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Wednesday, July 12 at Delaware Park, Horseshoe Indianapolis, and Assiniboia Downs, including a trio of exactas.
Wagering
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, June 12, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections for the Wednesday card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Catching My Eye: Greg Foley and Declan Cannon at Ellis Park
Analyst Kevin Kilroy discusses the successful summers of trainer Greg Foley and jockey Declan Cannon.
Wagering
ADVERTISEMENT
Keeler Johnson's 2023 picks and plays midyear ROI report
We recently crossed the halfway point in 2023, which means it’s time for a midyear check on the performance of my daily Picks and Plays and carryover analysis columns for TwinSpires Edge.
Racing
Racing Roundtable: Belmont Derby and Oaks, Idiomatic
James Scully, Ashley Anderson, and Vance Hanson gather along the roundtable to discuss the results from a pair of Grade 1 turf events for three-year-olds, the Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks, and Delaware H. (G2) winner Idiomatic's rise in the older female dirt division.
Analysis
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of July 11
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday, July 11 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Thistledown, including a trifecta capitalizing on the Trifecta Tuesday promotion.
Wagering
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: July 11, 2023
Jason welcomes back trainer Cherie Devaux to the show to talk about her big weekend, the upcoming Ellis Park and Saratoga meets, her barns' rise in stature, and much more!
Racing Podcast
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections for the Tuesday card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Saratoga: Recent trends in Week 1 Saturday stakes
There will be at least two graded stakes scheduled on each Saturday of the Saratoga meet, of which there will be eight beginning July 15.
Features
Harness Weekly Update: 15% winners, 40% across-the-board hits
Contenders strike 40% across the board.
Harness
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, July 10, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections for the Monday card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem July 10, 2023
Jason looks back at his favorite story from the weekend, as jockey Cindy Murphy took home her 2,000th win in a very special way.
Features
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays July 10
J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Monday, July 10 at Thistledown, Presque Isle Downs, and Louisiana Downs, along with a horse to single in the $2,600 Pick 6 carryover at Finger Lakes.
Wagering
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: July 10, 2023
Jason looks back at the weekend of racing, including a big stakes card at Belmont Park featuring the Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks. He also talks some Indiana Derby, Delaware Park, and Prairie Meadows.
Racing Podcast
Ellis Park: Horses to play in the $1,571 Super High 5 carryover
Do you like handicapping maiden races filled with first-time starters? Then why don’t you try solving Sunday’s third race at Ellis Park, which offers a $1,571 carryover in the $1 Super High 5.
Racing
Ellis Park: How to bet the $2,899 Super High 5 carryover
No one hit the $1 Super High 5 on Friday at Ellis Park, which means there’s a $2,899 carryover up for grabs when racing continues at the Kentucky oval on Saturday.
Racing
The Heart That Wears the Crown: Count Fleet
Count Fleet swept into his classic season like no other. Virtually unbeatable at three, his trip through the three races was marked not by grinding stretch runs for the win but by the ease behind his victories, the clear joy he had in the running. The heart that wore the sixth Triple Crown was one that was both headstrong and ecstatic in one small brown package.
Features
2023 Cornhusker H. (G3) exotics plays and field analysis
Multiple graded stakes winner and Belmont S. (G1) third-place finisher Skippylongstocking will headline a field of 10 three-year-olds and older in the 1 1/8-mile Cornhusker H. (G3) on Saturday.
Wagering
How to bet With, and Against, The Foxes in the Belmont Derby
A talented field of 11 three-year-olds will go 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf in Saturday’s lucrative $750,000 Belmont Derby (G1).
Wagering
Scully: Pick 3 plays with Belmont Derby
The $750,000 Belmont Derby (G1) heads four stakes at Belmont Park Saturday, and I’m keen to play English invader The Foxes, who cuts back to a favorable 1 1/4-mile trip in his U.S. debut.
Wagering
The Jury: Bets and fades for July 8
Closing weekend of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park and the signature race days at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Delaware Park, and Prairie Meadows are the highlights of U.S. racing.
Wagering
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of July 7
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Friday, July 7 at Prairie Meadows, along with a horse to single in the $138,216 Pick 6 carryover at Belmont Park.
Wagering
How to bet the 2023 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes
An outstanding field of nine three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/4 miles over the inner turf in Saturday’s $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational S. (G1).
