Happy Friday, reader. You've almost made it to the weekend, but not just yet — you still have a newsletter to read. Till then, here's what you have to look forward to today:

• It's Kentucky Derby weekend: We want you to bet confidently this weekend, and Rampart Casino Race and Sports Manager Duane Colucci has tips for Saturday's mane event.
• The best new whiskeys: Including releases from WhistlePig, BHAKTA, Blackened, Overholt and more.
• Upgrade your toothpaste game: Goodbye Crest and Colgate, hello artisanial oral care.

Here’s How to Bet the 150th Kentucky Derby

With your first dry-aged steaks of the season ready to grill, your ultra-rare bottle of bourbon cracked and your Mint Julep ingredients on-hand, the most important part of Kentucky Derby prep can go down: placing your bets. With wagering on the 150th Derby opening this morning on-site at Churchill Downs and remotely via FanDuel in the increasingly growing number of states that allow legalized betting on horse racing, the odds on Saturday’s Run for the Roses are crystalizing but will continue to fluctuate until race time. So, while the odds on the 20 contenders were estimated earlier this week when their post positions were drawn, they won’t necessarily hold until post time on Saturday evening (6:57 p.m. EDT).

“Through Friday and Saturday, bettors can watch the odds fluctuate based on the wagers coming in before the race,” FanDuel explains. “Final odds are determined by how much has been bet on each horse once the gates fling open.”

We've got tips for betting The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports courtesy of Rampart Casino Race and Sports Manager Duane Colucci, along with the post positions, trainers, jockeys and opening odds for each horse.

In yesterday's poll, we asked whether or not you prefer a salt rim on your Margarita. About 61% of you are sipping one with salt, while the other 39% of you will take it plain. Regardless of how you order them, we hope you enjoy many this weekend.

The Best New Whiskeys to Drink This May

Welcome back to our monthly guide to all things whisk(e)y. From a limited-edition Hatozaki expression to a rare release from Overholt (the longest-standing American whiskey brand) to the second limited-edition iteration of Rye the Lightning from Blackened (the spirits brand owned by Metallica), there are tons of great recently released bottles that you can read about here.

IN THE NEWS

The Maple Leafs-Bruins on Saturday night is not going to be pretty.

Could Southwest be changing its seating policy?

Cubs rookie Shota Imanaga may be baseball’s best bargain.

It might be too late for some fans to get visas for the 2026 World Cup.

Toyota bet big on American-built, three-row electric SUVs.

Do You Need Artisanal Toothpaste in Your Life? We Think You Do.

Why would anyone consider another toothpaste besides the reliable Colgate or Crest, which have graced countless sinks since the advent of modern toothbrushing? While the following artisanal brands may require a little extra investment, some claim they clean more effectively than the basics. But here’s the thing: once you experience the feel of premium toothpaste, the run-of-the-mill drugstore brands seem to lack some effectiveness and originality. It might sound pretentious, but it’s simply about investing more in quality and character in your daily grooming routine — a touch of taste and style that also contains (usually) more natural and healthier ingredients. It is also about making brushing teeth fun instead of a chore, making a daily ritual a little less banal.

A Tale of Two Corporate Cities in India and California

When international companies grow in size and coalesce their power, they can sometimes require more physical space to organize and operate than their host municipalities can offer. Rather than wait for cities to make real estate and resources available, some of these powerful corporations build their own cities: complete, self-contained and company-sustained communities.

Depending on where the mega-firms in question choose to make their footprint and how they go about it, these corporate cities can benefit a region or fray the fabric of its identity. Two projects on opposite sides of the world demonstrate that dichotomy as one flourishes and the other languishes in legal turmoil.

The 10 Best Mexican Restaurants in Chicago Right Now

Narrowing down the city’s best Mexican fare is no easy feat, especially when there are countless restaurants serving incredible dishes, some passed down through multiple generations. Our picks run the gamut from casual street tacos and elotes to modern Mexican featuring farm-fresh ingredients and nods to a variety of the country’s regions. Whether you’re in the mood to toss back a cerveza or two with a torta or savor complex mole dishes with a mezcal Margarita, these are Chicago’s top spots for experiencing truly authentic Mexican cuisine.