MyWinners Weekly Preview — March 27 – April 3, 2026
This is the biggest racing weekend of the year so far. I’m not being dramatic. Three major Derby preps on the same card day. The world’s richest race at Meydan. Six Florida-bred stakes at Tampa on Sunday. Laurel Park reopens. And Equibase just dropped free past performances for the Florida Derby.
I’ll keep the non-racing stuff short this week because the cards speak for themselves.
Let’s get into it.
🏇LIVE HORSE RACING
FLORIDA DERBY (G1) — GULFSTREAM PARK | SATURDAY
The 75th running. $1 million. Nine runners. 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Ten stakes on the card. $2.65M in total purses. This race has produced more Kentucky Derby winners than any other prep — 25 since 1952. This is Gulfstream’s Super Bowl.
Nearly (3-1) is the one to beat. Three straight wins at Gulfstream, each more impressive than the last. Won the Holy Bull by almost six lengths, pressing the pace and pulling away. Florida-bred. Todd Pletcher trains. John Velazquez rides. Between them, they have 14 Florida Derby wins. Fourteen. That’s not a stat — that’s a monopoly. He needs a top-two finish here to punch his ticket to Louisville.
Commandment (5-2) won the Fountain of Youth by gutting out a stretch battle with Chief Wallabee and has 50 qualifying points already. Brad Cox ships in with a new jockey — Flavien Prat picks up the mount because Irad Ortiz Jr. chose to ride Renegade in the Arkansas Derby instead. When the top jock picks the other race, you notice. Three wins in four starts, including a seven-length romp in the Mucho Macho Man. Cox won this race last year with Tappan Street.
Chief Wallabee (2-1) is the morning line favorite despite losing the Fountain of Youth by a neck. Two starts, a maiden win and that near miss. His debut scalp? The Puma — who went on to win the Tampa Bay Derby. That tells you the level he’s running at.
The Puma (9-2) won the Tampa Bay Derby three weeks ago and has 50 points already — enough to get in the Derby field. Son of Essential Quality. Javier Castellano rides for Gustavo Delgado.
The one I keep circling back to? Emerging Market. Debut winner. First-time stakes runner. Sometimes the horse that hasn’t been asked the hard question is the one that answers it best.
Longshot watch:Albus (10-1) broke his maiden by almost seven lengths at Tampa last month. Wayne’s Law (15-1) set the pace in the Sam F. Davis and finished second. Neither is Triple Crown nominated though, so they’d need to supplement.
Also on the Gulfstream card: the $250K Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) — 200 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on the line (100-50-25-15-10). She Be Smooth (Davona Dale winner) is likely favored. The Oaks trail has been wide open this year, so a big run here could reshape the entire picture for the first Friday in May.
Free Equibase past performances for the Florida Derby are available now — download them before you handicap. [Get your free Florida Derby PPs here]
ARKANSAS DERBY (G1) — OAKLAWN PARK | SATURDAY
The BIGGEST race of the south!
$1.5 million. Six runners. The richest Derby points haul still available: 200 qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10). For most of this field, it’s now or never.
Renegade is the headline. Irad Ortiz Jr. chose this horse over Commandment in the Florida Derby. That’s a statement. When the best jockey in the country picks your horse over a Fountain of Youth winner, you pay attention.
Redland Rebels is cross-entered in both the Arkansas and Florida Derbys — he set the pace in the Tampa Bay Derby and faded to fourth. Keith Asmussen rides for Patrick Biancone. Bricklin ships in with Jaime Torres. Blackout Time gets Brian Hernandez Jr. Small field, enormous stakes.
Also on the card: the $500K Oaklawn Mile (G3) and the $200K Temperence Hill.
And don’t sleep on Friday night — the $1M Fantasy (G2) is Oaklawn’s final Kentucky Oaks qualifier. 200 Oaks points up top. Sticker Shock (Irad Ortiz Jr.) and Explora (Flavien Prat) are the two I’ll be watching. Six fillies, a million-dollar purse, and the jockey bookings tell you how seriously connections are taking this. Also on Friday’s card: the $250K Matron Stakes.
