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5.16.2026:

Preakness Today: Links to All Our Coverage & More

By Xpressbet

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5.16.2026:

1/ST POST: Why Play Today? Saturday, May 16, 2026

By Jeremy Plonk

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5.15.2026:

Scott Shapiro: Churchill Downs Spot Plays | Saturday, May 16, 2026

By Scott Shapiro

The racing in Maryland certainly takes center stage this weekend, but there is also very strong action throughout the country on Preakness Day. One of the better betting cards outside of Laurel Park is at Churchill Downs where they have a special “Downs After Dark” event. The racing begins at 6PM eastern and is headlined by the Louisville (G3), which goes as Race 8 and goes to post at 9:39 PM. Here are a few horses I like most on Saturday night in the Blue Grass.Race 2:My first play of the evening comes in this MSW event for the ladies where I will try second-time starter #4 Teatonic. Trainer Michael McCarthy debuted this Keeneland September 2024 purchase late last June in the first 6-furlong MSW affair of the year for 2YO fillies in Kentucky. The daughter of Yaupon chased a hot pace that day, finished a disappointing sixth, and has been on the sidelines since. McCarthy opts to bring her back in an easier spot than she encountered at first asking nearly 11 months ago. If she is ready to fire off the layoff, I am hopeful she gets the jump on and has enough left late to beat 9-5-ML favorite #11 Movie Night. Gerardo Corrales will take the call.Play: #4 Teatonic (9-2 ML)Race 4:This first-level allowance at 1 1/16-miles over the Churchill Downs lawn is one of the better betting races on the card. I will key around #7 Chambersville. The Shortleaf Stable homebred was part of the string that Kenny McPeek took to Saratoga last summer and has made two starts as a 3YO. Both resulted in third-place efforts, including last out when he returned to the grass and put in a better than looks performance from off-the-pace. Jockey Jose Ortiz had the Twirling Candy colt last early off a two-month break before opting to make a four-wide middle move. This strategy was obviously not plan A from Ortiz, but the fact Chambersville was able to try to the wire still earning third at odds of 16-1 says a lot about his stamina. This should serve him well in this spot, especially if veteran Manny Esquivel can save ground early before coming with this guy’s run in the lane. If so, he has a big chance to earn career win number two.Play: #7 Chambersville (5-1 ML)Race 6:My final spot play of the Downs After Dark card comes in this $141,000 allowance at two-turns over the sod where I like #4 In the Stars. The well-bred daughter of Into Mischief moves up in class after winning by a nose off the layoff at Keeneland on April 10. The arrow is pointing up on this Rusty Arnold trainee that ran better than looks in the Miss Revere (G2) in November and has proven twice she can finish well over this surface. Edgar Morales gets the leg up with Luis Saez in Maryland for the Preakness.Play: #4 In the Stars (4-1 ML)

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5.15.2026:

1/ST POST: Why Play Today? Black-Eyed Susan Friday, May 15, 2026

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5.15.2026:

