A capacity Kentucky Derby field of 24 (including 4 also-eligibles), one that features no less than 7 trainers who’ve already won the roses, was drawn Saturday at Churchill Downs. Arkansas Derby winner Renegade begins next Saturday from post #1 and has been deemed the 4-1 morning-line favorite. He’ll try to give champion jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. his first win in America’s biggest race and become the first to win from the rail since Ferdinand in 1986.Check out the free 1/ST Kentucky Derby Wager Guide for all your handicapping needs leading up to a huge weekend at Churchill Downs. And play with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet in our $20,000 Exacta-Thon on Friday and Saturday for your share of bonus cash.Notable contender draws include Florida Derby winner Commandment (post #6), his Gulfstream Park rivals The Puma (post #9) and Chief Wallabee (post #12) as well as Blue Grass winner Further Ado (post #18). Japan will be represented by the unbeaten Danon Bourbon (post #7) and UAE Derby winner Wonder Dean (post #10).Post position draw winners and losers are never an easy assessment. Chief Wallabee is beautifully drawn in post 12, away from some of the other speed pockets and potential trouble neighborhoods. Posts 19 and 20 will very much suit deep closers Golden Tempo and Full Effort as they’ll not have any of the speed crossing over their face and can take their time at the back to pick a spot to save ground. Just a matter if they’re good enough.As for the losers, Renegade’s deep-closing style could see him shuffled farther back than he’d like from the rail. It's safer on the rail with the 20-horse starting gate allowing for more space than the auxiliary-gate era. But you've still got a mass of horseflesh trying to all save as much ground as they can in front of you. Further Ado wants a pressing trip, but from post 18, he’s got a lot of speed inside of him and will need to work out a path to save ground behind the initial leaders. So Happy and The Puma are drawn between the Japanese entrants and that could make for some congestion if one or both of the international runners don’t negotiate the start cleanly as has been known to happen. And the inexperienced Emerging Market in post 15 has speed horses in the 3 immediately posts outside of him and will have to resist getting rank as those horses try to cross his face early in the going.The pace of Kentucky Derby 152 could come from Dubai-based Six Speed, who leaves from post 17. Others expected to show early interest include Pavlovian (post #16), Potente (post #14) and Litmus Test (post #4). Expect Intrepido (post #3) now to be inserted into the early pace discussion as rookie Derby rider Hector Berrios will have to use some horse to maintain safe position with the field working down to the rail.Note that Chief Wallabee and Litmus Test both get equipment changes to blinkers on for the Kentucky Derby.Fields for all races Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs were drawn today, including Friday’s primetime 8:40 pm ET Kentucky Oaks. The headliner for 3-year-old fillies canvasses the country with west coasters Meaning (post #5) and Explora (post #1), the midwestern trio of Percy’s Bar (post #11), Counting Stars (post #3) and Bella Ballerina (post #12) and the eastern pair of Zany (post #2) and Always a Runner (post #9) among the field of 14 with 3 also-eligibles. Zany has been set as the chilly 4-1 Oaks favorite in what’s expected to be wide-open betting.Advance wagering on the complete Kentucky Derby Day Saturday card at Churchill Downs will be available Friday at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet.Kentucky Derby 152 | Churchill Downs | Saturday Race 12 | 6:57 pm ET1-Renegade (Todd Pletcher / Irad Ortiz Jr.) 4-12-Albus (Riley Mott / Manny Franco) 30-13-Intrepido (Jeff Mullins / Hector Berrios) 50-14-Litmus Test (Bob Baffert / Martin Garcia) 30-15-Right to Party (Kenny McPeek / Chris Elliott) 30-16-Commandment (Brad Cox / Luis Saez) 6-17-Danon Bourbon (Manabu Ikezoe / Atsuya Nishimura) 20-18-So Happy (Mark Glatt / Mike Smith) 15-19-The Puma (Gustavo Delgado / Javier Castellano) 10-110-Wonder Dean (Daisuke Takayanagi / Ryusei Sakai) 30-111-Incredibolt (Riley Mott / Jaime Torres) 20-112-Chief Wallabee (Bill Mott / Junior Alvarado) 8-113-Silent Tactic (Mark Casse / Cristian Torres) 20-114-Potente (Bob Baffert / Juan Hernandez) 20-115-Emerging Market (Chad Brown / Flavien Prat) 15-116-Pavlovian (Doug O’Neill / Edwin Maldonado) 30-117-Six Speed (Bhupat Seemar / Brian Hernandez Jr.) 50 -118-Further Ado (Brad Cox / John Velazquez) 6-119-Golden Tempo (Cherie DeVaux / Jose Ortiz) 30-120-Fulleffort (Brad Cox / Tyler Gaffalione) 20-1Also-Eligible (in order of field selection if scratches occur by 9 am ET Friday):21-Great White (John Ennis / Alex Achard)22-Ocelli (Whit Beckman / Joe Ramos)23-Robusta (Doug O’Neill / Emisael Jaramillo)24-Corona de Oro (Dallas Stewart / Brian Hernandez Jr.)