Wagering
Exotics Plays for the 2023 Delaware Handicap
A compact, but very good, field of six fillies and mares will travel 1 3/16 miles over the main oval in Saturday’s lucrative $500,000 Delaware H. (G2).
Wagering
Stakes Spot Plays for Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 8
A total of eight stakes races, led by a pair of Grade 3 tilts, will help comprise a massive 12-race card at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Saturday.
Wagering
Spot plays and Pick 3 for Prairie Meadows, including the Iowa Oaks and Derby
The $300,000 Cornhusker H. (G3), Iowa Oaks (G3), and $250,000 Iowa Derby (listed) highlight an 11-race card at Prairie Meadows for Day 2 of the 2023 Iowa Festival of Racing.
Wagering
How to bet the Dade Park Dash Stakes
A total of seven sophomores will sprint 5 1/2 panels on the Ellis Park lawn in Saturday’s $100,000 Dade Park Dash S.
Wagering
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for July 6, 2023
Jason discusses all the various types of horse racing and how they cross over amongst fans and bettors.
Features
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: July 6, 2023
Jason looks ahead to some of the weekend racing coming up, including a big stakes day at Belmont as well as big races from Delaware, Horseshoe Indianapolis, and Prairie Meadows.
Racing Podcast
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of July 6
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Thursday, July 6 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Charles Town, including a trio of exactas.
Wagering
Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch July 6-10
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
Prairie Meadows Stakes Spot Plays for July 7
A total of four black-type races will take place during a big night of racing at Prairie Meadows on Friday.
Wagering
How to bet the 2023 Clarksville Handicap
A full field of 12 fillies and mares will speed five-eighths on the Horseshoe Indianapolis turf course in Friday’s $100,000 Clarksville H.
Wagering
Catching My Eye: The Asmussen Barn Storms Ellis Park
In 64 starts since the Churchill Downs meet moved over to Ellis Park on June 10, Amussen won 22 races (34%).
Analysis
When high-class horses lose off layoffs, betting opportunities can arise
When a high-profile racehorse suffers a defeat in their first run off a layoff, it’s tempting to forgive the misfire and assume they were a bit rusty. But that isn’t always the right betting strategy.
Analysis
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: July 5, 2023
Jason welcomes in Ray Cotolo from Oak Grove harness track to talk about harness racing in Kentucky, some handicapping discussion, content in racing, and much more!
Racing Podcast
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of July 5
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Wednesday, July 5 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a 12-1 longshot.
Wagering
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections for the Wednesday card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Pedigree notebook: Frankel hits Royal Ascot triple, follows up with Curragh juvenile
Frankel deserved the pedigree notebook treatment for siring three Group 1 stars at Royal Ascot, but the Juddmonte great is a moving target. He has continued to supply more material in the interim, most significantly a juvenile filly who broke her maiden over Irish Derby weekend.
Pedigree
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: July 4, 2023
Jason discusses a few of the daily topics from around the world of horse racing as well as the Fourth of July holiday.
Racing Podcast
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of July 4
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares Independence Day picks and plays for Tuesday, July 4 at Belmont Park, Finger Lakes, and Los Alamitos, including a cold double wager.
Wagering
How to bet the 2023 Great Lady M Stakes
Los Alamitos is celebrating Independence Day with the holiday’s lone graded stakes: the $200,000 Great Lady M (G2) for fillies and mares dashing 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt.
Wagering
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections for the Tuesday card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem July 3, 2023
Jason looks back at the weekend and his favorite story from the weekend involving a special name for a horse.
Features
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays July 3
J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Monday at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Belmont Park, and Presque Isle Downs, along with horses to play in carryovers at Finger Lakes and Louisiana Downs.
Wagering
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: July 3, 2023
Jason looks back at the weekend of racing, including his weekend calling at Tampa Bay Downs. He talks Stephen Foster Day at Ellis Park, Belmont, and some Woodbine racing.
Racing Podcast
Harness Weekly Update: 21% winners, 55% across-the-board hits
Contenders storm home for 55% across the board; features priced well
Harness
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, July 3, 2023
Dick Powell explains his selections for the Presque Isle Downs card on Monday.
Wagering
Ellis Park: How to bet the mandatory-payout $161,516 Pick 6 carryover
The Sunday card at Ellis Park brings the mandatory payout of a $161,516 Pick 6 jackpot. Let’s analyze the six races and assemble a ticket.
Wagering
How to bet the 2023 Perfect Sting Stakes
Conditioner Chad Brown has the three leading contenders for Sunday’s $150,000 Perfect Sting S. at Belmont Park.