Al Cimaglia: Meadowlands Early Pick 4 Analysis | Friday, May 15, 2026

By Al Cimaglia

The Meadowlands has a 14-race card and the Early Pick 4 starts in Race 6. The sequence has a $50,000 guaranteed pool, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast trackRace 6 (8:40 PM EDT)5-Mr Mouton (4-1)-Dexter Dunn steers for Ake Svansted and they post 26% winners when they combine. Will use off the 5-1 qualifier, when it was driven aggressively and gave way down the lane. Has hit the board in 3 of 4 at M1 and should be forwardly placed.7-Bravo Angel S (5/2)-Fired hot off the bench, won its debut at M1, then beat the Invites at Yonkers twice. Jason Bartlett is at the controls, and it has won 3-times in 15 races at East Rutherford. Could beat this crew coming off cover as the fractions should be lively.Race 7 (9:05 PM EDT)4-Reamarkable De Vie (6-1)-Beat easier handily coming off cover and missed a start due to a sick scratch. Has hit the board in 6 of 13 at M1 with 2 pictures. This will be a test, but the price is right to take a swing.5-Calderone (5/2)-Finished a beaten 3rd and went a 55.3 back half but the fractions were slow, they went to the half in .58. This is a softer spot and could be sitting on a big try.7-Cal Miles N Shell (6-1)-Recent form has been dull but did show some life at Phl in last. Tried to go gate to wire and faded. Drops to a competitive level, tries a large oval and Dunn gets the call. Should be a good price, could get a close-up seat and be in the mix down the lane.Race 8 (9:30 PM EDT)2-Miki In Luv (5/2)-Comes off a powerful mile leaving from post 8. Set a new mark of 150.3 and sealed it off with a 27.3 last panel. Takes on better but if brings the same effort it should lead to another picture.8-Blue Point (10-1)-Comes off 2 sharp efforts at Philly which were the initial starts this year. Looks like a price shot that should be a big # with this post draw. This mare has won 2 of 3 at M1 and had a 150.2 mark here in 2025. Can take some air and fits with this crew.Race 9 (9:55 PM EDT)7-My Philomene (9/2)-Qualified on 4-3 and didn't race until 5-2. Put in a good effort considering it was its 1st race this year and faced stakes company. Scott Zeron steers again, had breaking issues last year and stayed flat in a quick mile in its season debut. Showed good speed last time and will look for an even better effort in her 5th lifetime start at a square price.$2 Late Pick 45,7/4,5,7/2,8/7Total Bet=$24Check me out on X!

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5.14.2026:

Preakness Stakes Saturday: Scott Shapiro's Full-Card Laurel Selections / Analysis

