New to betting the ponies? You’re in the right paddock. Below you’ll find simple, no-jargon picks for Belmont at the Big A, Gulfstream Park, and Keeneland.
Each race shows: Win / Place / Show (our top 3), a Joker (live longshot), plus simple Exacta/Trifecta boxes you can play for small stakes. Remember: you don’t need to bet every race—pick your favorite setups and keep tickets small. (Think snack-size, not Thanksgiving.)
BELMONT AT THE BIG A
R1 • 1 1/16 mi (Outer Turf) • MSW
Win: #5 Kat Stormy (15-1) • Place: #3 Night Jasmine (8-1) • Show: #2 Starship Pegasus (3-1) • Joker: #6 Off Script (2-1)
Exacta Boxes: 5/3, 3/2, 2/6 • Trifecta Boxes: 5/3/2, 6/3/2
Novice note: Boxing means any order of those numbers cashes. Like shuffling a deck, but hopefully with money at the end.
R2 • 6½f (Dirt) • MSW
Win: #9 Whiskey Point (9-2) • Place: #3 Classic Commander (12-1) • Show: #4 King Farro (15-1) • Joker: #8 Combat Mission (6-1)
Exacta: 9/3, 3/4, 4/8 • Trifecta: 9/3/4, 8/3/4
R3 • 1 mi (Dirt) • AOC
Win: #2 Mr. Papagiorgio (9-2) • Place: #6 Wynstock (6-1) • Show: #7 Donegal Surges (3-1) • Joker: #5 Pentathlon (5-2)
Exacta: 2/6, 6/7, 7/5 • Trifecta: 2/6/7, 5/6/7
R4 • 6f (Outer Turf) • MSW
Win: #7 Just Jules (12-1) • Place: #1 Shades of Jade (5-2) • Show: #2 Lots of Kisses (3-1) • Joker: #6 My Divine Spirit (10-1)
Exacta: 7/1, 1/2, 2/6 • Trifecta: 7/1/2, 6/1/2
R5 • 1 1/16 mi (Turf) • MSW
Win: #8 Copa de Plata (12-1) • Place: #4 Norris (12-1) • Show: #2 Print (20-1) • Joker: #11 Dynadee (12-1)
Exacta: 8/4, 4/2, 2/11 • Trifecta: 8/4/2, 11/4/2
Value parade: Don’t need a coupon—these are all prices.
R6 • 1 mi (Dirt) • Claiming
Win: #12 Makes Sense (10-1) • Place: #11 Shifty Gold (6-1) • Show: #7 Scat Tu Tap (20-1) • Joker: #3 Two’s a Crowd (20-1)
Exacta: 12/11, 11/7, 7/3 • Trifecta: 12/11/7, 3/11/7
R7 • 1 mi (Dirt) • Mdn Claiming
Win: #7 Dr. Insel (6-1) • Place: #5 Fiscal Drag (2-1) • Show: #3 Cat Fast (5-1) • Joker: #8 Freedom Maker (3-1)
Exacta: 7/5, 5/3, 3/8 • Trifecta: 7/5/3, 8/5/3
R8 • 6f (Outer Turf) • Starter OC
Win: #10 Long Legged Queen (8-1) • Place: #5 Quick Power Nap (10-1) • Show: #9 Thirteen Red Flags (30-1) • Joker: #7 Top of the Table (15-1)
Exacta: 10/5, 5/9, 9/7 • Trifecta: 10/5/9, 7/5/9
R9 • 1 1/16 mi (Turf) • Mdn Claiming
Win: #10 Complex Agenda (5-1) • Place: #6 Rebellious Type (12-1) • Show: #1 Authentic Legend (10-1) • Joker: #5 Nyquistador (6-1)
Exacta: 10/6, 6/1, 1/5 • Trifecta: 10/6/1, 5/6/1
If you box everything, it’s called “souvenir shopping.” Keep it selective.
