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. Penn National will be the track spotlighted for this Thursday. Here’s how I’ll approach that card with the help of the Betmix Angler database.Penn National: Race 1#3 Tudox Rocket (8-1 morning line odds) was well-backed in his debut when a troubled trip may have been culprit for the poor performance. Not much has misfired of late for trainer Elisha Perez, who has 5 exacta finishes with her last 10 local starters. Win bet #3. Exacta box 3-1.Penn National: Race 4#6 Red Head Italian (10-1 morning line odds) takes a confident step up in class having 2 wins and a second in her last 3 local starts. Trainer Mark Salvaggio is 4-for-5 in the exacta this year with limited starters and has clicked 27% wins with jockey Jomar Torres. Tough to beat 2 runners from top trainer Brandon Kulp in here, but this is the value play. Win bet #6. Exacta key-box 6 with 5,3.

The Lead:I had the honor of being trackside and working the inaugural Kentucky Cup in 1994, watching Tabasco Cat and Best Pal kick off a race that's become one of Turfway's fixtures. It was a September dirt race then, but it's recent history of a spring synthetic showcase is more important than my nostalgia. The 1-1/8 miles race for older horses will be Race 10 on Saturday's Jeff Ruby Day card that welcomes Kentucky Derby and Oaks prospects. Note a special matinee first post of 12:45 pm ET for the 13-race lineup.Horseplayers be sure to take part in the $3,000 Exacta-Thon promotion matching the cards at Turfway and Fair Grounds for its Louisiana Derby Day on Saturday.​​Field Depth:Grade 2 winners HONOR MARIE and UTAH BEACH are joined by Grade 3 winners ENDLESSLY and MERCANTE, the latter pair having won 2 of Turfway's signature races. WILLY D'S is Grade 2-placed on dirt. Those 5 runners have kept similarly strong company lines over time. Toppling all 5 of them on the class rise will be a challenge, so demand a price if trying to get outside those names.​Pace:TICKLED QUIST certainly will have early intent from a good post draw in the 4-hole. WILLY D'S has shown dirt pace presence and can be expected in the mix from the opening jump if he takes to synthetic. MERCANTE's best races have been near the tempo and may be hustled from an outside post, but is not guaranteed to show that zip after losing all his tempo in back-to-back fall starts and benched since. There's some coinflip here that TICKLED QUIST can be counted on early, but the others are far less certain.Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.#1-HONOR MARIE: Tremendous wake-up in the Dust Commander Stakes Feb. 14, so much so that jockey Joseph Ramos – who won this race last year aboard Mercante – opts to ride this one instead. Don’t forget he won the Kentucky Jockey Club on dirt at age 2 and there’s always been talent in the tank. His complete lack of any early speed requires a lot to go right to win, hence he’s never won back-to-back in 15 starts. But, his last race looks so very dangerous if repeated.#2-UTAH BEACH: October layoff returnee moves barns from the retired Nacho Correas to Brendan Walsh. Fired only an even try off a similar break during the 2024 season and Walsh’s numbers following this type of break are nearly identical to his overall win rate. No-match fourth to Mercante in this race last year and might be a work and race short of his best.#3-NAPTOWN: Longshot bottomed the superfecta in the Prairie Bayou and gets to save some ground Saturday after drawing widest in that one. Laurel-based gelding has been nibbling around the exotics in 5 straight at 5 different venues and that might be his best outcome Saturday.#4-TICKLED QUIST: Wired back-to-back allowance races to start 2026 at Turfway, no surprise for a son of Nyquist to have success over this surface. Brad Cox trainee figures to be set on the lead while drawn inside his principal pace rival next door. There’s no guarantee that Willy D’s will take to the new footing and even force the tempo, so there’s a chance he gets loose and comfortable. His best races have come with the benefit of the slowest tempos, so the first half-mile pace will be critical to his chances late.#5-WILLY D’S: Yet another Mike Maker $50,000 claim to go on to stakes success after the transfer. He’s been in classy company of late and fits on talent and distance. Surface will be the question for this potential pace player. He’s run 23 of 25 starts on dirt, but did win 1 of 2 on turf. Sire Lookin At Lucky wins a modest 10% with his offspring on the Turfway Tapeta. Maker is a 3-time Kentucky Cup Classic-winning trainer (2009, 2018, 2022) and tied with Bob Baffert for the most wins all-time in this race. Jockey John Velazquez has won this race on dirt (’04) and synthetic (’23).