Wagering
Pedigree clues for juveniles in Bashford Manor, Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park
Sunday’s card at Ellis Park wraps up Stephen Foster weekend with five more stakes, including two for promising juveniles. Let’s look for pedigree clues in the Debutante S. and Bashford Manor S.
Pedigree
Stakes spot plays for Irish Derby weekend at the Curragh
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares spot plays for seven weekend stakes at the Curragh Racecourse in Ireland, including the prestigious Irish Derby (G1).
International
Betting intelligence: Stephen Foster Day at Ellis Park
Weather could be a major factor on the blockbuster Stephen Foster Day card at Ellis Park. If the stormy forecast verifies, we’re looking at a wet main track, and at best, a rain-affected turf course. With that in mind, here are contenders to consider beyond the obvious favorites.
Wagering
The Jury: Bets and fades for July 1
The TwinSpires jury of James Scully, Vance Hanson, and Ashley Anderson discuss their top plays for Stephen Foster Day at Ellis Park, along with graded stakes at Delaware Park, Belmont Park, and Woodbine this weekend.
Wagering
Spot plays and Pick 3 for Ellis Park, including the Maxfield Overnight and Hanshin
Ellis Park will feature a 10-race card on Sunday with five stakes, including the Debutante S., Bashford Manor S., Anchorage Overnight S., Maxfield Overnight S., and Hanshin S. presented by JRA.
Wagering
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of June 30
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Friday, June 30 at Ellis Park and Gulfstream Park, including horses to use in Gulfstream’s mandatory-payout $149,054 Rainbow Pick 6 carryover.
Wagering
Woodbine Stakes Spot Plays for Saturday
A total of five graded stakes races will lead the way on a massive day of racing north of the border at Woodbine on Saturday.
Wagering
Spot plays and Pick 3 for Ellis Park, including the Fleur de Lis and Wise Dan
The Grade 2 Fleur de Lis for fillies and mares and the Grade 3 Wise Dan are two of six stakes on tap at Ellis Park for Stephen Foster Day on Saturday, July 1.
Wagering
Final weekend of Ellis Park: Track profile, vulnerable favorites, and high impact jockeys
It’s the final week of the Churchill Downs meet at Ellis Park. Two trends have been present from the outset.
Analysis
How to bet the 2023 Dwyer Stakes
A total of six sophomores will travel one mile on the Belmont Park main oval in Saturday’s $200,000 Dwyer S. (G3).
Wagering
Scully: Handicapping All-Stakes Pick 4 on Stephen Foster Day
Newly reinstated to Grade 1 status, Saturday’s $1 million Stephen Foster (G1) drew a fine field of eight, including seven graded winners this year, and serves as the third leg in an all-stakes Pick 4 that kicks off in the eighth race.
Racing
How to bet the 2023 Hanshin Stakes
An intriguing handicapping puzzle awaits horseplayers in Sunday’s $275,000 Hanshin S. at Ellis Park.
Wagering
How to bet the 2023 Delaware Oaks
A talented and well-matched field of 10 three-year-old fillies will vie in Saturday’s $300,000 Delaware Oaks (G3).
Wagering
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for June 29, 2023
Jason discusses special moments in horse racing, both in the public eye and behind the curtains.
Racing
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: June 29, 2023
Jason previews some of the weekend races from Ellis Park and Delaware Park, along with discussing some current racing topics and news.
Racing Podcast
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of June 29
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares a trio of exacta plays for Thursday, June 29 at Delaware Park and Charles Town.
Racing
What is a World Pool, and how does it work?
Once in a while, you might hear the term “World Pool” pop up in reference to international horse racing. Have you ever wondered what it means?
Education
Betting With, and Against, Smile Happy, in the 2023 Stephen Foster Stakes
A total of eight talented handicap runners will vie in the lucrative $1 million Stephen Foster S. (G1) at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Wagering
2023 Tepin Stakes Exotics Plays
The finale on a huge day of racing at Ellis Park on Saturday will see nine sophomore fillies run one mile on the turf in the $225,000 Tepin S.
Wagering
Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch June 29-July 3
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
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: June 28, 2023
Jason opens the show talking about late odds changes. Then we welcome in jockey McKenna Anderson to talk about her apprenticeship, riding at Horseshoe Indianapolis, her Washington State roots, and more!
