The 15 Best Horse Races for Saturday, April 4th 2026
DRF handicappers share their plays for the day, including best bets, for racing at Gulfstream, Aqueduct, Tampa Bay Downs, Keeneland, Santa Anita, and Oaklawn.
Post Time: 1:15 ET
Track: Tampa Bay Downs (3rd Race)
Horse: SMART STYLE (#5, 10-1)
SMART STYLE did well to get the show last time after racing behind slow splits in a race lacking speed, and though she was far back in her prior try that was against better; can make the last run at a price given a better pace scenario. – Kenny Peck
Post Time: 2:15 ET
Track: Tampa Bay Downs (5th Race)
Horse: FOUR TOP (#8, 8-1)
FOUR TOP has more speed than he showed in that last one, and a forward trip would likely be an edge in this one, which is a little light on obvious speed; actually ran well to get the show in that last try, when he closed with interest late after being outrun for position and sitting well off the pace in another race lacking early foot. – Kenny Peck
Post Time: 2:52 ET
Track: Oaklawn (3rd Race)
Horse: TREBLE CLEF (#8, 5-1)
TREBLE CLEF has moved forward with each of his starts this year and could be sitting on a peak race in third start of his form cycle. Franco, who had been based in Southern California, is aboard and he's eventually bound for the Lone Star Park meet, according to Cody Autrey, who is scheduled to represent him in Texas. – Mary Rampellini
Post Time: 3:21 ET
Track: Tampa Bay Downs (7th Race)
Horse: SMOOCHERRO (#1, 12-1)
SMOOCHERRO is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck).
Post Time: 3:26 ET
Track: Gulfstream (6th Race)
Horse: MATTINGLY (#6, 4-1)
MATTINGLY is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch).
Post Time: 4:21 ET
Track: Aqueduct (8th Race)
Horse: REFUAH (#4, 15-1)
REFUAH settled nicely before rallying to win for the second time in a three race span over this track and trip last November, then came back to run well again when second in his next start; has made all three starts since going longer, and his last two starts are not as bad as they look; turns back off the claim for an underrated trainer, and there might be some pace for him to come after in this spot. – Mike Beer
Post Time: 4:53 ET
Track: Aqueduct (9th Race)
Horse: SANSONE (#1, 9-2)
SANSONE is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer).
Post Time: 5:02 ET
Track: Gulfstream (9th Race)
Horse: GIRVIN STAR (#5, 6-1)
GIRVIN STAR chased, took a run at, proved no match for odds on Vuela Paloma last time but not facing that kind in this spot. Speedy sort might just get brave if sent along to control this one from the outset. – Mike Welsch
Post Time: 5:10 ET
Track: Santa Anita (5th Race)
Horse: VANTASTIC (#6, 6-1)
The 10yo veteran VANTASTIC gets the nod in this $25k claiming turf mile. He might have won last out, but he ran into severe traffic in the stretch, altered course, and missed by a half-length while starting for the first time in five months. With a clean trip, he can mow them down late. – Brad Free
Post Time: 5:16 ET
Track: Keeneland (9th Race)
Horse: CLICQUOT (#3, 6-1)
What if CLICQUOT did all those good things last year despite the fact she was racing in routes, rather than because of it? Given her running style, the way she finished off the two-turn starts - yeah, can easily see 7f or a one-turn mile being her thing. Wasn't far from being "good enough" to contend in this spot last year, and figure she's better now than before her winter break. Work video suggests as much. Was very taken with the KEE drill after she shipped north from Palm Meadows. – Marcus Hersh
Post Time: 5:49 ET
Track: Keeneland (10th Race)
Horse: JOE SHIESTY (#11, 8-1)
JOE SHIESTY is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh).
Post Time: 5:56 ET
Track: Aqueduct (11th Race)
Horse: ALWAYS A RUNNER (#2, 4-1)
ALWAYS A RUNNER didn't run a fast race on debut, though she did go like a filly in need of experience early on that race, before crushing that field while looking to do more in the stretch; will need a big move forward stepping right into graded stakes company, but don't think she is meeting any of the division leaders in this spot, and she has plenty of room to improve. – Mike Beer
Post Time: 6:22 ET
Track: Keeneland (11th Race)
Horse: GREAT WHITE (#3, 15-1)
Perhaps GREAT WHITE is a little bit of a reach here, but I don't think he's a stab. Huge horse, yet nimble and quick enough to win his 6f career debut. Had some minor excuses for his second out - I look at that as a stepping-stone race, not an indictment. Traveled like a winner throughout the Battaglia. Fulleffort closed to within a neck at the finish, but no shame there - Fulleffort looked fairly legit winning the Jeff Ruby, and in any case, I feel like Great White idled after hitting the front. Past the wire he opened back up on Fulleffort through the gallop out. But for one breeze at TP when he was preparing to race there, he's only worked on dirt. Works well, too, from the look of things. Trainer, at least, believes he can stick with any pace – Marcus Hersh
Post Time: 7:16 ET
Track: Santa Anita (9th Race)
Horse: PRINCE DOLCE (#10, 12-1)
A deep field of Cal-bred allowance horses race a mile on turf; late-runner PRINCE DOLCE is the choice off a troubled runner-up finish in a similar race. Blocked through the far turn, blocked again in deep stretch, he flew late to miss by a neck. With clear sailing, he can mow them down. – Brad Free
Post Time: 7:46 ET
Track: Santa Anita (10th Race)
Horse: ROBUSTA (#4, 8-1)
ROBUSTA (#4, 8-1) and POTENTE are tough to separate in the Santa Anita Derby, they ran two-one last out in a G2. ROBUSTA added blinkers, raced wide throughout, yet missed by only a head. He ran as well as the winner. However, POTENTE was making only his second start, he was game in victory, and galloped out super. It's a virtual coin flip between two talented colts likely to be the two favorites. ROBUSTA was always well-regarded, though his first three starts were modest. He added blinkers last out and delivered the best race of his career. Wide while forwardly placed, he led into the lane and finished more than two lengths clear of third while on his wrong lead to the wire. ROBUSTA worked well since, figures to relish the mile and one-eighth, and probably will be in front of his main rival turning for home. If he switches leads, he can turn the tables on likely favorite POTENTE. – Brad Free