By Scott Shapiro

The second leg of the Triple Crown is upon us, but as many of you know at a different home in 2026. Laurel Race Course will play host to the Preakness Stakes for the first time since 1908. The 14-race extravaganza should be a fun one with a plethora of stakes events on the undercard, a slew of horizontal opportunities, and of course a couple of promotions at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. The big race goes as Race 13 and will be one of two opportunities at the Preakness Weekend Money-Back Special. For those that plan to play the entire card, there is the $20,000 Preakness Weekend Exacta-Thon. Head on over to the promotions page/tab to get full details.Grade Descriptions: A= Highest Degree of Confidence, B= Solid Play, C= Least Preferred or Pass, X= Likely Winner but at odds probably too short to wager on.Race 1:Grade: BUse: 3 Cairo Street/1 Sally’s Gold; 8 Gift of GabForecast: #3 Cairo Street appears a solid gamble to kick off the card. This daughter of Cairo Prince makes her first start off the layoff, but instead of going long, trainer Lacey Gaudet has opted to cut the mare back in distance. When we saw her last, she broke from the outside and made a middle move in a race that fell apart late. If she breaks well off the bench and then relaxes comfortably off the early speeds, she has a big chance to out finish this group.Race 2:Grade: C+Use: 3 Wickeddivine; 10 Dean Delivers; 9 Uncle CatForecast: I am going to take a small swing in this second-level allowance over the main track against the heavily favored coupled entry of #1 Call Me Andy and #1A Blue Kingdom. It remains to be seen if both run for Jamie Ness, but I will use three horses, including top choice #3 Wickeddivine. He comes into his fourth start of the year having done little wrong thus far.Race 3:Grade: B-Use: 5 Scanner; 1 LimoForecast: 5-2-morning line favorite #1 Limo moves back to the grass after three starts over the main track this winter. His last turf route at Aqueduct is better than looks making him the deserving top choice, but I expect a good run first out from #5 Scanner. The son of Blame is out of an Unbridled’s Song mare that finished second in the 2008 Pucker Up. Trainer Graham Motion is 2 for 6 since 2022 when debuting 3YOs in turf routes in Maryland. He attracts Irad Ortiz. I will bet to him to win and back it up with a 1-5-exacta, which also would help me in the Exacta-Thon.Race 4: SkipatGrade: B-Use: 4 Benedetta; 2 Passage East; 7 Modo; 3 Kappa KappaForecast: The first stakes race of the afternoon in Maryland could be more wide-open than the morning line suggests. 9-5-ML favorite #7 Modo comes in off a pair of easy wins, but they came loose on the lead in Texas. Things are likely to be tougher this time for the daughter of Liam’s Map. #2 Passage East is the most logical on paper to take advantage of the potential early battle, but I prefer the value #4 Benedetta should offer. The City of Light mare has been freshened up by Steve Asmussen after a pair of disappointing efforts in Arkansas to start her 5YO campaign. She appears to be training well after the time off and gets a huge rider switch to Jose Ortiz. Hopefully, we can get her into the exacta to help the wallet immediately and knock another one down in the Exacta-Thon.Race 5:Grade: CUse: 1 Nick’s Notion; 4 SassariForecast: The last non-stake race until after the second jewel of the Triple Crown is a first-level allowance event at two-turns over the grass where #4 Sassari was made the 5-2 ML favorite off a dominant front running score on debut at odds-on. She clearly has unlimited upside, but taking a short price off a filly that just galloped as the chalk on the lead is not a winning long-term strategy. I landed on #1 Nick’s Notion as the filly with an upset chance. She ran down the lone speed runner in a state-bred allowance off a 10-month break on April 26 and draws favorably along the inside. She can finish if she gets some pace to chase.Race 6: Sir BartonGrade: XUse: 7 Reagan’s HonorForecast: #7 Reagan’s Honor disappointed when trying to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby in early April, but things are likely to be different for him in Maryland. He was beaten to the punch in the Blue Grass (G1) and never got comfortable. Perhaps it was the lack of Lasix, but the fact Cherie DeVaux brings him back without it and just six weeks later leads me to believe he is doing just fine. DeVaux is 7 for 20 with a $5.47 ROI (boosted by Golden Tempo) over the last 30 days. I am not interested in trying to beat him.Race 7: Chick LangGrade: XUse: 4 ObliterationForecast: The same is true with the 6-5-ML favorite in this year’s Chick Lang. Steve Asmussen has won this race more than any other trainer. #4 Obliteration travelled overseas and ran great to earn second in the Saudi Derby (G3). He gets back to a more preferred distance and lures the hottest rider in the game.Race 8: Maryland Sprint (G3)Grade: B+Use: 5 Floodlites; 7 Hymn; 4 HaileysfirstnotionForecast: One race I am looking forward to attacking from an exacta perspective is this 6-furlong dash over the main track where I am hoping to get #7 Hymn into the number. The son of McKinzie is on the improve for Ron Moquett and should get a contentious pace to run at. Whether he is good enough to win will be determined, but he is 12-1 on the ML and should be in a