Racing Podcast
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of June 28
Handicapper Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Wednesday at Delaware Park, Finger Lakes, and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including horses to single in the $2,881 Pick 6 carryover at Finger Lakes.
Racing
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections for the Wednesday card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Racing Roundtable: Three-year-old division, Royal Ascot, Equinox
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson reconvene the roundtable to discuss recent international highlights and tab three-year-olds to step up in the second half.
Features
Hanson: England gets its Triple Crown right, why can't we?
The drumbeats and clamoring for changes in spacing between the three Triple Crown events has gotten noticeably louder in recent weeks, the result of a disturbing trend this year in which there was little continuity in field composition.
Triple Crown
Royal Ascot 2023: Top 10 takeaways
While the proliferation of longshots was a recurring theme of Royal Ascot 2023, there’s much more to be gleaned from the five action-packed days. Here’s my synthesis, in top 10 style.
Royal Ascot
Catching My Eye: Ellis Park June 22-25
This week on Catching My Eye, we’ll look to polish off a few efforts that maybe don't look so impressive on the page, but considering the track bias at Ellis Park, they were really valiant efforts.
Analysis
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: June 27, 2023
Jason opens the show discussing some news stuff from the weekend. Then we welcome in Joe Bianca from West Point Thoroughbreds to talk about group ownership, his new podcast, and much more!
Racing Podcast
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of June 27
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday at Thistledown and Horseshoe Indianapolis, along with horses to single in the $79,740 Pick 5 carryover at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Wagering
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Dick Powell offers his selections for the Tuesday card at Presque Isle Downs.
Wagering
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem for June 26, 2023
Jason looks back at some of his highlights from the weekend, including discussing some tournament play and coverage.
Features
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays June 26
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Monday, June 26 at Parx Racing and Finger Lakes, along with a horse to play in a trio of non-jackpot carryovers at Louisiana Downs.
Wagering
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: June 26, 2023
Jason discusses some of the weekend racing action from this past weekend, including the Ohio Derby from Thistledown. He also talks some Belmont Park and Ellis Park racing.
Racing Podcast
Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, June 26, 2023
Dick Powell sifts the top contenders throughout Monday's Presque Isle Downs program.
Wagering
Harness Weekly Update: $55 winner among highlights
$55 winner tops wins and exactas stack up with $45 best.
Harness
Gulfstream Park: How to bet the $2,537 Super High 5 carryover
The opening race on Sunday at Gulfstream Park brings a $2,537 carryover in the $1 Super High 5. With seven horses in the entries, there are only 2,520 possible Super High 5 outcomes to analyze.
Wagering
International spotlight: Equinox tackles Breeders' Cup WAYI Takarazuka Kinen
Late Saturday night/early Sunday morning our time (2:40 a.m. ET), the world’s top-rated horse, Equinox, returns in the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin.
International
Louisiana Downs: How to bet the $1,527 Super High 5 carryover
There’s no such thing as an easy Super High 5 wager, but we must concede that Saturday’s Super High 5 at Louisiana Downs—which features a $1,527 carryover—looks fairly straightforward to handicap.
Wagering
Betting Strategy: Finding an edge as a horseplayer
The individual horseplayer can find an edge from seeing the same thing as everybody else but reacting to it in a different way.
Features
Betting Intelligence: June 24 stakes from Royal Ascot to Thistledown
After quick notes on Saturday’s Royal Ascot finale, I’ll highlight contenders to watch in several stateside stakes.
Wagering
Horsey History in the Tar Heel State: Where Breeding and Racing Have Surprising North Carolina Roots
Though live racing has not been part of the sporting landscape for generations, North Carolina has deep roots in the early history of both Thoroughbred racing and breeding, roots even older than the United States itself.
History
TwinSpires Jury: Bets and fades for June 24
Royal Ascot draws to a close for another year and the Ohio Derby (G3) tops the stakes calendar on a relatively quiet Saturday on the domestic front.
Racing
How to bet the 2023 Hawthorne Derby
A compact field of six sophomores will travel nine furlongs on the lawn in Sunday’s $100,000 Hawthorne Derby.
Wagering
2023 Royal Ascot: Selections for Saturday
The final day of racing at Royal Ascot brings three more group stakes. A mix of favorites and longshots might be the recipe for success when betting Saturday’s card.
Royal Ascot
Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of June 23
Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Friday, including tickets for the $2,539 Super High 5 carryover at Ellis Park and horses to single in the $43,810 Pick 6 carryover at Belmont Park.
Racing