Keep the winnings rolling: Racing to play after the Kentucky Derby

If you’re flush with winnings from the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) and want to keep the momentum rolling, you’ll be happy to hear that a busy post-Derby evening of horse racing awaits.

There’s plenty of international racing available to bet on TwinSpires, with action taking place in New Zealand, South Korea, Australia, and Hong Kong. But there’s also excellent stateside racing to play, and that’s where we’ll focus our attention.

Here are a handful of post-Derby picks and plays for Saturday night:

Charles Town

Post time for the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for 6:57 p.m. ET. The eight-race evening card at Charles Town gets underway a few minutes later at 7:00 p.m. ET.

If you need some time to celebrate your Derby winnings before placing your next bets, we suggest targeting a return to action in Race 4 at Charles Town, a 4 1/2-furlong $5,000 claimer. #3 High Strike (9-5) exits a win in an $8,000 claimer dashing 6 1/2 furlongs over the Turfway Park Tapeta track, and since he’s run well on dirt in the past (compiling a 15-4-4-0 record), he should be tough to beat while dropping in class at Charles Town.

We suggest singling High Strike to start a cold daily double. The second leg is Race 5, a seven-furlong $4,000 claimer in which #6 Shea D World (8-5) is a compelling favorite. He brings share Brisnet Speed ratings to the table and recently wired a 6 1/2-furlong $4,000 claimer at Charles Town by 4 3/4 lengths. He should prove tough to run down while sticking to similar conditions.

Race 4 wager

• $20 Double: 3 with 6

Churchill Downs

The Kentucky Derby isn’t the last race of the day at Churchill Downs. Two post-Derby races are on the agenda, including Race 14 at 8:33 p.m. ET, a seven-furlong maiden special weight boasting a competitive 14-horse field.

First-time starter #4 Sleeping Warrior (15-1) is worth betting at a price. He’s a son of Twirling Candy (who sires a strong 16% winners from first-time starters), and he’s trained by Philip Bauer, who has gone 5-for-21 (24%) saddling first-time starters on dirt at Churchill Downs since 2021.

An encouraging work tab highlighted by a quick half-mile in :47 2/5 at Churchill Downs suggests Sleeping Warrior has some ability. A win bet is in order.

Race 14 wager:

• $20 to win on #4 Sleeping Warrior

Santa Anita

The final five races on Santa Anita’s 11-race Saturday card are taking place after the Kentucky Derby, with post times ranging from 7:15 p.m. ET to 9:15 p.m. ET.

We suggest betting the $5 Late Double, which carries a low 15% takeout rate. It kicks off in Race 10, a seven-furlong $80,000 allowance optional claimer. #7 Big City Lights (2-1) boasts a 7-5-1-1 record over the Santa Anita dirt, highlighted by a win in the 2024 Palos Verdes (G3). Blazing workouts at Santa Anita (including a bullet five furlongs from the starting gate in :58 2/5) suggest Big City Lights is sitting on a strong performance in his 2026 debut.

We’ll single Big City Lights in Race 10, then stand alone with #8 Koekkoek (3-1) in Race 11, a maiden special weight taking place over one mile on turf. Koekkoek has finished second in two starts over this course and class level this year and appears well-spotted to snag his first win for the red-hot jockey/trainer duo of Antonio Fresu and Philip D’Amato.

Race 10 wager:

• $20 Double: 7 with 8

Good luck!