DUBAI WORLD CUP DAY — MEYDAN RACECOURSE | SATURDAY
$30.5 million in purses. Nine races. Six Group 1s and three Group 2s. The 30th running of the world’s richest race day. Here’s the full card:
$12M Dubai World Cup (G1) — 2,000m dirt. The main event. Forever Young is the star — Saudi Cup winner, Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, and now going for the triple crown of international dirt racing. Nine confirmed runners, including defending champion Hit Show and U.S.-based White Abarrio (who lost to Skippylongstocking in the Pegasus). If Forever Young wins this, the argument is over — best dirt horse in the world, full stop. Post time approx 12:45pm ET.
$6M Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) — 2,410m turf. Calandagan — the reigning Longines World’s Best Racehorse — carries a four-race winning streak into his 5-year-old debut. Also in: Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Ethical Diamond and defending Sheema champ Danon Decile. Three champions in one race. Post approx 12:10pm ET.
$5M Dubai Turf (G1) — 1,800m turf. Post approx 11:35am ET.
$2M Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) — 1,200m dirt sprint. Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato has won seven of 11 career starts and has never been worse than third. He should be a heavy favorite. Post approx 10:55am ET.
$1.5M Al Quoz Sprint (G1) — 1,200m turf sprint.
$1.5M UAE Derby (G2) — 1,900m dirt. For three-year-olds — the international Derby trail.
$1.5M Dubai Gold Cup (G2) — 3,200m turf. The stamina test.
$1M Godolphin Mile (G1) — 1,600m dirt.
$750K Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1) — Purebred Arabians. 2,000m dirt.
This is also a World Pool Event. Pari-mutuel wagers from 20+ countries get commingled into one massive pool — last year the globally commingled turnover hit $40 million across the card. That means bigger pools, bigger exotic payouts, and more value for anyone playing trifectas, superfectas, or Pick sequences. If you like exotics, this is your playground.
Our venues are opening early for Dubai. The Dubai pools are open now. Don’t wait until Saturday morning to build your tickets — study the card tonight and get your exotic bets in early.
KENTUCKY DERBY
WHERE WE STAND
Just 37 days to go!
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Just 37 days to go! 〰️
The Derby is May 3. After this weekend, the qualifying picture will look very different. Here’s who’s positioned heading into Saturday:
Commandment and The Puma already have 50 points each. Chief Wallabee has 25. Nearly has 20. Most of this Florida Derby field needs a big run to secure a spot. The Arkansas Derby offers 100 to the winner — that’s a guaranteed ticket.
The Santa Anita Derby ($750K, G1) is April 5 — the next major prep after this weekend. Then it’s the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 12. The trail is narrowing fast.
FUTURES BETS — POOL 6 OPENS NEXT WEEK (👀 )
Last chance to lock in an early price before the first Saturday in May.
Pool 6 runs April 2–4 — three days only. Win and Exacta pools, $2 minimum. This is the sixth and final futures pool. After this weekend’s preps reshape the qualifying leaderboard, morning line odds will shift fast. If you’ve got a horse you like — Commandment, Nearly, Renegade, whoever comes out of Saturday’s races running — this is your last window to grab value before the Derby.
The 152nd Kentucky Derby is May 3 at Churchill Downs.
🏇🏻 MORE RACING THIS WEEKEND
Florida Cup Day — Tampa Bay Downs | Sunday Six $110K Florida-bred stakes on one card. The NYRABETS Sprint, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore, the Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies, the Lambholm South Sophomore Turf, the Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf, and the AAA Feed & Tack Turf Classic. If you like state-bred racing, this is the best day of the Tampa meet. Gates open at 11am.
