Horse Racing This Weekend: Key Races, Top Horses & Best Bets [Jan. 31]

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Get ready for horse racing this weekend

Discover everything you need to know about horse racing this weekend, including top horses, best bets, tournaments, key races, and many great promotional bonus offers you just can't say no to. 

Come back to find more weekly horse races and promotional offers every weekend.

Winter Weather Wreaks Havoc in the East

As winter weather wreaks havoc across the east coast, many tracks have canceled this week and over the weekend, including the rescheduling of two Road to the Kentucky Derby races, the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park and Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. 

What tracks have canceled Saturday horse races?

Below you will find the tracks that have canceled or postponed Saturday horse races. 

• Turfway Park - Florence, KY
• Oaklawn Park - Hot Springs, AR
• Aqueduct - Jamaica, NY
• Meadowlands - Rutherford, NJ
• Laurel Park - Laurel, MD
• Charles Town - Charles Town, WV

What major races have been postponed due to the weather this weekend?

Major races that have been postponed due to weather this weekend include Turfway's Forego Stakes, Oaklawn's Martha Washington Stakes and Southwest Stakes (G3), and Aqueduct's Ladies Stakes and Withers Stakes. See a full list of major races that have been postponed this weekend

• Turfway
  • Forego S. 
• Oaklawn
  • Martha Washington S.
  • General MacArthur Overnight S.
  • Bugler Overnight S.
  • Southwest S. (G3) 
• Aqueduct
  • Toboggan S.
  • Ruthless S.
  • Ladies S.
  • Withers S.
• Laurel Park
  • Xtra Heat S.
  • Spectacular Bid S.
• Charles Town

What day is Turfway Saturday racing rescheduled to?

• Turfway
  • Forego S. (Feb. 13)

What day is Oaklawn Saturday racing rescheduled to?

• Oaklawn
  • Martha Washington S. (Feb. 6)
  • General MacArthur Overnight S. (Feb. 6)
  • Bugler Overnight S. (Feb. 6)
  • Southwest S. (G3) (Feb. 6)

What day is Aqueduct Saturday racing rescheduled to?

• Aqueduct
  • Toboggan S. (Feb. 6)
  • Ruthless S. (Feb. 6)
  • Ladies S. (Feb. 6)
  • Withers S. (Feb. 6)

What to do when your favorite race track cancels?

With all the horse race track cancellations, there are plenty of options out there to supplement that horse racing need. Below are some horse racing tracks with key races. 

• Gulfstream Park
• Tampa Bay Downs
• Santa Anita 
• Suland Park

Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast

Jason discusses last weekend's Eclipse Awards to open the show. Then we welcome in longtime NFL player Eric Wood to talk about the Super Bowl, his NFL career, going to college at Louisville, and attending the Kentucky Derby each year. 

RELATED: Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem for Jan. 29, 2026

Top horses and best bets for horse racing this weekend

Click to jump to each race listed!

Kentucky Derby Corner

Come here every week to discover everything you need to know about the 2026 Kentucky Derby.

• Tipsheet: 2026 Holy Bull Stakes
• Meet the Contenders: 2026 Holy Bull Stakes
• Kentucky Derby Roundup: Six Speed romps in UAE 2000 Guineas
• Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Big win for Sandman’s half-brother Canaletto

Best Bets for the 2026 Holy Bull

Read the full analysis here: Tipsheet: 2026 Holy Bull Stakes

A strong field of seven sophomores will travel 1 1/16 miles over the Gulfstream Park main oval in Saturday’s $275,000 Holy Bull (G3). The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top five across the wire with qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis. 

Holy Bull  Stakes Picks

• #5 Cannoneer
• #7 Nearly
• #1 Incredibolt

Holy Bull Stakes Wagers

• $20 win and place #5 Cannoneer
• $5 trifecta 5,7 with 5,7 with 1,4

Top Horses for the 2026 Holy Bull

#5 CANNONEER: Top choice from the Brad Cox barn led throughout in a fine maiden score in his second lifetime appearance, where he earned a robust 100 Brisnet Speed rating. Purchased for $1.75 million as a yearling, the son of top sire Into Mischief has displayed fine early foot in both career runs to date, and I feel that the Kentucky-bred will improve with added distance, as well. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will take the reins.

