Kentucky Downs is the place for American turf racing on a European style course. It’s also the home of huge purses. Saturday’s loaded card offers large fields of good turf horses looking to cash in.
The brief Kentucky Downs all-turf meet is underway, and the fourth card of seven total for 2026 stands as the high point with five graded stakes scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5. Two of the stakes are “Win and You’re In” qualifying races for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland, including the focus of this column.
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 $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic is taking place on Oct. 31, but you don’t have to wait until race day to get your win bets down. Instead, you can play the Breeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager, which opens on Friday, Aug. 28 and closes on Sunday, Aug. 30.
Saturday is DraftKings Travers Stakes day at Saratoga Race Course, and the 14-race smorgasbord provides plenty of attractive wagering opportunities. In addition to six graded stakes, eight other races on the program largely have full fields, which means lots of room for a price that could make your day.
