KENTUCKY — By Ed DeRosa   If you’re excited for the trio of Kentucky Derby preps on Saturday then you should be really excited for the pick 3 that ties them together. The $3 pick 3 begins with the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, continues with the Blue Grass Stakes at...

SANTA ANITA PARK — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight Race: $100,000 American Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park      Date: Thursday, April 4 (Race 9, 8:10pm ET)        What to do with a $20 bet:  First bet: $5 to win and $5 to place on Gold Phoenix (IRE) Second bet: $5 exacta box...

NEW MEXICO — By Ed DeRosa   It’s a tale of two stakes races on Friday at Sunland Park with a pair of $250,000 races for New Mexico-bred three-year-olds featuring a competitive group in the Oaks (race 7) and a much stronger favorite in the Derby (race 8). In the Oaks, this...

FLORIDA — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight race: $110,000 Turf Classic Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs      Date:  Sunday, March 24th (Race 9, 4:24 pm ET)        What to do with a $20 bet:  First Bet- $2 trifecta: #1 to finish first, #2 to come in second, and the rest of the field...

LOUISIANA — By Ed DeRosa   Day to day and week to week, bettors hear a lot about the Pick 5; and why not? The potential for big payoffs attracts every level of player to this challenging wager. But as ubiquitous as it has become on wagering menus, it is not always the best...

SANTA ANITA PARK — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight race: The $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes      Date:  Sunday, March 17th (Race 7, 7:00 pm ET)        What to do with a $20 bet:  $20 to win on Chismosa   The Reason:  The 4-year-old daughter of Clubhouse Ride had a rough...

SANTA ANITA PARK — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight Race: $100,000 China Doll Stakes      Date:  Sunday, March 10th (Race 7, 7:00pm ET)        What to do with a $20 Bet:  $20 to win on #4 Antifona (FR)   The Reason:  If Hector Berrios can map out an ideal trip and avoid being...

NEW MEXICO — By Ed DeRosa Before we get to the Albert and Henry Dominguez Memorial Handicap on Friday at Sunland Park, some personal news: I am playing in my first-ever National Handicapping Championship next week. I bring this up mostly to brag, but also to segue into the...

SANTA ANITA PARK — By Chris Lomon Spotlight race: $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes (G2T)      Date:  Sunday, March 3 (Race 10, 8:02pm ET)        What to do with a $20 bet:  First Bet: $5 exacta box #6 Ruby Nell and #11 Mouffy (to finish 1st or 2nd in any order). Second Bet: $10...

KENTUCKY — By Ed DeRosa Looking for an appetizer to all the stakes action this weekend? Look no further than Friday night at Turfway Park, which plays host to the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes for three-year-old fillies as race 6 on its nine race card. Even better: there is some...