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.
Byron King’s Derby Dozen for Feb. 19
BloodHorse news editor Byron King presents his weekly Derby Dozen for 2026, with a look at his leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 2.
2026 Kentucky Derby Trail: Three Heating Up, Three Cooling Down for Feb. 18
This feature provides a capsule look at three horses who are heating up on the Triple Crown trail and three horses whose chances for the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve are not as strong as they previously were. In the third edition of this blog for the 2026 run for the roses, the focus is on what has changed since the previous edition on Feb. 10. HEATING UP
Paladin Rises to the Top of Latest Kentucky Derby Power Rankings
Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.