1/ST KENTUCKY DERBY WAGER GUIDEFree Access | link Oaks/Derby Post Position Draw | Today | after Churchill Downs Race 3EXTRA INCENTIVES$2,500 Triple Tri | Churchill Downs | today’s races10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Woodbine | today’s races10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Red Shores-Charlottetown (harness) | today’s racesSCHEDULE NOTESPreakness Future Wager | open through next SaturdayChurchill Downs | opening daySPECIAL WAGERSCoast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 10-11; Santa Anita Races 4-5-6Sunset 6 | Gulfstream Races 9-10-11; Santa Anita Races 7-8-9TOURNAMENT TIME$500 Santa Anita Challenge | details$40 Santa Anita feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSMandatory Payout Pick 6 | $266,215 | Gulfstream Park | begins Race 6 | 2:37 pm ETPick 6 | $12,100 | Aqueduct | begins Race 5 | 3:13 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $264,931 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 5 | 7:15 pm ETKEY RACESGulfstream | Race 6 | 2:37 pm ET | F&M Sprint FHBPA StakesAqueduct | Race 4 | 2:40 pm ET | Woodhaven StakesGulfstream | Race 7 | 3:21 pm ET | FHBPA Sophomore Sprint StakesGulfstream | Race 8 | 3:50 pm ET | FHBPA Turf StakesGulfstream | Race 9 | 4:19 pm ET | FHBPA Sophomore Fillies StakesWoodbine | Race 7 | 4:36 pm ET | Star Shoot StakesGulfstream | Race 10 | 4:49 pm ET | FHBPA Sprint StakesGulfstream | Race 11 | 5:21 pm ET | FHBPA F&M Turf StakesChurchill Downs | Race 9 | 5:41 pm ET | Roxelana StakesFonner Park | Race 9 | 6:40 pm ET | Bosselman Gus Fonner StakesOaklawn | Race 10 | 6:46 pm ET | Dig A Diamond StakesSanta Anita | Race 9 | 8:09 pm ET | Royal Heroine StakesCharles Town | Race 8 | 10:32 pm ET | Its Binn Too Long StakesSha Tin | Race 5 | 2:35 am ET | Chairman's Sprint | featuring Ka Ying RisingSha Tin | Race 8 | 4:55 am ET | QE2 Cup | featuring Romantic WarriorLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXLaurel | Race 6 | 2:31 pm ETAqueduct | Race 5 | 3:16 pm ETTampa Bay Downs | Race 9 | 4:26 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHSteve Asmussen | Oaklawn | 9 of 10 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Tampa Bay Downs | jockey Samuel Marin | 6 wins, 1 second from 9 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMBrian Nadeau: Gulfstream Mandatory Pick 6 Analysis / Full-Card Picks for SaturdayScott Shapiro: Churchill Downs Spot Plays for SaturdayJeremy Plonk: Race of the Week – FHBA Turf Stakes at GulfstreamFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

