Horse Racing This Weekend: Key Races, Top Horses & Best Bets, August 15
Mansetti wins the Kings Plate at Woodbine. (Photo by Michael Burns Photo)
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Get ready for horse racing this weekend
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Breeders' Cup 2026 Corner
Come here every week to discover everything you need to know about Breeders' Cup 2026 hosted at Keeneland this year in Lexington, KY.
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast
Jason welcomes in Kellie Reilly for International Radar and also talks Penn National, Saratoga, Monmouth, and more on the weekend preview!
Top horses and best bets for horse racing this weekend
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Best Bets for the 2026 King's Plate Stakes
Read the full analysis here: Tipsheet: 2026 King’s Plate
A strong and deep field of 12 sophomores will run 1 1/4 miles on the Tapeta surface in Saturday’s historic, $1 million King’s Plate S. at Woodbine.
King’s Plate Picks
- #1 Luster
- #9 Brachetto
- #12 Military Time
- #8 Highwaytothemoon
King’s Plate Wagers
- $5 exacta key box 1 with 8,9,12
- $1 trifecta 1 with 8,9,12 with all
- 20-cent superfecta 1 with 8,9,12 with 8,9,12 with all
Top Horses for the 2026 King's Plate Stakes
#1 LUSTER: Deserving favorite from the Josie Carroll shedrow is four-for-five in her lifetime and comes off a smashing score in the Woodbine Oaks on the oval most recently. The ultra-talented Knicks Go filly does have to overcome a tricky post on the fence in a big field, but she is unbeaten going a route of ground and gets top billing under John Velazquez.
#9 BRACHETTO: Julia Carey trainee upset the Marine from off the pace at nine panels most recently and will be dangerous in his second two-turn race on Saturday. The Vekoma colt has stamina influences on his dam’s side and might thrive at the trip at a fair price beneath Ryan Munger.
#12 MILITARY TIME: Gun Runner colt from the Casse barn will have blinkers on for the initial time and rates a chance despite drawing widest of all in the tilt. The consistent colt was an encouraging third in the recent Plate Trial, and if the equipment change aids him, then the $350,000 yearling purchase could be a player in the latter stages of the contest beneath Fraser Aebly.
#8 HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON: One of two from the Desruisseaux shedrow brings fine form to the contest with four top-two results in succession. The gelded son of Ransom the Moon was a stout winner of the Plate Trial in his most recent venture and wouldn’t be a surprise in this spot with Rafael Hernandez retaining the mount.
Woodbine Racing (Photo by Michael Burns Photography)
Pick 4 of the Week: Woodbine Saturday, August 15
A fun and challenging four-race sequence flooded with stakes contests will be the Pick 4 of the Week at Woodbine on Saturday.
Race 6 Wager
- 20-cent Pick 4: 2,5,6,7,8 with 4,5,6,8 with 6 with all ($40)
Best Bets for the 2026 Christophe Clement Stakes
Read the full analysis here: Betting With, and Against, Minaret Station in the Christophe Clement Turf
An especially well-matched and accomplished field of seven will travel 1 1/2 miles over the Saratoga green in Saturday’s $750,000 Christophe Clement Turf (G1). However, if you're heart isn't set on the favorite here are some best bets that go with, and against Minaret Station.
Minaret Station – With
Minaret Station – Against
- $20 win #7 Survie ($20
- $1 trifecta 3,7 with 3,6,7 with all ($20)
Top Horses for the 2026 Christophe Clement
#6 Minaret Station (3-1) has been installed as the lukewarm morning-line choice in the excellent cast for trainer William Walden. The bay son of Instilled Regard is a lightly raced four-year-old with a lot of ability and ample room to improve, with just six lifetime runs to his credit in advance of Saturday. A winner of the 2024 Bourbon (G2) at Keeneland in his two-year-old finale, the homebred raced just once as a sophomore and made it a good one when he annexed the American Derby at Churchill Downs.
Minaret Station is winless this season but has run quite well in each of his three 2026 outings, including a close third in the recent Bowling Green (G2) on the course at his first extended trip on the sod. The colt was well clear of his nearest pursuer while earning a hefty 107 Brisnet Late Pace rating in the event, and the added furlong will be right in his wheelhouse on Saturday. Jose Ortiz has the assignment.
#7 Survie (6-1) in the Glens Falls (G2) against the ladies in her stateside debut and feel that she will be up to the task facing the boys from the outside post. George Boughey trainee proved her ability to run with males in Saudi in February when third in the deep Neom Turf Cup (G1), and the Churchill mare surely seemed to take to this course well in her latest venture, as well. Manny Franco inherits the ride.
#3 Ole Crazy Bone (4-1) has turned out to be a fantastic claim for trainer Mike Maker, who grabbed this one for a hefty $100,000 in June of 2025. The multiple Grade 2 hero comes off a wire-to-wire tally in the Bowling Green on the oval last time out, but the son of Ghostzapper doesn’t need the lead to thrive and his versatility makes him a major threat in the grassy marathon. The six-year-old gelding will be forwardly placed from the break.
