Horse Racing This Weekend: Key Races, Top Horses & Best Bets [June 27, 2026]

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Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast

Jason looks ahead to the upcoming weekend with Colonial opening, Aqueduct closing, and Stephen Foster Day at Churchill Downs. Kellie Reilly joins for International Radar. 

RELATED: Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem June 25, 2026

Top horses and best bets for horse racing this weekend

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Best Bets for the 2026 Stephen Foster Stakes

Read the full analysis here: Spot Plays for Stephen Foster Day, June 27, 2026

Churchill Downs opens every spring with a bang, hosting the Kentucky Derby (G1) at the end of its first full week. But this year's spring session closes with a relatively loud boom of its own, courtesy of a vintage renewal of the Stephen Foster (G1).

The Foster-anchored card on Saturday features six other stakes, along with a handful of intriguing maidens and allowances. Here is a quartet of runners I'll be taking a look at over the course of the 12-race program.

• Race 2: #8 Sassmaster
• Race 5: #6 Just Basking
• Race 9: #5 Extra Anejo
• Race 12: #3 East Jabip

RELATED

• Stakes Spot Plays: Churchill Downs Sunday, June 28, 2026
• Stakes Spot Plays: Laurel Park Saturday

Top Horses for the 2026 Stephen Foster Stakes

Race 2: Maiden, 1:15 p.m. ET

#8 Sassmaster (6-1) was backed down to 3-1 on debut at Saratoga last August, but made a gradual retreat during the last half of the six-furlong test. The form of that race has held up quite well, though, with runner-up Oscar's Hope winning stakes at Delta Downs and Oaklawn over the winter, and third-place Igniter earning black type success at Aqueduct.

A half-brother to Grade 2-winning sprinter Royal Charlotte, Sassmaster can take a step forward here and, being by Curlin, should handle stretching out to 1 1/16 miles.

Race 5: Anchorage S., 2:45 p.m. ET

Although she's posted only one win in three prior turf attempts, #6 Just Basking (6-1) arguably has the best recent company lines. Two back, she was a 13-1 upsetter in The Very One (G3) at Gulfstream, beating No Show Sammy Jo and Dona Clota, who have since won the Sheepshead Bay (G3) and Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3), respectively.

Just Basking wasn't quite good enough to repeat in the Orchid (G3), but that form has worked out well, too, with runner-up Ayra Stark winning the Keertana S. next out and third-place Speed Shopper landing the Bewitch (G3).

Despite the cutback in distance here, Just Basking might be packing the strongest punch at the end.

Race 9: Bango (G3), 4:58 p.m. ET

I expect #5 Extra Anejo (6-1) to make progress off his May 21 allowance prep, where he finished a distant third to returning rival Built. Extra Anejo had not started since August, and really had not turned in an effort of any value since June, when he finished third in the one-mile Hanshin S.

Winner of the Commonwealth (G3) at Keeneland last term, Extra Anejo has otherwise shown much of his best form here at Churchill. An expected hot pace involving Harrodsburg and Cornucopian might set things up well for him.

Race 12: Tepin S., 6:32 p.m. ET

Although beaten as an odds-on choice in the Cleopatra H. at Horseshoe Indianapolis last time, #3 East Jabip (4-1) seems deserving of another chance at stakes level at what should be a better price. Trainer Brian Lynch has enjoyed a fantastic meet this spring, while jockey Irad Ortiz, who guided her to the first two wins, is back aboard.

Also notable is the family connection, with this female line having yielded winners of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), Melbourne Cup (G1), and a Royal Ascot winner.

Best Bets for the 2026 Wise Dan Stakes

Read the full analysis here: Betting With, and Against, Lagynos in the Wise Dan Stakes

A talented cast of nine has been entered to contest Saturday’s $500,000 Wise Dan (G2) on the Churchill Downs lawn. The Steve Asmussen-trained #2 Lagynos (5-2) comes into the 1 1/16-mile grassy tilt on a four-race win streak and is surely the one to beat under Jose Ortiz. The $2.3 million earner has been a good one since his juvenile season but is really peaking in 2026, bagging a quartet of stakes races in succession with three of those coming in the graded ranks.

Lagynos – With

• $3 trifecta key 2 with 3,6,8 ($18)
• 50-cent superfecta 2 with 3,6,8 with 3,6,8 with all ($15)
• 50-cent superfecta 2 with 3,6,8 with all with 3,6,8 ($15)

Lagynos – Against

• $3 exacta box 3,6,8 ($18)
• 50-cent trifecta 3,6,8 with 2,3,6,8 with all ($27)

Top Horses for the 2026 Wise Dan Stakes

#6 Dresden Row (7-2) is two-for-two on the grass this campaign since arriving in Todd Pletcher’s barn and was strong in an allowance victory on the surface in his latest endeavor. The Lord Nelson five-year-old, who is a multiple graded stakes winner with a three-race win streak dating back to November, is perfect from two prior assignments at the distance and could peak in his third effort off the shelf. The Kentucky-bred chestnut has the positional speed to stay in range throughout the event and will benefit from drawing outside of the favorite, too. Irad retains the mount. 

#3 Mercante (8-1) does his best work when he is close to the pace, and I expect him to receive a favorable voyage in the heat at a nice price. The Gun Runner gelding ran into a buzzsaw in the Turf Classic (G1) on the strip on Derby Day, but he comes in fresh for the tilt and will improve in his third effort of 2026. The dark bay six-year-old has run some of his best races at this venue and will be tracking the tempo with some intent from the break under Florent Geroux. 

#8 Brilliant Berti (8-1) has to make up 2 1/4 lengths on the favorite after being fourth to that one in the Arlington (G3) for DeVaux, but he is capable on his very best day and not without a chance. The five-year-old son of Noble Mission will need some pace help to aid his one-run style, but the tempo should be honest, and the bay will also have clear sailing for the duration of the race from this post. Regular rider Brian Hernandez retains the ride. 

TwinSpires Jury

Join us for this week's edition of the TwinSpires Jury and Late Pick 5 preview show to help place your best bets for horse racing this weekend. 

Best Bets for the 2026 Bango Stakes

Read the full analysis here: Tipsheet: 2026 Bango Stakes

A fleet field of seven will dash 6 1/2 furlongs over the Churchill Downs dirt in Saturday’s $275,000 Bango (G3). 

Bango Stakes Picks

• #2 Cornucopian
• #5 Extra Anejo
• #6 Dr. Venkman

Bango Stakes Wagers

• $30 win #2 Cornucopian
• $2 trifecta key 2 with 5,6,7

Top Horses for the Bango Stakes

#2 CORNUCOPIAN (1-1): A multiple Grade 3 winner was visually impressive in his Aristides (G3) triumph last time out and gets the nod to make it two straight on this occasion. The ultra-talented son of Into Mischief could evolve into one of the better one-turn runners in the country, and his versatility makes him a formidable foe in this dash for Baffert, with Flavien Prat retaining the ride. 

#5 EXTRA ANEJO (6-1): Into Mischief colt ran into a fine winner on the oval in his first run of the season last time out and will improve as a contender today. The Steve Asmussen pupil owns two tallies on the strip in his career, and I feel that the cutback in distance will aid the stalking type, as well. Jose Ortiz will be in the saddle. 

#6 DR. VENKMAN (7-2): Mark Glatt's charge makes his first appearance since finishing a nice third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar. The Ghostzapper gelding is a multiple graded stakes winner who runs well when fresh, and he wouldn’t be a surprise in his second run over the surface with Joel Rosario accepting the mount. 

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