With a $266,215 carryover and mandatory payout in today's Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream Park, track officials expect a pool around $3 million. The sequence begins in Race 6 at 2:37 pm ET. Here are the full-card Saturday selections from on-track handicapper and oddsmaker Brian Nadeau.Race 1:4 – Aporia1 – Pan Pan7 – SonnypeachesRace 2:6 – Leigh’s Last Hero9 – Nano Man1 – LodatoRace 3:7 – Street Sue5 – Khozy Me Up3 – TerrimendousRace 4:6 – Chaplin2 – Schnittker3 – InchonRace 5:6 – Ashley’s Archer (Best Bet)8 – Our Souper Hero11 – Discreet DancerRace 6:4 – Just a Philly (Longshot)5 – Nic’s Style3 – Mystic LakeRace 7:2 – Diciassette7 – Maykomotion9 – Rockies BalboaRace 8:2 – Private Thoughts5 – Tank6 – Adios ColeRace 9:5 – Mythical7 – Tessellate6 – Unfaithful RoseRace 10:1 – Classic of Course8 – Damon’s Mound6 – Flood ZoneRace 11:2 – Lets Go Koko9 – Souper Zanda8 – Dreaming of AbbaBest Bet: R5: #6 Ashley’s Archer (3-1)* Rough trip in first off long layoff* Was training strongly for return* Will get first run on the closersLongshot: R6: #4 Just a Philly (6-1)* Stalker can settle off very hot pace* Favorites (#3 and #5) have concerns* Class rise wasn’t too much in last

The Meadowlands has a 14-race card with the 0.50 Late Pick 4 starting in Race 10. The sequence has a $50,000 guaranteed pool with a 15% takeout, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 10 (10:20 PM EDT)1-Typhoon Banner N (3-1)-The Joe B veteran has burned money in the last 2 races by finishing 2nd and now drops. There really isn't an excuse for not beating this field. Can land on the point without much effort and could make every call a winning one.6-Dance Partner (10-1)-The last 2 races have been dull but that was while facing better. Now, drops down to the same level as a win 2 back. Has a post edge on the 2nd chalk #8 who hasn't raced since 12-15. This is a stalker who can fly down the lane and could finish fastest of all.Race 11 (10:45 PM EDT)5-She Stings (9/5)-This is the 3rd start in the Joe B barn. Won its last at Philly and then came a close 2nd, 2 back at M1. This looks like a 2-horse race between Darlin's Angel and this 3-year-old. My lean will be here, with the horse who isn't coming off the bench and has the better pilot.Race 12 (11:10 PM EDT)2-Big Ego (6-1)-Will toss last from the 10-hole. Before that lost by a neck from post 8 versus this kind. The 4-year-old fits could stalk or leave and race near the top of the stack. Should be a player but will probably be bet down.3-Hiranya N (4-1)-My take is this veteran fits with this kind and Tim Tetrick can work an efficient trip. Does good work when racing near the top of the stack and that can happen here. Could offer a square price in a race without standout.Race 13 (11:35 PM EDT)6-A Little Kick (3-1)-Has been in the mix in the last 5 starts and that includes winning twice. Fits well with this crew and should be racing with the leaders. Could take another picture if Joe B has in striking range at the top of the lane.8-Seargant Walt (5-1)-Beat this kind leaving from post 9 in March and came 2nd in the preceding race. Finished last by a city block on 4-4, requalified on 4-11 and then raced well on 4-18 considering the trip. Will look for a smoother journey and to be in the hunt at a square price.$2 Late Pick 41,6/5/2,3/6,8Total Bet=$16Check me out on X!

