Final Kentucky Derby Prep Race: Top Graded Stakes You Need to Bet

The Final Kentucky Derby Prep Race weekend is here, and with it comes a stacked lineup of elite graded stakes—perfect for locking in sharp horse racing lines. From the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland to key prep races across the country, this is the moment for serious bettors to start planning their Derby strategy.

Betting the Final Kentucky Derby Prep Race: Top Graded Races that Need Your Betting Action
Don’t Wait for Derby Day! Find Winning Bets & HUGE Odds in These Final Prep Races

Top Stakes Races in April: Fourth Weekend Action | Friday, April 11th – Saturday, April 12th, 2025
Keeneland Race Park – Oaklawn Park

Betting MyBookie Horse Racing in April: Top Stakes Races for the Weekend

The final Kentucky Derby prep of the year happens on Saturday when three year olds give it one more shot to race their way into the Derby starting gate.

Keeneland runs the 1 1/16 miles Lexington Stakes.

Few horses win the Derby after taking the Lexington but it has happened.

So we should expect a great race with plenty of Derby dreams on the line.

Also on Saturday, Keeneland runs the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley and the Grade 3 Giant’s Causeway.

Over at Oaklawn is one of the Arkansas tracks signature races, the Grade 1 Apple Blossom.

The stakes action this week breaks from the gate on Friday when Keeneland runs the always popular Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile.

Check out more info on this weekend’s top graded stakes so that when horse racing odds land.

You’re ready to start handicapping the ponies?

Writer’s Picks on the Top Thoroughbred Stakes Races Happening this Weekend

Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile

1 mile turf – 4 year olds and up
Friday, April 11th, 2025
Keeneland

Horseplayers could end up pounding Claude McGaughey trained Integration down to even money.

The Quality Road sired five year old is in terrific form.

After winning the Grade 2 Red Smith at Aqueduct in November, Integration finished second behind Chad Brown trained Spirit of St.

Louis in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January.

Beating Integration is going to be hard to accomplish.

But the chalk does cut back in distance, which isn’t always ideal and he cut back is huge, one and eighth of a mile.

So going against Integration could pay dividends.

The one to back might be returner Carl Spackler.

Trained by Chad Brown, Carl Spackler was the rage heading into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile but failed to impress when finishing sixth.

Brown may have made a mistake with his talented runner late last year because Carl dominated in three straight graded races from July to October.

It looks like the October race put Carl Spackler over the top.

If the Brown runner did bounce in the BC Mile, no doubt, Carl is going to rev it up out of the gate on Friday.

Northern Invader and Silent Heart may have outside shots to upset the favorites but the rest in the race look a cut below Carl Spackler and Integration.

Bet Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile: Keeneland Race Park

Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap

1 1/16 miles dirt – 4 year olds and up
Saturday, April 12th, 2025
Oaklawn

Four have committed to the Apple Blossom.

Of the four, two appear set to duke it out in what could end up one of the more thrilling match races of the year.

Kenny McPeek will enter his darling super filly, Thorpedo Anna, in the race.

Ann is as good it gets.

She’s easily one of the top fillies to run in North America since, maybe, Rachel Alexandra.

If Thorpedo Anna is on her game few fillies or mares, or even colts or horses, can take her down.

On Saturday, though, Bob Baffert is hoping he’s got the answer to Thorpedo Anna in Beholder Mile winner Cavalieri.

The Baffert runner produced a 101 Beyer Speed Figure when winning the Beholder.

She has to improve to send Anna home in second place.

Knowing Baffert, though, the improvement will be there.

Power Squeeze, Free Like A Girl, and any other that joins the fray will be longshots.

Power Squeeze has an outside shot for the victory if neither Anna nor Cavalieri show their best.

But both would have to fold for Power Squeeze to score the win money.

Bet Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap: Oaklawn Park

5 ½ furlongs turf – 3 & 4 year old fillies and mares
Saturday, April 12th, 2025
Keeneland

Right now, just three have committed to run in the Giant’s Causeway.

More will go for the top prize money later in the week when post positions draw on Thursday.

So make sure to handicap once racing forms update.

The one that projects to attract the most action at the time of this writing is Future is Now.

The Grade 2 Franklin Stakes winner goes for underrated East Coast trainer Michael Trombetta.

The trainer has his runner ready to roll after the Franklin Stakes score and should be tough if the trip is right.

Danse Macabre must bounce back from the terrible eight place run in the Grade 2 Ladies Turf Sprint in the last.

Cristophe Clement trains, which means a bounce back is for sure possible.

No matter which filly or mare you put on top, don’t settle on a short price.

5 ½ furlong turf races are some of the most competitive events in thoroughbred racing because of the distance and large fields.

Handicap jockeys and post position as well as horse form.

Bet Grade 3 Giant’s Causeway Stakes: Keeneland Race Park

Grade 3 Lexington Stakes

1 1/16 miles dirt – 3 year olds
Saturday, April 12th, 2025
Keeneland

Trainer Mike McCarthy will put the saddle on this year’s Kentucky Derby favorite.

Journalism was remarkable when winning the Santa Anita Derby this past Saturday.

Although it was a short field, Journalism was stuck on the rail for most of the race and even lost action down the back stretch.

Once he got his legs under him again, Journalism went to the outside and then rolled past the front runners, including winter book fave Citizen Bull.

McCarthy, though, isn’t happy with having a single horse in the Run for the Roses even if that horse will be the chalk, which is why Bullard goes in the Lexington Stakes.

McCarthy feels that Bullard can get it done after the third place finish in the San Vicente.

For sure, Bullard has talent but winning the Lexington will be no easy task.

Native Runner, Gosger, and Touchy can all step it up in this.

The one to consider for your key horse in the exotics, though, is Chad Brown trained Praetor.

The Into Mischief sired three year old will find steady handling underneath Flavien Prat.

Not only that but Praetor heads into this off an allowance win.

This appears to be Chad’s plan all along.

Stay under the radar until the Lexington.

Bet Grade 3 Lexington Stakes: Keeneland Race Park

Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes

1 1/16 miles turf – 4 year old fillies and mares
Saturday, April 12th, 2025
Keeneland

This isn’t just Triple Crown Season but also the time when international ownership groups and trainers begin to plan for this November’s Breeders’ Cup.

The Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup are in the books.

So if you don’t want your runners heading to Royal Ascot in July, you slowly build your North American stable.

This is why owner Mohammed Al Nabouda and trainer Simon Crisford puts the saddle on Choisya.

The Night of Thunder sired horse has won two straight grade 2 races, both over Meydan’s turf course in Dubai, and should be ultra tough in this.

But Choisya may not go off the chalk because French import Excellent Truth goes first time for Chad Brown.

If Brown has Excellent Truth right, the blossoming daughter of Cotai Glory could get it done for sure.

Also, keep in mind that the Jenny Wiley isn’t the top goal for either Excellent Truth or Choisya.

The main goal is to run and win the Breeders’ Cup Mile or Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in the fall.

So if neither wins the top prize, don’t be surprised since the Wiley is more of a prep for both camps.

Bet Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes: Keeneland Race Park

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