#6-TAPIT SHOES: Eighth in this race last year, but has had a bit more break this winter coming into the race that could benefit him. Off all of January, he returned Feb. 27 with an allowance mile score that earned a whopping 105 BRIS late pace figure. Perfect prep. The kicker could be Lasix, however, as nearly all of his best efforts have come with the medication that can be used Saturday in stakes company. Demand some price, but there’s intrigue if it’s not the Lasix.#7-ENDLESSLY: The 2024 Jeff Ruby winner returns from his Santa Anita home base for the first time in 2 years looking to regain glory. He’s lost 8 straight since then, all on turf, from New York to California at the higher levels of racing. Trainer Michael McCarthy’s Oscar Performance horse will need the pace to come back and should appreciate the 9-furlong trip as his most effective. Stablemate Stark Contrast is favored in the Jeff Ruby under Kazushi Kimura, who could be set for a big day.#8-WADSWORTH: Public loves this Brad Cox trainee, favored in 6 of his last 9 starts and 5-2 or less in 7 straight. With Irad Ortiz Jr. in town to ride Fulleffort for Cox in the Jeff Ruby, this one’s going to attract a ton of attention from the national simulcast audience on connections alone. That likely leads to an underlay price on a runner who finished fourth in both local stakes attempts. After missing all of 2025, his Feb. 27 return race was a good allowance prep at a mile, but it’s an identical form cycle to his Prairie Bayou fourth at 7-5 odds in a previous go at this spot in the ledger.#9-MERCANTE: Nun the Less (2019-2020) is the only horse to win back-to-back editions of this race. Though he’s 3-for-4 at Turfway, regular rider Joseph Ramos hops seats to pilot Honor Marie on Saturday as Wilson Rodriguez picks up the mount. The 6-year-old Gun Runner gelding hasn’t raced since November and has run decent thirds and fourths off similar past layoffs. High-percentage trainer Brian Knippenberg doesn’t have a bit outfit, so you know it was critical for him to this one to this lucrative race. Think a prep may have benefitted, but Mercante missed 3 weeks on the workout tab in Jan-Feb that might explain the lack of a tuneup.Most Likely Exotics Contender:HONOR MARIE will be coming with a run and could get all of it with the right set-up, and at least part of it even if not.Best Longshot Contender:TAPIT SHOES at 8-1 morning line has a really good pattern for this race in his development and should be at least this price or more.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$25 exacta key-box HONOR MARIE with TAPIT SHOES and TICKLED QUIST ($100).

NOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $194,746 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $61,243 | Tampa Bay Downs | begins Race 4 | 1:50 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $169,134 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 5:11 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $83,086 | Turfway Park | begins Race 5 | 7:55 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXTampa Bay Downs | Race 9 | 4:30 pm ETParx | Race 10 | 4:43 pm ETTurfway Park | Race 5 | 7:10 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHAnthony Farrior | Charles Town | all 4 entrants 4-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Parx | jockey Mychel Sanchez | 3 wins from 6 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Kentucky’s first of two 100-point majors en route to the 152nd Run for the Roses takes place Saturday at Turfway Park. The Grade 3 $777,000 Jeff Ruby on the Turfway synthetic precedes next month’s Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland on the dirt.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 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds as well as the Jeff Ruby at Turfway Park. Get up to $10 back if your win bet finishes second or third when you bet with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Also play the $3,000 Exacta-Thon involving both full cards.Let’s meet the contenders for the Jeff Ruby (Race 12):#1-TURF STAR: Last year’s Bourbon Stakes runner-up disappointed in Gulfstream’s Kitten’s Joy in his only start at age 3. Graham Motion has saddled 3 Jeff Ruby winners in the synthetic era, led by 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom (also Adriano ’08 and Went the Day Well ’12). Jockey John Velazquez won this race in 2012 and 2014, the former teamed with Motion. The 1-for-5 colt tries blinkers for the first time after racing exclusively on turf to this point.