Laurel Park | Saturday Laurel is back on the schedule this Saturday. First race post 12:15pm ET. A full card in Maryland to go alongside everything else — perfect for multi-track players looking to build Pick sequences or exotic parlays across cards.
Aqueduct | Sunday The $175K Top Flight (fillies & mares, 9 furlongs) and $135K Haynesfield (state-bred mile) headline the card.
Santa Anita | Saturday The $100K Wilshire Stakes (G3) — fillies and mares, one mile on turf.
ALSO…WOODBINE OPENS APRIL 18 (👀)
The 2026 Woodbine thoroughbred meet kicks off Saturday, April 18. Full season ahead with major stakes including the Woodbine Oaks (July 19), Woodbine Mile (September 12), and the Canadian International (October 3). Plus Canada Day Racing Festival on June 28. If you play North American turf racing, Woodbine is one of the best surfaces on the continent. Mark it.
🗓️ YOUR WEEK-LONG RACING CALENDAR
THIS WEEK’S PROMOS 💵
The Big A Exotic Cash Splash — Aqueduct | Fri & Sat Cash 4+ winning exactas or trifectas across Aqueduct’s Friday and Saturday cards → split a $1,500 prize pool. Opt-in required.
Bet & Get — Tampa Bay Downs & Charles Town— Bet $150–$500, earn up to $30 in Bonus Cash — win or lose. All wager types except Show. Tampa runs Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun. Charles Town runs Thurs/Fri/Sat (5pm post).
2% Cash Back — Tri-State Greyhound Exotics Quinellas, trifectas, superfectas, daily doubles at Tri-State. 2% back, every race, every day. No opt-in.
4% Cash Back — Australian Greyhounds All wager types. Every day except Fridays. 4% back, credited next day. No opt-in. Fast races, deep pools, and now you’re getting paid to play them.
SPORTS
TIME FOR THE ELITE 8
🏀 MARCH MADNESS — ELITE 8
Sweet 16 wrapping up today. Elite 8 tips off Saturday and Sunday. The matchups on Saturday: St. John’s vs. Duke (7:10pm ET), Michigan State vs. UConn (9:45pm ET), Tennessee vs. Iowa State, and Alabama vs. Michigan — both in Chicago.
UConn Men are the 2-seed and face Michigan State on Saturday night. UConn Women (36-0) take on North Carolina in the Sweet 16 today — Azzi Fudd scored 34 in the last round.
Bobby V’s in Stamford and Windsor Locks will have every game on every screen alongside the racing.
See what’s happening at Bobby V’s Stamford →
🏀 NBA — PLAYOFF PICTURE TIGHTENING
Thunder running away with the West at 57-15. Pistons lead the East at 52-19. The 5-through-9 scrap in the East — Raptors, Hawks, Sixers, Magic, Heat — all within 2.5 games. Play-In starts April 14. Playoffs tip off April 18.
⚽ SOCCER
The Premier League is on international break — back in April. Champions League quarter-finals kick off April 7–8: PSG vs. Liverpool, Real Madrid vs. Bayern, Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid, Sporting CP vs. Arsenal. Every game at Bobby V’s.
WHAT’S ON IN-VENUE
Bobby V’s — Stamford & Windsor Locks Dubai World Cup morning session — venues opening early. Florida Derby and Arkansas Derby simulcast all afternoon. Elite 8 on every screen Saturday night. This is a dawn-to-midnight day. Come for Dubai, stay for the Derby preps, stay even longer for the basketball.
Free-play March Madness Shootout — $2,500 in guaranteed prizes. Enter at either venue. Free to play.
Weekly Giveaway — Stop by this weekend for your chance to win. Ask at the counter for details.
BETWEEN RACES? TRY REELS*
With this many tracks running simultaneously, you’re going to have gaps between posts. Fill them. Every Reels spin is powered by a live pari-mutuel race — not a random number generator. Instant results. Cashpot jackpots across four tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum. 200+ games on the app. Play Reels →
*Reels not available in all States (including CT). Check your app, site for details.