great spot at the very least to pick up the pieces. Both #4 Haileysfirstnotion and #5 Floodlites enter the Maryland Sprint (G3) in top form. The problem is both of them and a few others do their best running towards the front. I prefer Floodlites slightly, but will use them both with Hymn in hopes of a solid score to kick off the second half of the day.Race 9: James W. MurphyGrade: B+Use: 6 Turf Star/3 ZihnalForecast: The uncoupled Graham Motion entry of #5 Proton and #6 Turf Star are likely to take a lot of the public’s money in this one-mile turf race for 3YOs. I much prefer Turf Star. Proton has struggled to relax and had little excuse in his first two starts of the year. Turf Star ran poorly in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), but has kept better company overall. Plus, two-back in the Kitten’s Joy his effort was forgivable when forced 3-wide and bumped on the first turn. Jorge Ruiz will try his hand on the Calumet Farm homebred for the first time.Race 10: Dinner Party (G3)Grade: A-Use: 3 Cruise the NileForecast: I love the chances of the Jersey-bred #3 Cruise the Nile in this year’s Dinner Party. The Hope Jones homebred has rattled off four consecutive wins since moving to the grass and displayed the versatility only really good horses show in the Henry Clark to get the money last month. There is little reason to not use his speed in this spot, but perhaps he will hope for a target once again. Either way, he is a gelding on the rise for Graham Motion.Race 11: Gallorette (G3)Grade: C+Use: 1 Mahra’s Love; 6 Cheetah Lady; 4 WarmingForecast: I could make a case for most of the field in this year’s Gallorette, which explains my overall lack of confidence. However, I do think the logicals are vulnerable. The Chad Brown trainees will be underlays win or lose and #5 Austere was poor last out despite having everything her way on the front end at Keeneland. I will use prices in the horizontals in hopes of separating from the public.Race 12: Jim McKay Turf SprintGrade: BUse: 3 Jean Valjean/2 Determined Kingdom, 11 Had to Have Him; 4 Chasing LibertyForecast: I am going to lean on #3 Jean Valjean in this year’s ultra-competitive Jim McKay Turf Sprint. The 7YO gelding has won 8 of 19 career races and ran much better than it appears on paper two-back versus several of his rivals in this spot. The Pennsylvania-bred battled early from the outside and easily disposed of the other speed at odds of 28-1 before being run over in a race that totally collapsed in the end. He came back two weeks later and won going away. Trainer Elizabeth Merryman calls on one of the best riders on the continent and should see a race flow that favors those forwardly placed. 5-1 seems fair and another chance to hit a solid exacta as well.Race 13: Preakness (G1)Grade: B-Use: 2 Ocelli; 6 Chip Honcho; 12 Incredibolt/5 Talkin; 1 Taj Mahal; 10 Napoleon Solo; 13 Great WhiteForecast: For those of you reading this on the blog, I recommend checking out the Preakness Wager Guide for detailed information on all riders in the big race and much more. I am expecting a fast pace in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. If we get it, I am hopeful it is #2 Ocelli making the last move. One can certainly question his will to win, but I think a perfectly timed move like Golden Tempo’s in the Derby will be good enough to get this bunch.#12 Incredibolt is as likely as anyone to benefit from a fast early tempo. Trainer Riley Mott must love the way his colt is training to run him back last minute off of 2 weeks rest. #6 Chip Honcho will likely have to either relax off the pace or deal with a lot of contention early, but his best puts him squarely in the mix. The addition of Jose Ortiz is a huge positive since has been pulling all the right strings of late. I can see the Steve Asmussen trainee hanging around for a slice at the very least. #1 Taj Mahal and #10 Napoleon Solo may have the highest ceilings in the field, but also have a big chance to compromise each other’s chances early. If one somehow shakes loose early though, they could be a handful to run down. Of all the horses drawn to the outside, #13 Great White may be the one least impacted. Not to say a wide trip will work out well, but he is a massive horse. Being down on the inside was unlikely to be his ticket to victory.Race 14:Grade: C+Use: 6 Grant the Great; 9 Mister Monday Nite; 4 Bruno; 8 Holy Moly MitoleForecast: The Preakness Day festivities conclude with a 6-furlong MSW over the main track for 3YOs where a trio of second-time starters make sense, but do not snooze on #9 Mister Monday Nite. They spent $75k for this son of Enticed. He comes in off a steady series of drills for trainer Jamie Ness.

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5.14.2026:

Preakness & Black-Eyed Susan Day Picks: Jeremy Plonk's Stakes & Full-Card Laurel Analysis

By Jeremy Plonk

Handicapper Jeremy Plonk tackles the 6 stakes races on Friday's Black-Eyed Susan Day card at Laurel Park as well as the entire, 14-race program for Preakness Saturday. Check out his selections, race notes and key play notations. Advance wagering opened Thursday for all races on both days. Download PDF here.

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5.14.2026:

1/ST POST: Why Play Today? Thursday, May 14, 2026

By Xpressbet

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