How to bet the 2026 Top Flight Stakes
A total of six fillies and mares will run 1 1/8 miles on the Aqueduct dirt in Sunday’s $175,000 Top Flight S.
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John Mucciolo
Handicapper and journalist John Mucciolo has been a contributor to Brisnet and TwinSpires since 2004. Mucciolo's work has included efforts in the 'Notebook' series of The Handicapper's Edge in the early days of Brisnet.com and most recently on TwinSpires Edge. John has also offered selections for a varied array of Brisnet products. Outside of Mucciolo's frequent analysis on horse racing, Mucc is an acclaimed high school soccer coach who earned Times-Tribune's Coach of the Year honors in 2020.
How to bet the 2026 San Carlos Stakes
A fantastic field of seven will run seven panels on the main oval at Santa Anita on Sunday in the $100,000 San Carlos (G3).
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Betting With, and Against, She Be Smooth in the Gulfstream Park Oaks
Fantastic Davona Dale (G2) starlet #6 She Be Smooth (7-5) has been installed as the morning-line choice in Saturday’s $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).
Gulfstream Park
Pick 3 of the Week: Oaklawn Park Saturday, March 28
On the final Saturday in March, I’ll look to Oaklawn Park for the Pick 3 of the Week with an all-sprint sequence in the middle of their fantastic card.
Oaklawn Park
How to bet the 2026 Fantasy Stakes
A compact, but talented, group of five three-year-old fillies will hope to punch their ticket to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in Friday’s lucrative, $1 million Fantasy (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
Oaklawn Park
Pick 4 of the Week: Gulfstream Park Saturday, March 28
The $1 million Florida Derby (G1) will cap a massive, 14-race card at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, and I will go for the third of the four Pick 4 sequences offered on the huge afternoon.
Gulfstream Park
Exotics Plays for the 2026 Serena’s Song Stakes
A group of eight sophomore fillies will run six panels on the Tapeta at Turfway Park in Saturday’s $125,000 Serena’s Song S.
Turfway Park
Tipsheet: 2026 Florida Derby
A fantastic field of eight sophomores will run 1 1/8 miles on the Gulfstream Park main strip in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1).
Kentucky Derby
Tipsheet: 2026 Arkansas Derby
A strong field of eight three-year-olds will run 1 1/8 miles on the dirt at Oaklawn Park in Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1).
Kentucky Derby
How to bet the Hot Springs
A cast of seven sophomores will travel a two-turn mile in Thursday’s $200,000 Hot Springs S. at Oaklawn Park.
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How to bet the Melody of Colors Stakes
A quality field of 10 sophomore fillies will jaunt five-eighths on the Gulfstream Park green in Sunday’s $125,000 Melody of Colors S.
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How to bet the Private Terms Stakes
The $100,000 Private Terms S. on Saturday at Laurel Park attracted a compact field of six, but it boasts a very competitive cast despite the small field.
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Pick 3 of the Week: Fair Grounds Saturday, March 21
Fair Grounds will host a huge day of racing on Saturday during their penultimate day of the meeting.
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How to bet the San Luis Rey Stakes
A talented field of eight will travel 1 1/2 grassy miles at Santa Anita in Saturday’s $100,000 San Luis Rey (G3).
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Pick 4 of the Week: Turfway Park Saturday, March 21
The signature day of the Turfway Park meeting is Saturday, highlighted by the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).
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Exotics Plays for the Texas Glitter Stakes
A total of nine three-year-olds will speed five-eighths on the Gulfstream Park lawn in Saturday’s $125,000 Texas Glitter S.
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Betting With, and Against, Skippylongstocking in the Essex Handicap
Pegasus World Cup (G1) victor #5 Skippylongstocking (4-5) has been installed as the morning-line choice for the $500,000 Essex H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.
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Tipsheet: 2026 Jeff Ruby Steaks
A full cast of 12 sophomores will run 1 1/8 miles over the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park in Saturday’s $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).
Kentucky Derby
Tipsheet: 2026 Louisiana Derby
A well-balanced group of nine three-year-old prospects will travel 1 3/16 miles over the Fair Grounds main oval in Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2).
Kentucky Derby
How to bet the 2026 Santa Ana Stakes
An overflow field of 11 fillies and mares has been entered for Sunday’s $100,000 Santa Ana (G3) at Santa Anita.
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Exotics Plays for the Captiva Island Stakes
A big cast of 11 fillies and mares will run five panels on the Gulfstream Park turf strip in Saturday’s competitive, $125,000 Captiva Island S.
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Pick 3 of the Week: Gulfstream Park Saturday, March 14
The Pick 3 of the Week will come from Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
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Pick 4 of the Week: Colonial Downs Saturday, March 14, 2026
There is an excellent four-race sequence to close out the big Colonial Downs card on Saturday, led by the $500,000 Virginia Derby.
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How to bet the Boston Handicap
A good field of seven will run seven-eighths on the dirt at Colonial Downs on Friday in the $150,000 Boston Handicap.
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Tipsheet: 2026 Virginia Derby
A well-matched field of 10 sophomores will run 1 1/8 miles on the Colonial Downs main strip in Saturday’s $500,000 Virginia Derby.
Kentucky Derby
Mucciolo’s Top 5 Horse Betting Strategies for 2026
Playing the ponies is an inexact science that is ever-evolving for me. Horse racing offers the most diversity from a gambling perspective.
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Super Corredora upsets the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
How to bet the 2026 Santa Ysabel Stakes
Seven sophomore fillies will vie in Sunday's $100,000 Santa Ysabel (G3) at Santa Anita.
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How to bet the Big Daddy Stakes
A well-matched field of seven will travel six panels on Turfway’s Tapeta surface in Saturday’s $125,000 Big Daddy S.
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Pick 3 of the Week: Santa Anita Saturday, March 7
The Pick 3 of the Week will come from Santa Anita on Saturday, with a trio of races for sophomores as my focus.
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Pick 4 of the Week: Tampa Bay Downs Saturday, March 7
Three of the four graded races being contested during the signature day of the meeting at Tampa Bay Downs will be part of the Pick 4 of the Week.
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