Yonkers Raceway has a 10-race card with the $1.00 Early Pick 4 starting in Race 1. The sequence features MGM Pacing Series Leg 5 action, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 1 (6:45 PM EDT)2-Aardie B Miki N (5/2)-Won 2 back from the 7-hole going gate to wire in a Series race and had the same post draw 3 back. Last week, didn't seem interested. But has won 4 of 10 this year and overall has posted 9 wins in 22 races on the Hilltop. Jason Bartlett will get the top and could be tough to tackle.4-Coastal Babe N (2-1)-Won Legs 1 and 2 in the Series and then took a week off. Last time was used hard off the gate into a 26.3 opening panel and missed by a length after getting on the engine. Now, comes right back in sequence and is the one to beat.Race 2 (7:05 PM EDT)2-Fashion Terror (8/5)-Not loving the short price but did take its 1st picture of 2026 at M1 last time. Comes back to Yonkers where it has had some breaking issues. Did take 2 pictures in 6 tries at Yonkers and could add to that total if Bartlett can keep her pacing.5-Alta Madeira N (6-1)-Will take a swing here in case the chalk isn't on its game under the assumption the morning line is too low. Saratoga shipper lands at a level that with a smooth trip a win could happen with this post draw.Race 3 (7:25 PM EDT)1-Louies Girl N (3/5)-The Engblom mare is looking for its 3rd straight picture and has won the last two drawing off by 4 and 5 lengths. Bartlett will leave and try to have his way on the front end, if that happens this is most likely the winner.3-Walkin On Sunshine (3-1)-If the big chalk isn't engaged Scott Zeron could be posing. Has hit the board in all 4 Series starts but last time did show good gate speed off the car. Hung on for another 3rd place check but was used into a 26.3 opening quarter. A pocket ride could happen again without burning as much gas.Race 4 (7:45 PM EDT)5-Bath Bomb (2-1)-This will be the 5th race of the year for the Engblom 5-year-old mare. Banked over $375,000 in 2025 and posted 12 wins in 18 starts. Hasn't won in 4 tries this year but has 3 wins in 7 races at Yonkers and has had excuses. Finished 2nd in the first 2 races off the bench and then was stuck with post 6 and 7 in the last 2 starts. Now meets a short field without big gate speed and needs a win. Andrew McCarthy should be aggressive off the car and will have in striking range turning for the wire.$2 Early Pick 42,4/2,5/1,3/5Total Bet=$16Check me out on X!

They are back at it for the start of a new racing week at Santa Anita Park. The Friday afternoon slate kicks off at 4PM eastern/1PM local time and includes five races over the grass. Here are a few horses I will build my day around at the “Great Race Place” before we reach the one-week point until the 152nd Kentucky Derby.Race 5:#4 Run With Liberty was extremely impressive on debut winning from off-the-pace at one-mile over the grass going away at odds of 14-1. The Originaire filly was forgotten at the windows in her first start, but was made the 9-5-ML choice in her first start versus winners. She is obviously quite capable of making it back-to-back wins, but I prefer the more experienced #1 Cecilia Street. The Stanford filly tried the dirt on April 4, but was badly out run. Trainer Leonard Powell moves her back to the grass and stretches her back out to two turns. She should find a prominent spot early allowing her to get the jump on Run With Liberty. Jockey Mirco Demuro will be back in the saddle.Play: #1 Cecilia Street (5-2 ML)Race 6:The pace should be honest, but not chaotic in this open $10k claimer over the main track that kicks off the late Pick 4. I expect class dropper #3 Legal Fiction to take advantage. The Reddam Racing filly drops out of a lower-level allowance spot where she finished second in a compact group of 4. The California-bred filly should be able to find a perfect stalking spot under jockey Emisael Jaramillo and be tough to hold off from there. Look for the daughter of I’ll Have Another to fire her best on the class drop at what is listed as a very playable 6-1-ML offering.Play: #3 Legal Fiction (6-1 ML)Race 7:Assuming #10 Bear’s Board does not draw in off the also eligible list in this optional claimer over the grass, it should be #2 Green Zone loose on the lead. The Harris Farms homebred made her turf debut two-back over this same surface and distance and wired out a field of 9 at odds of 13-1. Trainer Dean Pederson brought the Grazen filly back in a state-bred first-level allowance in late February where she was beaten out of the gate and struggled to relax from there. There is little doubt that at this point in her career she wants to be out there on her own setting the pace like she did in her maiden score. With a better break and an inside draw, she has a shot to rebound in her first start of the spring. Abel Lezcano gets the leg up for the first time.Play: #2 Green Zone (8-1 ML)