#2-FULLEFFORT: Potential favorite rallied for second in the John Battaglia Memorial and the Leonatus Stakes already this meet. Brad Cox looks to go back-to-back in this race after Final Gambit a year ago and become the fourth different trainer to win it in consecutive years (Mike Maker, Graham Motion, William Adams). Irad Ortiz Jr. rides here and bypasses the mount on Cox-trained Autobahn in the $1 million Louisiana Derby. Ortiz last rode Fulleffort in an October turf allowance victory at Keeneland, his only prior pairing. He piloted Field Pass to win this stakes in 2020.#3-BAYTOWN DREAMER: Already this year has a 112-1 longshot fourth in the John Battaglia Memorial and 84-1 third in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn. Exotics exploder trained by Paul McEntee will be ridden by Orlando Bocachica once again. He’s won just 1 of 11 and looks to snap a 7-race losing streak, but has a bullet local workout March 7 for this.#4-TWO OUT HERO: Canadian raider had a rough trip from the far outside post 11 in the John Battaglia Memorial and tired while pursuing wide to finish ninth. That was his first start in 5 months. Returned to South Florida’s Palm Meadows winter base between starts and fired a bullet there March 14. War Front colt won last year’s Soaring Free and was third in the Grade 1 Summer behind Jeff Ruby return rival Argos. Local rider Gerardo Corrales replaces Rafael Hernandez for Woodbine leading conditioner Kevin Attard.#5-BLACK HORNET: Fair Grounds’ Black Gold Stakes winner seeks a third straight win while changing surfaces to synthetic for the first time. The former Brad Cox trainee disappointed in 4 maiden dirt attempts but found a home on grass. Brendan Walsh trains the son of multiple champion Essential Quality. Declan Cannon rode for the first time in the Black Gold and returns in the saddle.#6-MEDICI: California shipper led every jump but the last in a nose defeat in the Feb. 22 Pasadena Stakes. Veteran Richard Mandella and regular rider Mirco Demuro team with this Into Mischief home-bred who is 1-for-6 and a Dec. 29 maiden breaker at Santa Anita. West coasters like Endlessly (2024) and Blended Citizen (2018) have had some rather recent success in this race.#7-MAXIMUS PRIME: The late-running, 88-1 third-place finisher in the John Battaglia Memorial has improved in all 3 starts at the meet but remains an 0-8 maiden. Anthony Mitchell trains this Maximus Mischief colt, who gets Joseph Ramos back in the irons after a solid debut pairing for them last out.#8-CHAOS AGENT: Most lightly raced member of the field won his Feb. 5 debut at Gulfstream Park on the Tapeta surface and takes an immediate leap in class. The $350,000 Independence Hall colt overcame a tough trip to win that debut at 11-1 and now lures jockey Joel Rosario for Canadian-based trainer Josie Carroll. Dam Into Oblivion also won her debut (2014 at Del Mar) but never won again in a 10-race career.#9-BRAVE FORCE: Co-owner Jack Oxley already has Oaklawn-based Silent Tactic firmly on the Derby trail and looks to add depth with his Feb. 29 sixth-start maiden breaker. Brave Force improved in recent starts with Lasix, but won’t have the medication by rule on Saturday. Trainer Jack Sisterson and jockey Vincent Cheminaud combine with this $145K son of Gun Runner.#10-ARGOS: Last year’s Grade 1 Summer Stakes winner changes barns from Riley Mott – who won last week’s Virginia Derby with Incredibolt – to trainer Brad Cox. The well-traveled runner was eighth in traffic in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and was a flat fifth in his 3YO return at Gulfstream in the Colonel Liam on turf. Cox and Luan Machado seek back-to-back wins in the Ruby after Final Gambit a year ago. Machado came into the week virtually tied with Walter Rodriguez in the pursuit of the leading rider crown at the TP meet. Cox is in a similar dogfight atop the trainer standings with Kelsey Danner and Mike Maker nipping at his heels.#11-STARK CONTRAST (pictured): Michael McCarthy won this race 2 years ago with west coast raider Endlessly and looks for an encore with this highly credentialed son of Caravaggio. Stark Contrast finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, sandwiched between a Zuma Beach score last fall at Santa Anita and his Jan. 8 return win in the Eddie Logan at The Great Race Place – all of that resume built on turf. Kazushi Kimura has ridden in all 5 starts.#12-STOP THE CAR: The only all-dirt performer in the Ruby lineup, Brendan Walsh’s Maximum Security colt has won 2 of 3 starts. The Keeneland and Churchill 1-turn winner last season didn’t get involved Jan. 17 in the Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds when a flat seventh. Edgar Morales takes the mount for the first time.