Pro: Set fast splits and kept going to graduate; exciting prospect.

Con: Can’t afford to go too fast early, stretching out versus better.

#7 NEARLY: Prime win threat from the Pletcher shedrow has rolled home to a pair of dominant tallies in succession on the surface and rates a big chance with continued ascension. The dark bay son of Not This Time registered a huge 110 Late Pace rating in his recent allowance triumph and drilled a bullet four panels at Palm Beach Downs in his most recent morning move. John Velazquez retains the ride. 

Pro: Has excelled over this track since ho-hum debut; appears fast enough.

Con: Lacks stakes experience and backers will have to accept low price.

#1 INCREDIBOLT: Riley Mott pupil followed up a nice maiden win two back with a strong score in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs most recently. The Bolt d’Oro colt has trained well in advance of his sophomore debut and will save ground early before putting in his best run late from the rail under Jaime Torres. 

 Pro: Overcame slow pace to win Street Sense (G3) and continues to improve.

Con: Barn has been a tad cold this meet, which is the main drawback.

RELATED: Meet the Contenders: 2026 Holy Bull Stakes

Best Bets for the Gulfstream Park Pick 3 with Tampa Bay

Read the full analysis here: Scully: Pick 3 Play at Tampa Bay Downs Saturday

A pair of Grade 3 turf events, the Tampa Bay and Endeavour for fillies and mares, highlight Saturday’s nine-race program at Tampa Bay Downs, and I will incorporate both stakes into a Late Pick 3.

Here is my ticket, along with an analysis of races.

$10 Pick 3 (races 7-9): 4,7 with 9 with 1,3 ($40)

Key Races for the Gulfstream Park Pick 3 with Tampa Bay

Race 7 - Tampa Bay (G3)

A neck runner-up in the Hollywood Derby (G1) last out, #7 Tom’s Magic (3-1) was flattered when third-placer Test Score came back to win last Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1). And there’s no reason why Tom’s Magic won’t have more to offer as a four-year-old. A maiden and listed turf stakes winner at Fair Grounds last winter, his sophomore campaign was interrupted by layoffs, but he finally got on track during the second half of the season for Michael Stidham, recording a fine win in a Canadian classic on turf prior to the Hollywood Derby. The versatile Justify colt can show speed or rate and is a three-time winner at the distance; I like his chances from just off the pace.

#4 Discreet Dancer (20-1) will also be included at a price. He flashed some potential on turf last spring before being sidelined and after troubled trips in his first two starts back last fall, the four-year-old colt recorded a sneaky third in a deep Gulfstream allowance on Jan. 4. I don’t like the recent efforts by #3 Quatrocento (5-2) and #6 Win for the Money (7-5), fading the top two choices on the morning line in the first leg.

Race 8

An entry-level allowance at seven furlongs, race 8 marks the comeback for #9 Disruptor (6-5), who will make his first start since finishing fifth in last year’s Florida Derby (G1). The Todd Pletcher-trained Gun Runner colt showed an affinity for seven furlongs when breaking his maiden two starts previously, registering a field-best 94 Brisnet Speed rating, winning by 9 1/4 lengths, and Disruptor’s final time was only .06 seconds off stakes-caliber older allowance rivals on the same card. 

Race 9 – Endeavour (G3)

The three-year-old filly turf division was outstanding in 2025; so deep that recent Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2) winner Destino d’Oro wasn’t among the top four or five fillies in the division at any point. A pair of runners in the Endeavour, #1 Candy Quest (3-1) and #3 Scythian (15-1), competed against the likes of Lush Lips, Laurelin, and Fionn last season, and I will include both in the Pick 3.