GULFSTREAM PARK
R1 • 6f (Dirt) • Mdn Claiming
Win: #6 Meara’s Wish (7-2) • Place: #5 Remember (4-1) • Show: #1 R Glorious Life (9-2) • Joker: #7 Atomic Flea (15-1)
Exacta: 6/5, 5/1, 1/7 • Trifecta: 6/5/1, 7/5/1
R2 • 5f (Turf) • Mdn Claiming
Win: #9 Gigi Cake’s (12-1) • Place: #2 The Package (8-1) • Show: #4 Little Gussie (7-2) • Joker: #8 Kathleen’s Derby (15-1)
Exacta: 9/2, 2/4, 4/8 • Trifecta: 9/2/4, 8/2/4
R3 • 6f (Dirt) • AOC
Win: #5 Win N Your In (9-5) • Place: #4 Rumours Have It (7-2) • Show: #1 Ms. Bucchero (9-2) • Joker: #2 R Morning Brew (2-1)
Exacta: 5/4, 4/1, 1/2 • Trifecta: 5/4/1, 2/4/1
Favorite smells live here—bet small, don’t chase.
R4 • 7f (Dirt) • Claiming
Win: #5 Anna Jean (30-1) • Place: #4 Boombox Betty (6-1) • Show: #2 Magnetic Beach (8-1) • Joker: #7 Sunset Harbour (9-5)
Exacta: 5/4, 4/2, 2/7 • Trifecta: 5/4/2, 7/4/2
R5 • 1 mi (Turf) • Claiming
Win: #4 Freedom Principle (30-1) • Place: #2 Master Piece (7-2) • Show: #3 Jack Kerouac (8-1) • Joker: #1 Samburu (5-1)
Exacta: 4/2, 2/3, 3/1 • Trifecta: 4/2/3, 1/2/3
_Longshot city—this is your “lottery ticket” spot if you must.*
R6 • 6f (Dirt) • MSW
Win: #4 Bodacious Queen (8-1) • Place: #8 Amuse Me (5-1) • Show: #7 Permian Basin (30-1) • Joker: #3 La Dolce Vita (9-5)
Exacta: 4/8, 8/7, 7/3 • Trifecta: 4/8/7, 3/8/7
R7 • 5f (AW) • Claiming
Win: #9 Tap Gold (5-1) • Place: #5 Nero Tulip (5-2) • Show: #1 Retained (8-1) • Joker: #4 Cosmic Speculation (15-1)
Exacta: 9/5, 5/1, 1/4 • Trifecta: 9/5/1, 4/5/1
R8 • 5f (Turf) • AOC
Win: #4 Love Actually (2-1) • Place: #3 Shelovestotravel (9-2) • Show: #8 Musical Design (8-1) • Joker: #2 The Dove Rules (8-1)
Exacta: 4/3, 3/8, 8/2 • Trifecta: 4/3/8, 2/3/8
R9 • 7f (Dirt) • Claiming
Win: #7 El Guty (3-1) • Place: #2 Feeling Macho (5-1) • Show: #3 Back Em Up (8-5) • Joker: #6 Frosted Bull (9-2)
Exacta: 7/2, 2/3, 3/6 • Trifecta: 7/2/3, 6/2/3
R10 • 5f (Turf) • AOC
Win: #3 Carcone (20-1) • Place: #8 Gabaldon (7-5) • Show: #2 Quizler (6-1) • Joker: #4 Smoke an a Pancake (20-1)
Exacta: 3/8, 8/2, 2/4 • Trifecta: 3/8/2, 4/8/2
Yes, we’re swinging for a price in the nightcap. Bring a helmet.