Last weekend was the last light one in terms of Triple Crown preps until we get to the Lexington at Keeneland in mid-April. New Orleans and Northern Kentucky take center stage this Saturday afternoon presenting the biggest cards of their meet with Florida and Arkansas waiting on deck for a pair of monster Kentucky Derby prep cards on March 28. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s edition of “Prep School.”Horse That Made the Biggest Impression Last Weekend: IncrediboltIn last week’s edition of Prep School, Riley Mott-trained Incredibolt was listed as the horse with the most to prove. A week later, the connections of the Bolt d’Oro colt have to be thrilled with what they saw from their 3YO on Saturday in Virginia after the dud in the Holy Bull (G3). Incredibolt relaxed professionally between rivals in a bit of a tight spot early just a few lengths off the lead. Jockey Jaime Torres remained patient on the Pin Oak Stud runner most of the way before diving inside mid-stretch and dominating from there. The path from here to Louisville is a tricky one given the seven-week break, but regardless Incredibolt did all he could last weekend to remind us how good he was at Churchill Downs last fall. It will be interesting to see if Mott can have him ready for his best off a longer break that most on the first Saturday in May.Horse That Provided Best Value in Future Pool 5: Reagan’s HonorOne could argue that most horses offered at least some value when Kentucky Derby Future Pool 5 closed on Sunday evening since no horse went off below odds of 8-1. That said, there were certainly a few noticeable underlays seven weeks out from this year’s Run for the Roses beginning with Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt. I was impressed with the aforementioned Riley Mott trainee, but recency bias was on full display sending him off at 16-1. I was also surprised the public made Nearly the co-third choice at 12-1. From my calculus, he has to beat Commandment and Chief Wallabee in the Florida Derby (G1) or else is almost certain to be double-digit odds in the Kentucky Derby. I have him as the third likeliest to do that.The horse that clearly offered the most value was Reagan’s Honor. Sure, the Cherie DeVaux trainee has to run first or second in the Blue Grass (G1) to earn a spot in the starting gate, but this is a wager about ceiling and getting horses you like into the race at significantly higher prices than they are on race day. If Reagan’s Honor wins the Blue Grass, he will be between 8 to 10 to 1 on Derby Day. Winning what appears to be the strongest prep heading in will be a tall task, but he has unlimited ceiling for a barn that has a trip to the Derby winner’s circle in their future.For those keeping score, my final wagers in this year’s Future Pools are below. Obviously, adding a horse late hurts my overall value since only one runner can cross the wire first, but this just felt like too good of a price to not include Reagan’s Honor in my limited portfolio.Pool 3 KDFW:1-unit Cannoneer (24-1)1-unit Renegade (37-1)Pool 4 KDFW:1-unit Blackout Time (32-1)Pool 5 KDFW:1-unit Reagan’s Honor (38-1)Horse With the Most to Prove This Weekend: Emerging MarketThe Louisiana Derby (G1) and Jeff Ruby Stakes (G3) are the points races this weekend on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with an obvious answer to the horse with most to prove. Chad Brown conditioned Emerging Market busted on the Derby trail in early February posting a big number on all metrics in his two-turn maiden debut victory at Tampa Bay Downs. At the time, it appeared to be a super live race on the Sam F. Davis undercard with the top two runners besting the rest of the field by more than 13 lengths in the end. However, the hard trying runner-up that day Powershift came back to put forth an absolute clunker in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) making folks wonder just how good the victory will prove to be. Brown sends the Candy Ride colt to New Orleans where he will not be anywhere close to his 6-1 ML price in the premier race of the meet at Fair Grounds. The outside draw and move up into stakes company will present obvious challenges for the Klaravich Stables colt, but this is not a strong edition of the Louisiana Derby. In fact, the victor is unlikely to see much action at Churchill Downs, unless maybe Emerging Market wows us. Chad Brown has Paladin waiting to run at Keeneland as one of the current favorites. The New York-based trainer could find himself with a strong 1-2-punch in this year’s Kentucky Derby if he gets a big run from this colt on Saturday. A modest effort and the plans will change.

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Parx | today’s racesNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $164,088 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:40 pm ETPick 5 | $7,884 | Mahoning Valley | begins Race 4 | 1:39 pm ETJackpot Pick 6 | $148,890 | Turf Paradise | begins Race 3 | 5:12 pm ETLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXParx | Race 7 | 3:22 pm ETWill Rogers | Race 9 | 5:02 pm ETTurf Paradise | Race 7 | 7:10 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHRobertino Diodoro | Turf Paradise | all 4 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Will Rogers Downs | jockey David Cabrera | 3 wins from 6 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMJeremy Plonk | Parx Bet $100, Get $10 Tuesday PicksFrank 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. Parx will be the track spotlighted for this Tuesday. Here’s how I’ll approach that card with the help of the Betmix Angler database.Parx: Race 4#2 Fuhgeddaboudit (4-1 morning line odds) makes a notable jockey change to Ruben Silvera. Note that 17% trainer Elliott Soto-Martinez is 8-for-12 (67%) at Parx when teaming with Silvera – and the rider comes off a 3-win Monday with just 4 mounts on this card. Mare has had slow breaks in her last 4 starts and if the new pilot gets her away quicker, look out. Win bet #2.Parx: Race 6#8 Capital Conquest (8-1 morning line odds) goes for that same lethal Ruben Silvera / Elliott Soto-Martinez jockey-trainer combo that’s 8-for-12 at Parx since the start of 2025. Makes a jockey change from previous starts and it’s the second start after a claim for the new barn. Certainly looks more effective on a fast track than wet, so eye the conditions to measure confidence, but I’d take a shot on any surface given their tandem success. Win-place bet #8.

