The 4-day Cheltenham Festival is one of the world's most prestigious Steeplechase meetings. Watch and wager on all the action with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet each morning Tuesday through Friday this week -- and get 10X 1/ST Rewards Points on all those plays. To get you set for Cheltenham, check out the free Wager Guide from Timeform.

After a weekend that arguably saw a couple of 3YOs separate themselves from the pack in Hallandale Beach, it is difficult to say similar about this past Saturday. Tampa Bay Downs and Santa Anita Park took center stage with the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and San Felipe (G2) both rewarding 50 points to the winner, but both underwhelmed. So, with a light week ahead before the three biggest ones in terms of Triple Crown preps, it is time for another week of “Prep School.”Horse That Disappointed Most on Saturday: BrantUnfortunately, the two Triple Crown preps from last weekend were more about disappointment than they were success. Sure, The Puma out finished Canaletto and Further Ado to break his maiden in the Tampa Bay Derby and Potente got by longshot Robusta late to earn his first stakes win at Santa Anita, but neither race impressed from a visual or data perspective. Further Ado’s lack of serious energy late despite a clean stalking trip and Powershift’s no show both stood out in Oldsmar, but it is nearly impossible to look past Brant when it comes to the biggest disappointment from the past weekend. Sure, plenty of horseplayers had questions about the $3M son of Gun Runner’s ability to get a route of ground, but he put it in a total clunker finishing fifth beaten nearly seven lengths at odds-on. It is likely trainer Bob Baffert opts to cut the Zedan Racing Stables colt back in distance and perhaps shoot for the Pat Day Mile (G2), but either way he was highly disappointing on Saturday afternoon.Horse That Ran on Saturday Most Likely to Win a Triple Crown Race: NoneHeading into last weekend, it was easy to make the case that horses like Canaletto and Further Ado were amongst the 3YOs likely to visit the winner’s circle in one of the three Triple Crown races this spring. As of Sunday morning, it was more difficult. Some racing fans will make the case that Canaletto’s effort in Florida was better than looks on paper given his ground loss and the way the track played earlier in the card, but I cannot get there. Sure, it is never ideal to be caught wide into the first turn in your first two-turn try, but the same was true for The Puma suggesting this is a race that actually favored those from off the pace and off the rail. This directly conflicts with the way the racing surface played earlier in the card, but reportedly there was a decent amount of rain that very likely changed the track. Either way it is hard for me to be convinced that two of the three top finishers fought what would have been a pretty decent bias had it been conducted just a few hours earlier. The top three are far from chopped liver, but are horses I will let beat me going a classic distance at the highest level in the coming months.Horse With Most to Prove This Weekend: IncrediboltThe lone race rewarding points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard takes place at Colonial Downs on Saturday. The Virginia Derby drew a field of ten with runners from some of the biggest barns set to make the voyage to the Commonwealth in an attempt to earn a spot in the Derby starting gate. Some of the top contenders in this year’s Virginia Derby had high hopes coming into 2026, but disappointed in their last start. #7 Incredibolt tops that list. The Pin Oak Stud colt ended his 2YO campaign with a pair of impressive off-the-pace victories at Churchill Downs for trainer Riley Mott. He made his return in the Holy Bull (G3) where he went off at odds of 7-2, but failed to run a step. The son of Bolt d’Oro almost ran too poor to believe, so perhaps it was the racing surface or just not his day. Regardless, it is basically now or never for the $75,000 Keeneland September ’24 purchase that made such a positive impression in the Blue Grass State just a short time ago. A strong performance here and a lot about his run in Florida will be forgotten. Another dud and perhaps we see him move to the grass in the spring time.

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Turf Paradise | today’s racesNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $75,436 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $75,586 | Mahoning Valley | begins Race 3 | 1:11 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $79,331 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 5:15 pm ETKEY RACESWill Rogers Downs | Race 8 | 5:29 pm ET | Welder StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXWill Rogers Downs | Race 6 | 4:30 pm ETParx | Race 10 | 4:43 pm ETTurf Paradise | Race 8 | 7:47 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHJay Bernardini | Mahoning Valley | 4 of 5 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Will Rogers Downs | jockey David Cabrera | 4 wins, 1 second in 7 startsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk: Turf Paradise Bet $100, Get $10 Picks for TuesdayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The “Lucky Strides” promotion this March at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet offers a $10 bonus when you bet $100 or more at select tracks each Tuesday and Thursday. Turf Paradise will be the track spotlighted for this Tuesday. Here’s how I’ll approach that card with the help of the Betmix Angler database.Turf Paradise: Race 7#3 Love That Witch (6-1 morning line odds) looks for back-to-back wins since joining the Wade Rarick barn in Arizona and adding blinkers. The trainer has gone wild with a 21: 10-3-2 mark at Turf Paradise over the past month – including 6: 4-1-0 teamed with jockey Orlando Mojica during that span. Win #3. Daily Double 3-4 to next play.Turf Paradise: Race 8#4 Halo Uncle (5-1 morning line odds) races first time off the claim for a Wendell Matt barn that suddenly has gotten hot. An 11% outfit is 7: 3-0-3 since Feb. 21 with $5, $10, $37 winners and the only horse to miss the money was 49-1 odds. I like seeing regular rider Kiaman McGregor stick with the mount through the trainer change. Win-place #4.