RELATE: Christophe Clement Turf International Scouting Report: Ancient Egypt
Secretariat (G2) upsetter Gigante amplifies a key element of sire Not This Time's pedigree (Photo by Coady Photography)
Pick 3 of the Week: Colonial Downs Saturday, August 15
A trio of black-type tilts will make up an all-stakes Pick 3 at Colonial Downs on Saturday.
Race 7 Wager
- $1 Pick 3: 2,5 with 5,6,8 with 4,7,8,9 ($24)
TwinSpires Jury
The TwinSpires Jury returns with a special two-person edition as Darin Zoccali and James Scully handicap a major weekend of racing from Saratoga, Del Mar, and Woodbine.
King's Plate Picks at Woodbine
The TwinSpires team goes north of the border for a special live show focused entirely on one of Canada's biggest racing events: the King's Plate at Woodbine Racetrack. Kali Francois, Kyle Hampton, and Nick Tammaro take an in-depth look at the field for the 167th King's Plate, the $1 million centerpiece of Woodbine's racing season and the opening leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. If you're searching for King's Plate picks, King's Plate handicapping, Woodbine horse racing picks, Canadian Triple Crown analysis, or expert King's Plate betting advice, this is the show to watch before placing your wagers.
Best Bets for the 2026 King Edward Stakes
Read the full analysis here: How to bet the 2026 King Edward Stakes
A cast of six turf performers will vie in the $200,000 King Edward (G2) at Woodbine on Saturday. The compact field will travel one mile on the inner turf in a local prep for the Woodbine Mile (G1) later in the meeting, and a well-matched group has been assembled.
King Edward Wagers
Top Horses for the King Edward Stakes
#1 Irish Aces (5-2) had an excellent prep for this heat, with a closing and clear second in the Connaught Cup (G2) in his second run off of the extended layoff, and gets off the rail for this tilt. By Mshawish, the gelding has back class to him, evidenced by his game win in the Tapit S. at Kentucky Downs last campaign, and he took to this oval well last time in his local bow. The six-year-old gelding has a nice slot on the fence and could sit an ideal voyage behind the pace in the heat with Pietro Moran on board.
#6 Piper’s Factor (3-1) tired late in the race last year while forcing a very hot pace and will receive a better trip this time around from the outside post. Trained by Katerina Vassilieva, the five-year-old son of The Factor ran well last time when an even fourth, while facing a few of these contenders, and will move forward on Saturday. The Ontario-bred, who owns a pair of wins and two additional placings on this course, has earned lifetime best Brisnet Speed ratings in two straight and will be perfectly placed turning for home with John Velazquez picking up the mount.
#3 Gas Me Up (8-5) returns to the Kevin Attard shedrow following a trio of good efforts in California in the winter. The dark bay son of Hard Spun, who won this race with a superb late burst in the lane in 2025, is three-for-five locally while coming in fresh with some nice morning drills in advance of his return. The Six-year-old Ontario-bred will receive what should be an honest early pace to rally into late, with Fraser Aebly accepting the mount.
Proctor Street wins the Cardinal S. at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Exotics Plays for the Canadian Stakes
A cast of seven fillies and mares will run 1 1/16 miles on the inner lawn at Woodbine in Saturday’s $200,000 Canadian (G2). This is not the strongest field ever assembled for the race, but it does feature a well-matched group in what could still be an attractive betting endeavor.
Canadian Exotics
- $6 exacta 6 with 3,4 ($12)
- $6 trifecta key 6 with 3,4 ($12)
- $2 trifecta box 3,4,6 ($12)
- $1 superfecta 6 with 3,4 with 3,4 with all ($8)
Sweet Azteca successfully defended her title in the Rancho Bernardo H. (G3) (Photo by Benoit Photo)
How to bet the Rancho Bernardo Stakes
A cast of six will speed 6 1/2 furlongs on the Del Mar dirt in Sunday’s $100,000 Rancho Bernardo (G3). The race marks the 11th lifetime appearance for the fantastic #5 Sweet Azteca, who will be a prohibitive choice at post time in the heat for conditioner Richard Baltas. A six-year-old by Sharp Azteca, the Kentucky-bred has battled through some injuries in her career, but when she is healthy, the mare can be sensational.
Rancho Bernardo Wagers
Outfielder broke the stakes record in the William Walker at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
How to bet the 2026 Mahony Stakes
Seven speedy sophomores will run 5 1/2 furlongs over the Saratoga turf in Sunday’s $225,000 Mahony (G3). Despite the smaller field size, the race is certainly competitive, with talented contenders drawn from the rail to the outside post, and I will aim to get some value in the grassy dash.
Mahony Wagers
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