How to Bet With MyWinners This Week
With one of the biggest betting weeks of the year kicking off on Friday, there's never been a better time to get your MyWinners account loaded up and ready. Online, you can bet on horse racing and greyhound racing— including all the races covered in this preview — at app.mywinners.com. Prefer to bet on your phone? Download the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android and take the action with you wherever you are.
Rather watch the events on the big screen? Thanks to Fanatics Sportsbook being live at all nine Winners and MyWinners venues across Connecticut, you get a full sports betting offer alongside horse racing and greyhounds in a great atmosphere. Find your nearest Winners venue in CT and make a day of it.
Three Derby preps. Nine races at Meydan. Six stakes at Tampa. Laurel Park is back. Free PPs for the Florida Derby. Dubai pools are open. Kentucky Derby Futures Pool 6 opens Wednesday. This is one of those weekends where you don’t know what screen to look at first. Good problem to have.
I’m off to build my Dubai tickets. You should too.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. The Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park is available to bet on MyWinners. You can place win, place, and show bets as well as exactas, trifectas, superfectas, and Pick sequences. The race goes Saturday, March 28, with $1 million in purses and 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner.
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The Dubai World Cup Day at Meydan runs from approximately 7:45 AM to 12:45 PM Eastern Time on Saturday, March 28. The Dubai Golden Shaheen posts around 10:55 AM ET, the Dubai Turf around 11:35 AM ET, the Dubai Sheema Classic around 12:10 PM ET, and the Dubai World Cup — the $12 million main event — posts at approximately 12:45 PM ET. MyWinners Dubai pools are open now.
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DescriptionThe Road to the Kentucky Derby uses a points-based qualifying system. Each designated prep race awards points to the top finishers — typically on a 100-40-20-10-5 or 100-50-25-15-10 scale depending on the race. The 20 horses with the most points earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. After this weekend, the Arkansas Derby (200 points to the winner) and Florida Derby (100 points) will significantly reshape the leaderboard heading into the final preps. text goes here
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Kentucky Derby Futures Pool 6 is the sixth and final Churchill Downs futures pool ahead of the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 3. It opens Wednesday, April 2, and runs through April 4 — three days only. You can bet the Win pool and the Exacta pool with a $2 minimum. It's your last chance to lock in early odds on horses like Nearly, Commandment, Renegade, or whoever emerges from this weekend's Derby preps before morning line prices shift.
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World Pool is a global pari-mutuel commingling system that combines bets from 20+ countries into a single pool for Dubai World Cup Day. Last year the globally commingled turnover exceeded $40 million across the card. Larger pools mean better exotic payouts and more value on trifectas, superfectas, and Pick sequences. MyWinners bettors in Connecticut and across the US participate in these commingled pools — the same pools as bettors worldwide.
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Bobby V's Restaurant and Sports Bar in Stamford and Windsor Locks will be showing all three races live on Saturday, March 28. Venues are opening early for Dubai World Cup morning coverage, with Florida Derby and Arkansas Derby simulcast all afternoon. Both locations also have the March Madness Elite 8 on every screen Saturday night. Check mywinners.com for hours and details.
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Chief Wallabee is the morning line favorite at 2-1 for the 75th running of the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Nearly (3-1) is widely considered the horse to beat after three straight wins at Gulfstream including a near six-length victory in the Holy Bull. Commandment (5-2), trained by Brad Cox with Flavien Prat up, and The Puma (9-2), winner of the Tampa Bay Derby, complete the top tier of a nine-horse field.
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The Dubai World Cup carries a $12 million purse over 2,000 meters on dirt at Meydan Racecourse. Forever Young is the star of the race — a Saudi Cup winner and Breeders' Cup Classic champion going for what would be the unofficial triple crown of international dirt racing. He faces nine runners including defending champion Hit Show and US-based White Abarrio. Total prize money across all nine races on Dubai World Cup Day is $30.5 million.