1/ST KENTUCKY DERBY WAGER GUIDEFree Access | link SCHEDULE NOTESPreakness Future Wager | opens noon ETKeeneland | closing day Spring MeetSPECIAL WAGERSCoast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 8-9; Santa Anita Races 3-4-5Sunset 6 | Gulfstream Races 7-8-9; Santa Anita Races 7-8-9TOURNAMENT TIME$100 Keeneland feeder | details$40 Santa Anita feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $246,980 | Gulfstream Park | begins Race 4 | 2:27 pm ETPick 5 | $12,893 | Laurel | begins Race 6 | 2:31 pm ETMandatory Payout Pick 6 | $44,695 | Keeneland | begins Race 5 | 3:08 pm ET--Gulfstream has a mandatory payout scheduled SaturdayKEY RACESKeeneland | Race 8 | 4:44 pm ET | Betwitch StakesOaklawn | Race 9 | 6:14 pm ET | Southern Hospitality StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXLaurel | Race 6 | 2:31 pm ETAqueduct | Race 5 | 3:16 pm ETTampa Bay Downs | Race 9 | 4:26 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHBrad Cox | Keeneland | 5 of 6 entrants 7-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Aqueduct | jockey Manny Franco | 3 wins, 4 thirds from 7 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli: Keeneland Late Pick 3 Play for Closing DayScott Shapiro: Santa Anita Spot Plays for FridayFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Racing officially moves from Keeneland to Churchill Downs on Saturday afternoon, which will also be when the Kentucky Derby draws occur. The draw along with the Kentucky Oaks comes between the third and fourth races on the Opening Day slate and to kick off the meet in Louisville, Xpresssbet and 1/ST BET are offering a one-day promotion. The “Churchill Triple Tri $2500 Hit & Split” is live just on April 25 with the goal of connecting on three $1 trifecta wagers over the course of the ten-race card. Those that register and are able to do so will share the $2500 bonus prize. I analyzed the late Pick 4 below, but will certainly take a swing at the promo as well to get my meet started in the “Ville.”Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.Race 7:Grade: CMain Ticket: 7 GoodbetterbestBackups: 4 Classy’n ConnectedForecast: A $40k open claimer over the grass kicks off the first late Pick 4 of the meet where I lack creativity. #4 Classy’n Connected was made the 2-1-ML favorite in her first start off a two and a half month freshening for trainer Tom Drury Jr. The Connect mare is winless over the grass in three starts, but does have a second over this course last fall against a bit tougher. Her best puts her there at the wire, but I prefer #7 Goodbetterbest. The daughter of Collected was beaten a block last time out at Turfway Park, but should relish getting back to the grass. Tyler Gaffalione should have her in a prominent spot early in her second start for trainer Brittany Vanden Berg.Race 8:Grade: B-Main Ticket: 10 Where Y’atBackups: 3 Shadow CoastForecast: The pace should be honest in this $16k non-winners of two event over the main track, but if it is softer than it appears on paper it is #3 Shadow Coast that could prove tough to get by. The son of West Coast earned his only win over this surface last fall and attracts Luis Saez. However, he is likely to take heat most of the way, which should bode well for #10 Where Y’at. The Michael Tomlinson trainee moves from turf-to-dirt and cuts back to a sprint after a speed and fade run in New Orleans in early March. The outside post should allow jockey Axel Concepcion to play the break and keep this one in the clear in case the speed begins to back up. Hopefully, he has enough late to get to the wire first.Race 9: RoxelanaGrade: BMain Ticket: 7 Vincey GirlBackups: NoneForecast: The feature is a 6-furlong dash over the main track for older fillies and mares and I like the chances quite a bit of #7 Vincey Girl. Trainer Jose D’Angelo can be streaky. The Florida-based conditioner had a tough winter, but is heating up of late evidenced by his 10 for 50- record over the last 30 days with a $2.38 ROI. This Race Day mare won off the layoff against lesser at Tampa in late March, attracts Irad Ortiz Jr, and should get a great setup for her off the pace run. A single for me and a race where I will key her on top in hopes of knocking down my last Trifecta for the Hit & Split promotion.Race 10:Grade: XMain Ticket: 3 WithoutBackups: NoneForecast: #3 Without will not be a good price, but should be tough to beat in the finale. The son of Lope De Vega steadied early and had traffic issues late in his fifth-place finish at Keeneland against similar on April 3. The Graham Motion trainee has lost all three starts in the States thus far, but has kept solid company along the way. He was bet off the board last out and attracts Irad Ortiz this time after a less-than-ideal voyage under Javier Castellano earlier this month. This feels like a “if not now when” type spot for the 4YO gelding.