Yonkers Raceway has a 9-race card, and the $1.00 Pick 5 begins in Race 5. That sequence has a $10,000 guaranteed pool. The $1.00 Late Pick 4 starts in Race 6, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 6 (8:25 PM EDT)1-Curly James A-(9/5)-Starts from the rail which should help and almost beat this kind on 3-2 losing by a neck. Was off 3 weeks before the race and could make amends at a small price but don’t completely trust.2-Bet On Big Joe (9/2)-Went the back half in .55 in the 1st start for the Alexander barn but left from the 7-hole and was 10 lengths back at the half. Might offer a square price and could be sitting on a big try.4-GDS Thunder GB (7/2)-Beat the $40k claimers 2 straight and then stepped up to face this kind. Missed a start and only lost by a neck. Draws the choice post and will respect chances and look for a sharp steer from Austin Siegelman.Race 7 (8:45 PM EDT)1-Vicious (5/2)-Won off an efficient trip on 3-2 in the first race in the Adamcyzk barn. Missed a start, still raced well, now comes back in sequence and has won 6 of 13 races at Yonkers.2-Diego N (3-1)-Tried to leave hard from post 8 in the last start and made a rare break on the first turn. Yannick Gringras was the new pilot that night and he returns. This is a tough group and will toss the last start. This race might have to go through the Engblom trainee.4-Aye Aye Captain (7/2)-Stepped up to this level after a win. Started slowly again but couldn’t catch the winner like the race before. Holland should be more aggressive with this draw, and post relief could be the winning difference.Race 8 (9:05 PM EDT)4-Jumping Jack Mac N (5/2)-Came off a sick scratch at PcD to make its 1st start since 12-15 and rallied to lose by only a neck. Lightly raced 9-year-old comes right back and should be ready to bring a top effort.5-Whichway to the Beach (7/2)-Worked hard into a .55 opening half to land on the point. The trip took its toll and faded to come 3rd. This will be the 5th race off the bench and comes back in sequence for the first time. Could land on top or in the pocket and not burn as much gas this time.Race 9 (9:25 PM EDT)4-The Greek Freak (9/5)-Shipped in and went gate to wire and looked the part as a 6/5 post time favorite. Steps up but has beaten this kind in the fall and then stepped up to race against top pacers at YR. Knows how to string wins together, draws a top post and comes right back for the first time in 3 starts this year. Could follow the same plan, has the gate speed to get on the point and make every call a winning one.$1 Late Pick 41,2,4/1,2,4/4,5/4Total Bet=$18Check me out on X!

The 4-day Cheltenham Festival is one of the world's most prestigious Steeplechase meetings. Watch and wager on all the action with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet each morning Tuesday through Friday this week -- and get 10X 1/ST Rewards Points on all those plays. To get you set for Cheltenham, check out the free Wager Guide from Timeform.

Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be up for grabs Saturday at Colonial Downs when the second spring edition of the Virginia Derby is offered. The 1-turn race at 1-1/8 miles is unique in trip. Last year's winner American Promise went on to perform in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, while this year's cast looks to make a name for itself.Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet take advantage of up to a $10 money-back special promo on Triple Crown prep race win bets, featuring Saturday’s Virginia Derby. Get up to $10 back if your win bet finishes second or third when you bet with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet.Let’s meet the contenders for the Virginia Derby (Race 9):#1-BUETANE: $1.15 million son of Belmont winner Tiz the Law has hit the board in the G1 Hopeful, G2 San Vicente and G3 Southwest while searching for his first stakes win. Bob Baffert won last week’s San Felipe with Potente and looks to bolster his potential Kentucky Derby roster. Well-traveled colt will make his fifth career start at a fifth different track. Flavien Prat has the call on the expected favorite. Baffert’s Getaway Car finished fourth as the 4-5 favorite in this race las tyear.#2-GRITTINESS: Five-race maiden makes a third straight stakes start after a Remsen fifth and runner-up in the Withers most recently. This $575,000 son of Curlin has kept strong company lines all the way back to his debut at Saratoga when chasing eventual 2-year-old champ Ted Noffey. Todd Pletcher also trained the dam, Coach Rocks, winner of the Gulfstream Oaks and runner-up in the 2018 Black-Eyed Susan. Rajiv Maragh rides for the first time.#3-EPIC DESIRE: Second of 2 Todd Pletcher trainees in the lineup, this Uncle Mo colt has won 1 of 6 and exits a fifth-place effort in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Local rider Sheldon Russell – second in this race last year with Render Judgment – takes the call aboard the full-brother to $2 million earner and 3-time Grade 1 winner Adare Manor. He’s winless in 5 tries without Lasix and won’t race on the medication Saturday.#4-WORK: Santa Anita-based son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah broke his maiden last out in his fifth career start. Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill finished second last week in the San Felipe with Robusta, also owned by Calumet Farm. Work finished out of the money in all 4 prior starts before winning a turf sprint at 6-1/2 furlongs last time out. Parx leading jockey Mychel Sanchez rides.#5-HIGH CAMP: Lightly raced Instagrand home-bred for OXO Equine broke his maiden Feb. 7 at Gulfstream in his second career start. John Velazquez returns in the saddle off that 1-length score over 7 furlongs for trainer Will Walden. He’ll be without Lasix Saturday and extends a quarter-mile in trip. Second dam Summer Applause was fourth in the 2012 Kentucky Oaks and cashed checks in marquee races like the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Spinster, Apple Blossom and DuPont Distaff.#6-LOCKSTOCKNPHAROAH: Joins Work in this field as sons of American Pharoah, this one unbeaten in 2 starts on the synthetic surface at Turfway Park. Trainer Tommy Drury brings regular rider Edgar Morales from Kentucky as this $50,000 purchase makes his first stakes bid. He’s won sprinting and around 2 turns at a mile, so the 1-1/8 miles around 1 turn could be an effective trip for him if he handles dirt.#7-INCREDIBOLT: Crossroads time for last year’s Grade 3 Street Sense winner after a mystifying, last-place debacle in the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Jan. 31 in his sophomore return. Riley Mott trains the Bolt d’Oro colt and regular rider Jaime Torres sticks in the saddle. He’s had 4 workouts on cue since the Holy Bull at his Palm Meadows winter base.#8-CONFESSIONAL: Keeneland debut winner in October looks to get back on the beam after an allowance runner-up and tiring seventh in the Sam F. Davis Stakes in Florida this winter. The allowance came in pursuit of next-out Holy Bull winner Nearly, while the Davis effort looked a bit more tolerable when that race’s third-place finisher The Puma rebounded to win last week’s Tampa Bay Derby. Brad Cox trained the sire Essential Quality and champion jockey Irad Ortz Jr. will be in the saddle. Blinkers go back on for the Virginia Derby after being removed for the Davis last out.#9-OCELLI: Maiden gives the stakes path another whirl in his fifth start following a no-threat sixth in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs. Solid maiden performances in Kentucky and Louisiana prior, including a third-place effort behind next-out winner and major Blue Grass Stakes contender Reagan’s Honor on Jan. 17. Whit Beckman and Joe Ramos team with this $12,000 colt by Connect.#10-CLOCKER SPECIAL: Stakes debut for this Ellis Park maiden winner last July, who makes his second start off the layoff. Close second at Oaklawn Feb. 8 in allowance company for Rodolphe Brisset while stretching out to 1-1/16 miles for the first time. $200,000 son of Not This Time has trained at Keeneland in recent weeks and top Oaklawn rider Cristian Torres makes the road trip Saturday to Colonial Downs.

SCHEDULE NOTESFair Grounds | adds Monday card, first post 1:45 pm ETNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $55,041 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $67,611 | Mahoning Valley | begins Race 3 | 1:11 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $157,348 | Fair Grounds | begins Race 4 | 3:15 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $67,447 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 5:11 pm ETKEY RACESWill Rogers Downs | Race 7 | 5:02 pm ET | Blue Ribbon StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXParx | Race 10 | 4:43 pm ETSunland | Race 9 | 5:58 pm ETTurf Paradise | Race 8 | 7:43 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHGreg Foley | Fair Grounds | all 4 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Fair Grounds | Joe Sharp | 3 wins, 2 seconds in 5 startsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section