KEENELAND
R1 • 6½f (Dirt) • Claiming
Win: #3 Ravens Dream (5-1) • Place: #7 On the Level (5-2) • Show: #9 Probale Ten (20-1) • Joker: #5 Pride’s Prince (10-1)
Exacta: 3/7, 7/9, 9/5 • Trifecta: 3/7/9, 5/7/9
R2 • 7f (Dirt) • Mdn Claiming
Win: #1 No Mor Stones (7-2) • Place: #6 Tyler’s Turn (8-1) • Show: #2 Frosty Beer (20-1) • Joker: #10 Pacific Standard (6-1)
Exacta: 1/6, 6/2, 2/10 • Trifecta: 1/6/2, 10/6/2
R3 • 1 1/8 mi (Dirt) • AOC
Win: #2 Bestfriend Rocket (20-1) • Place: #5 Urban Planner (15-1) • Show: #6 Chunk of Gold (5-2) • Joker: #4 Classicist (9-2)
Exacta: 2/5, 5/6, 6/4 • Trifecta: 2/5/6, 4/5/6
Sometimes the map says “Treasure Here.” Sometimes it’s racetrack chalk dust. Bet light on big prices.
R4 • 6f (Dirt) • Mdn Claiming
Win: #9 Magamak (10-1) • Place: #7 Complexed (8-1) • Show: #5 Fake Smart (8-1) • Joker: #1 Emancipation (6-1)
Exacta: 9/7, 7/5, 5/1 • Trifecta: 9/7/5, 1/7/5
R5 • 1 1/8 mi (Turf) • MSW
Win: #7 Temeraire (15-1) • Place: #11 Counterintuitive (4-1) • Show: #8 Bohemian (9-2) • Joker: #3 Kentucky Belle (7-2)
Exacta: 7/11, 11/8, 8/3 • Trifecta: 7/11/8, 3/11/8
R6 • 6f (Dirt) • $250k Stakes
Win: #1 Kingsolver (3-1) • Place: #4 Counting Stars (4-1) • Show: #2 On Time Girl (2-1) • Joker: #3 Storm Cloud Rising (12-1)
Exacta: 1/4, 4/2, 2/3 • Trifecta: 1/4/2, 3/4/2
R7 • 1 1/16 mi (Turf) • Allowance
Win: #1 Caitlin Time (10-1) • Place: #9 Bracelet (6-1) • Show: #8 Aunt Mo (10-1) • Joker: #5 Correto (4-1)
Exacta: 1/9, 9/8, 8/5 • Trifecta: 1/9/8, 5/9/8
R8 • 1 1/16 mi (Dirt) • AOC
Win: #8 Capital Idea (7-2) • Place: #7 Catching Freedom (8-1) • Show: #4 Hold My Bourbon (6-1) • Joker: #5 Fort Sam (15-1)
Exacta: 8/7, 7/4, 4/5 • Trifecta: 8/7/4, 5/7/4
R9 • 1 mi (Turf) • $400k Stakes
Win: #2 Play With Fire (2-1) • Place: #6 Classic Q (7-2) • Show: #9 Tabiti (9-2) • Joker: #15 Next Up (20-1)
Exacta: 2/6, 6/9, 9/15 • Trifecta: 2/6/9, 15/6/9
R10 • 6½f (Dirt) • Starter Allowance
Win: #9 Perfect Audible (20-1) • Place: #1 Misinformation (7-2) • Show: #3 Capanaparo (9-2) • Joker: #5 J J Grey (4-1)
Exacta: 9/1, 1/3, 3/5 • Trifecta: 9/1/3, 5/1/3
Quick How-To (Novice Corner)
- Win/Place/Show: Bet your top pick to Win; consider a small Place bet when the odds are 4-1 or higher to soften the blow if they finish 2nd.
- Exacta/Trifecta “Boxes”: A $1 exacta box with 2 horses costs $2 × combinations; a $0.50 trifecta box with 3 horses costs $3 × combinations (so $3 for 3-horse tri if $0.50 base × 6 combos = $3). Keep base amounts small.
- The Joker: That’s our “don’t laugh if it wins” horse. Sprinkle, don’t pour.
- Bankroll hint: Aim for 1–2% of bankroll per race. If you’re suddenly betting like you own a yacht, step away from the tote.
