By Jarrod Horak The Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs is always one of the most competitive races of the year, and this $1.5 million event for three-year-old fillies at a mile and an eighth looks especially deep. With a full field, multiple pace scenarios, and several improving runners, finding value is key—and that’s […]
Tag Archives: 2026 kentucky derby
By Jarrod Horak I’m always hunting for value in a race like the Kentucky Derby. With a full field, unpredictable pace, and massive public attention, this is where longshots can light up the tote board—especially underneath in exotics. Using the Today’s Racing Digest past performances, I’m breaking down three live longshots who bring improving numbers, […]
By Jarrod Horak As we get closer to the first Saturday in May, I’ve gone through the latest data to identify the strongest Today’s Racing Digest numbers for the top Kentucky Derby 2026 contenders. This is the time of year where understanding how a race will unfold becomes just as important as who is fastest […]
Kentucky Derby handicapping always starts with the same challenge: which horses in this field have already shown the kind of finishing power required to win at Churchill Downs? One of the best ways we attack that question is through Today’s Racing Digest’s Final Time Rating, or FNL RAT. It is one of the clearest tools […]
Kentucky Oaks and Derby handicapping starts with understanding exactly how Churchill Downs has been playing, not just repeating general ideas about speed, closers, or post position. The real edge comes from separating the way the Churchill dirt track has played in ordinary races from the way the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby have unfolded on […]