Scythian owns plenty of upside and will be a better price. After a smashing win in the 2024 Ms. Grillo (G2), the daughter of Tiz the Law experienced a troubled trip in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), and Bill Mott couldn’t get her back to the races until late last summer. She lost any chance when being sawed off in the stretch of her turf comeback in mid-October and was probably short on fitness in the 1 3/8-mile Jockey Club Oaks (G3) next out, offering a nice move to challenge in upper stretch before weakening late. She hasn’t missed a beat in her morning workouts since, and Scythian figures to relish the cutback to 1 1/16 miles (2-for-3 at distance).

TwinSpires Jury

Get ready for a blockbuster Saturday at Gulfstream Park as Nick Tammaro, Ashley Anderson, and Jackson Muniz break down the Late Pick 5 sequence featuring two critical races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. 

The trio dives deep into: 

• Holy Bull Stakes (G3) – a key Kentucky Derby points race 
• Forward Gal Stakes (G3) – an important Kentucky Oaks points race

Bonus coverage of the Kitten’s Joy Stakes, spotlighting emerging turf talent Expect sharp handicapping, pace analysis, value opinions, and ticket construction strategies designed to help bettors attack one of the strongest wagering cards of the meet. 

Plus: The team will release a Late Pick 5 BetShare ticket, giving fans the chance to join in on the action together on Saturday. Whether you’re chasing Derby and Oaks futures insight or building a Late Pick 5 ticket, this preview has you covered. 

Best Bets for Spot Plays at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs

Read the full analysis here: Spot Plays for Tampa, Gulfstream Jan. 31, 2026

With much of the country still frozen out on offering live racing this weekend, most eyes and dollars will be directed toward the action offered at Florida's two racetracks. There appear to be ample opportunities to cash on their stakes-laden programs on Saturday, and here are a quartet of races I'll be focused on.

Key Races for Spot Plays at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Downs Race 6: Maiden, 2:55 p.m. ET

Although #9 Elegant Charm (8-1) hasn't yet caught the eye after two starts, it's possible conditions did not suit in either race. He was outsprinted over a swiftly run five furlongs over Tapeta on debut, and last time faded when rating behind a pace that slowed down on turf.

The Mark Casse trainee is bred to be more effective on dirt, which he tries for the first time here, going 6 1/2 furlongs. Indeed, he's a half-brother to Coffee in Bed and Great Stuff, both graded stakes winners on the main track. Given the presence of a few capable second-time starters, and with a few debut runners also likely to take money, Elegant Charm figures to be a square price while adding Lasix.

Gulfstream Park Race 7: Allowance, 3:15 p.m. ET

Saturday marks the first time #6 Concord Green (10-1) will have strung together three consecutive starts since his two-year-old season, when he caught the eye graduating at Saratoga on first asking and later placed in the Awad S. at Aqueduct.

Gelded last fall, Concord Green finished a close second two back at Tampa, and then dug himself too deep a hole to make an impact going 1 1/16 miles. Perhaps a more conducive trip, and stretching out to 1 3/8 miles for the first time, might suit him.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 7: Tampa Bay (G3), 3:25 p.m. ET

Aside from one dull race at Keeneland last April, #7 Tom's Magic (3-1) has been admirably consistent. A classic winner in Canada last fall, he followed up with a narrow loss in the Hollywood Derby (G1). In the process, he outfinished Test Score, who registered a mild upset in last week's Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1).

Tom's Magic has far fewer miles under him than nearly all of these, and perhaps might offer a hint of modest value with Grade 1 veteran Win for the Money among his rivals.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 9: Endeavour (G3), 4:25 p.m. ET

#4 Al Jafara (9-2) was taken out of serious training for four months last summer, so we didn't get a further gauge on her overall quality following a last-to-first, entry-level allowance win at Keeneland in her U.S. debut.

Although an N2X allowance might be hard to find this time of year, connections are clearly showing bullishness by throwing her into this race following a layoff approaching 10 months. Chad Brown trainees are generally live when shipping here from Payson, but even more intriguing is the success of Brown and jockey Samy Camacho. Together, they win at a clip greater than 40% while showing a flat-bet profit.

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