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Get ready for horse racing this weekend

Discover everything you need to know about horse racing this weekend, including top horses, best bets, tournaments, key races, and many great promotional bonus offers you just can't say no to. 

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Top horses and best bets for horse racing this weekend

The key horse races this week include racing at Oaklawn, Keeneland, Laurel Park, and Santa Anita. Pay Billy could be sound bet for the the Laurel Park main strip in Saturday’s $150,000 Federico Tesio S., Oaklawn Park H. occupies this week's Pick 4 with familiar names like Disarm, First Mission , and Skippylongstocking. 

With the Kentucky Derby less than two weekes away, it is time to prepare! We offer a one stop shop of everything you need to know about the Kentucky Derby, including pedigree, odds, up-to-date news and notes, education, and much more! You'll find something for everyone! TwinSpires is also currently trackside, giving you all the latest updates on workouts, exclusive trainer interviews and much more. 

And don't miss our LIVE coverage next weekend, April 26, during the Kentucky Derby post position draw and, of course, Thurby, the Kentucky Oaks, and Kentucky Derby Day!

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Best Bets for the American Stakes

Read the full analysis here: How to bet the American Stakes

A cast of seven will run one-mile on the Santa Anita lawn in Sunday’s $100,000 American S. (G3). The Phil D’Amato-trained #6 King of Gosford had a pretty busy 2024 campaign with nine starts, including eight facing stakes foes, but he gave a fine impression of himself numerous times while banking in excess of $500,000. 

American Stakes Wagers

• $6 trifecta key 6 with 1,4,5 ($36)
• $2 superfecta key 6 with 1,4,5 ($12) 

Top Horses for the Lexington Stakes:

#6 King of Gosford had a pretty busy 2024 campaign with nine starts, including eight facing stakes foes, but he gave a fine impression of himself numerous times while banking in excess of $500,000. 

#1 Zio Jo has been in good form since August and fell just a half-length short in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) in his most recent adventure. The Doug O’Neill pupil will save ground and be in range turning for home, with Kyle Frey taking the reins. 

#4 Endlessly is a four-time stakes victor and is also five-for-eight overall in his career. The son of Oscar Performance appears to be working well in preparation for his seasonal bow, and I believe he will receive a nice pace set up in the race with ample early speed signed on. Umberto Rispoli will be in the silks. 

#5 Il Bellator returned from the long layoff to post a pair of big races on the dirt as of late, and the gelding has proven to be fairly capable on the grass in the past, too. The Jose Bautista trainee has speed but can run from off the tempo, and I have to include him in his current form cycle with Geo Franco in the stirrups. 

Join us for our upcoming LIVE blogs!

April 26 | LIVE open discussion with our experts before, during, and after the post position draw at Churchill Downs on opening night.

May 1-3 | LIVE coverage of Thurby, Oaks, and Kentucky Derby Day with exclusive up-to-date all-access trackside coverage. LIVE race odds, including Kentucky Derby odds, picks, entries for all the races, and so much more!

Don't miss a minute of the fun with your backstage pass to everything Kentucky Derby!

Best Bets for the Federico Tesio Stakes

Read the full analysis here: Betting With, and Against, Pay Billy in the Federico Tesio Stakes

A well-matched field of 10 sophomores will run 1 1/8 miles on the Laurel Park main strip in Saturday’s $150,000 Federico Tesio S. However, if your heart is not set on the favorite, we have you covered. Here are some best bets betting with and against the morning line favorite, Pay Billy. 

Pay Billy – With

• $2 superfecta 9 with 1,5 with 1,5,6,7 with 1,5,6,7 ($24)
• 50-cent superfecta 9 with 1,5 with 1,5,6,7 with all ($21)

Pay Billy – Against

• $1 trifecta 1,5 with 1,5,6,7,9 with 1,5,6,7,9 ($24)
• 20-cent superfecta 1,5 with 1,5,9 with 1,5,6,7,9 with all ($16.80)

Top Horses for the Federico Tesio Stakes

#5 Kentucky Outlaw (8-1) is the wildcard in the heat without question. By Outwork, the colt has dusted a pair of fields in succession at Parx and earned a race-best 102 Brisnet Speed rating in his route debut most recently. Kentucky-bred three-year-old takes an obvious class hike today, but he appears to be the pace of the race and could get brave if left alone on the front end beneath Silvestre Gonzalez. 

#1 Surfside Moon (3-1) was more than six lengths clear of his nearest pursuer when second in the Withers S. last out for trainer James Lawrence. The Malibu Moon colt ran the best race of his career in that endeavor, and if he can repeat that performance from the rail, then Keystone State-bred will be a menacing figure late beneath Mychel Sanchez. 

#6 Studlydoright (4-1) and #7 Sacred Thunder (5-1) both have obvious exotics appeal and will be included in my vertical plays, but I don’t love the chances of either of the contenders to win the race. The former has failed to hit the board in four races in a row, while the latter is consistent but winless since November. 

Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast

Jason discusses some Kentucky Derby news and is joined by TwinSpires' own Kellie Reilly for the International Radar. Then Jason talks Oaklawn and Keeneland weekend racing. 

The Jury: Expert Picks, Bets, and Fades

The TwinSpires Jury of Ashley Anderson and guest Nick Tammaro discuss their best bets and fades at Keeneland, Oaklawn Park, and Gulfstream Park.

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