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.

Tampa Bay Downs Aerial (SV Photography)

Daily Double Play at Tampa Bay on Saturday

Fri Jan 17 2025John Mucciolo

The Saturday action at Tampa Bay Downs lacks a black-type event, but after handicapping the nine races on the card, I realized just how competitive the contests actually are.

Wagering

Stay and Scam wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Stay and Scam wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis. (Photo by Coady Media)

Betting the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint

Fri Jan 17 2025John Mucciolo

A total of nine fillies and mares will go about 6 1/2 panels down the Hillside Turf Course at Santa Anita on Saturday in the $125,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint S.

Wagering

Hit Show winning the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Betting With, and Against, Hit Show in the Louisiana Stakes

Fri Jan 17 2025John Mucciolo

A good group of 10 handicap runners will go postward in Saturday’s $175,000 Louisiana S. (G3) at Fair Grounds.

Wagering

Turfway Park Racing (Coady Photo/Turfway Park)

How to bet the Leonatus Stakes

Fri Jan 17 2025John Mucciolo

A total of eight sophomores will travel one-mile on the Tapeta at Turfway in the $125,000 Leonatus S. on Saturday. The race is led by a trio of contenders that interest me most and I will center my plays around the three of them.

Wagering

Fair Grounds racetrack grandstand racing scene (Photo by Coady Media)
Exotics Plays for the Colonel E. R. Bradley S.

Thu Jan 16 2025John Mucciolo

A full field of 14 will travel 1 1/16 miles over the Fair Grounds turf in Saturday’s $100,000 Colonel E. R. Bradley S. This seems like an ideal race lacking a standout in the crew to spread with multiple runners, and I will do so with my plays.

Wagering

Santa Anita (Photo by © Breeders' Cup/Todd Buchanan)

Pick 3 of the Week: Santa Anita Thursday

Thu Jan 16 2025John Mucciolo

This week’s Pick 3 of the Week will come from The Great Race Place Santa Anita on Thursday. I have a single in the middle leg of the sequence and have confidence in the bookend contests of the wager, as well.

Wagering

Built wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

Built wins at Keeneland.

Tipsheet: 2025 Lecomte Stakes

Thu Jan 16 2025John Mucciolo

A huge cast of 14 sophomores will go postward in the $250,000 Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds on Saturday.

Analysis

Turfway Park Racing (Coady Photo/Turfway Park)

Pick 4 of the Week: Turfway Park Wednesday

Tue Jan 14 2025John Mucciolo

A trio of Pick 4 wagers are offered on the Wednesday card at Turfway Park, and I will take aim at the middle one that begins in Race 4.

Wagering

Owen Almighty wins at Ellis Park

Owen Almighty wins at Ellis Park (Photo by Coady Media)

Betting With, and Against, Owen Almighty in the Pasco Stakes

Fri Jan 10 2025John Mucciolo

A compact field of six three-year-olds will travel seven-eighths over the Tampa Bay Downs dirt in Saturday’s $150,000 Pasco S.

Wagering

Tizzy in the Sky wins the Go for the Wand Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photography)

How to bet the Ladies Stakes

Wed Jan 08 2025John Mucciolo

The $150,000 Ladies S. at Aqueduct lacks quantity with just five fillies and mares set to go postward in the 1 1/8-mile affair, but the field has plenty of quality to it with a trio of graded stakes heroines among the handful of contenders.

Racing

Turfway Park Racing (Coady Photo/Turfway Park)

Exotics Plays for the Likely Exchange Stakes

Wed Jan 08 2025John Mucciolo

A full field of fillies and mares will vie in Saturday’s feature at Turfway Park, the $125,000 Likely Exchange S.

Wagering

Geaux Sugar wins on Louisiana Champions Day.

Geaux Sugar wins on Louisiana Champions Day. (Photo by Hodges Photography)

Pick 3 of the Week: Fair Grounds Saturday

Wed Jan 08 2025John Mucciolo

I have found a competitive trio of races on the Saturday card at Fair Grounds that appears to be a good wagering opportunity. Here is how I see the three races playing out.

Wagering

Santa Anita scenic (Horsephotos.com/Cecilia Gustavsson)

How to bet the 2025 Santa Ynez Stakes

Fri Jan 03 2025John Mucciolo

A strong cast of eight sophomore fillies will vie in Sunday’s $100,000 Santa Ynez S. at Santa Anita. I think that the majority of ladies in the field can come out on top in the well-matched affair and will seek value with my plays.

Wagering