The $1 million Louisiana Derby tests Triple Crown hopefuls over 1-3/16 miles and provides a mix of the local stakes establishment against some of the most successful national outfits from Florida and California. It’s the last of 7 stakes on a 14-race program that begins at 1 pm ET.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 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds as well as the Jeff Ruby at Turfway Park. Get up to $10 back if your win bet finishes second or third when you bet with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Also play the $3,000 Exacta-Thon involving both full cards.Let’s meet the contenders for the Louisiana Derby (Race 12):#1-PAVLOVIAN: Santa Anita-based road warrior exits a nose victory in the Sunland Derby in New Mexico last month. That win snapped a 7-race losing streak for the Reddam Racing home-bred who competes for 2-time Kentucky Derby winner Doug O’Neill. Edwin Maldonado has the return mount on the California-bred son of Pavel.#2-AUTOBAHN: Third-start maiden braker stretched out nicely to 1-1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 21 and makes his stakes debut Saturday. Brad Cox trained 2024 Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom, adding to his 2020 victory by Wells Bayou. Marcellino Pedroza gets the mount as Irad Ortiz Jr. opts to ride at Turfway on Saturday. Son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist.#3-CHIP HONCHO: Gun Runner Stakes winner will be the only horse to compete in all 4 Louisiana Derby series races, adding a fourth in the Lecomte and second in the Risen Star most recently. Trainer Steve Asmussen won this race last year with Tiztastic, his record fifth Louisiana Derby score. Luis Saez returns to ride the Connect colt, who rematches a third time here with Golden Tempo, splitting previous decisions.#4-UNIVERSE: Saratoga debut winner has dropped 5 straight, including a no-threat fourth in the Risen Star over this track last month. The $75K son of Global Campaign has kept top-class running lines and posted a bullet local workout for this on Saturday. Kenny McPeek saddled 2002 Louisiana Derby winner Repent. Brian Hernandez guided Girvin to Louisiana Derby glory in 2017.#5-GOLDEN TEMPO: Lecomte Stakes winner and Risen Star third-place finisher will add blinkers for the first time. Trainer Cherie DeVaux had her Curlin colt working in company with Blue Grass-bound stablemate Reagan’s Honor while experimenting with the hood. Jockey Jose Ortiz comes into the week a runaway leader in the standings as he defends his title as leading jockey. He’s also won a current meet-best 8 stakes races with 13-27 in the exacta.#6-SPIRIT OF ROYAL: Trainer Dallas Stewart won the 1999 Louisiana Derby with Kimberlite Pipe. He’ll be a big longshot to end that 27-year drought when this 62-1 Southwest Stakes ninth-place finisher takes another big bite of the apple. Francisco Arrieta comes in from Oaklawn to ride this 1-for-7 son of Global Campaign (same sire as Universe in this field).#7-BLACKSMITH: The Los Alamitos Futurity runner-up took 5 tries to break his maiden, getting the job done Feb. 20 at Santa Anita as the 3-5 chalk. Bob Baffert’s lone Louisiana Derby success came with Wimbledon in 2004. Florent Geroux, who left Fair Grounds earlier this year to tack up at Santa Anita, rode him to the west coast win and makes a homecoming of sorts Saturday. The $525K son of Liam’s Map makes his first start on the road.#8-EASTERLY: Gulfstream Park maiden breaker Feb. 7 in his second start gets his first stakes test, but note he debuted second to Class President, who exited that race to win an allowance and Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes. Trainer Brad Cox’s second chance in this field at notching a third Louisiana Derby score since 2020. Gulfstream rider Edgard Zayas retains the mount and makes a rare road appearance.#9-EMERGING MARKET: Fast and determined debut winner Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs on the Sam F. Davis Stakes undercard. Outlasted promising Powershift for Todd Pletcher, though that one bounced badly next out when sixth in the Tampa Bay Derby on 2 weeks’ less rest. Chad Brown seeks a first Louisiana Derby score, finishing third here in 2024 with Tuscan Gold. He’s raided Fair Grounds to win the Risen Star in ’24 with Sierra Leone and last month with Paladin. Flavien Prat won this race in 2003 with Kingsbarns and 2024 aboard Catching Freedom.