all in Gambling

Welcome to Noel Michaels’ Weekend Winners, the place to go for weekend best bets and spot plays from veteran handicapper and tournament-play pioneer Noel Michaels. Check back every week for a couple of highlighted selections designed to help you cash a few bets and make some money.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve heads to Arkansas Saturday with the 19th running of the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, the first of four qualifying points preps to be held in the coming weeks at Oaklawn Park. Nine newly turned 3-year-old colts will line up to compete for 21 Kentucky Derby points, distributed to the top five finishers on

The first Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve qualifier of 2026 is Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, which will be followed by the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park later that afternoon.

Every Sunday Noel Michaels will provide free full-card picks for a one racecard in North America. A veteran handicapper and tournament-play pioneer, Michaels also writes a weekly “Weekend Winners” blog for America’s Best Racing with a focus on key stakes races at marquee tracks. This feature will be straight-forward: full-card picks for one Sunday slate of races of his choosing.

The historic $300,000, Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, a staple of year-end racing in North America, drew a field of 10 for its 2025 renewal and is rescheduled to be run on Sunday, Dec. 28 at Santa Anita Park. This storied race has featured past winners such as Mizzen Mast, Twirling Candy, Shared Belief, Flightline, and many other standouts.

newsletter sign-up

Stay up-to-date with the best from America's Best Racing!

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram TikTok YouTube
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram TikTok YouTube