Perhaps the most interesting race on the card is the G2 Fort Lauderdale, held over nine furlongs on the turf course. Ten have entered the prep for the Pegasus Turf, with two each from the barns of trainers Mike Maker, Todd Pletcher, and Chad Brown.

Saturday's card at Santa Anita also offers two graded stakes, including the G2 Joe Hernandez featuring an overflow field of 13 going about 6 1/2 furlongs along the downhill turf course.

On Monday, the first day of the new year, freshly-turned 3-year-olds take center stage at both Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn.

Oaklawn's nine-strong Smarty Jones Stakes will award the winner 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, while the Mucho Macho Man drew eight young horses looking to make their first step on the Road to the Florida Derby.

Saturday

3:00 p.m. – Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Phil D'Amato's classy Irish-bred Balnikhov cuts back in distance and heads a field of 12 3-year-olds and up going about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita's one of a kind hillside turf course. A fast finishing third, beaten one length going a mile and one sixteenth over the Del Mar lawn in the G2 Seabiscuit Handicap Nov. 25, Balnikhov, a two-time graded stakes winner on grass, will be trying the hillside course for the first time on Saturday and will be ridden by Antonio Fresu, who guided him to a narrow second place finish four starts back in the G2 Eddie Read Stakes on July 30.

Most recently second, beaten 1 ¾ lengths going five furlongs on turf in Del Mar's Stormy Liberal Stakes Dec. 2, D'Amato's Irish-bred Turn On The Jets gives the stable a powerful one-two punch. A first condition allowance winner going five furlongs on turf in his U.S. debut nine starts back in August, 2022, this 4-year-old gelding was subsequently a close second and third in a pair of second condition hillside allowances here in October and November of 2022 and will thus be making his third career hillside appearance on Saturday.

Turn on the Jets, who can make or press the early lead if need-be, will be reunited with Juan Hernandez, who has won with him twice from six engagements.

Winless but close in his five Southern California starts, four of them stakes, Mark Glatt's Irish-bred I'm A Gambler has shown an affinity for the hillside course in his last start and rates a huge chance with Frankie Dettori taking over for the first time.

Joe Hernandez Entries

4:34 p.m. – Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Saffie Joseph trainee O'Connor enters the Harlan's Holiday off a career-best performance at Keeneland in the Fayette (G2). The Chilean-bred son of Boboman settled off the pace before kicking in late to prevail by a head in the 1 1/8-mile stakes. His encouraging effort under Tyler Gaffalione was his first victory since capturing his U.S. debut by eight lengths in October 2022.

Joseph is also scheduled to saddle Ny Traffic for the Harlan's Holiday. The multiple graded stakes-placed 6-year-old son of Cross Traffic, who is a multiple-stakes winner at sprint distances, will stretch out around two turns for the first time in more than two years after coming off a year layoff with an optional claiming allowance win and a runner-up finish in the Hudson at Aqueduct.

Dubyuhnell will continue on the comeback trail for trainer Danny Gargan in the Harlan's Holiday, following a most encouraging optional claiming allowance victory Oct. 28 at Keeneland off a six-month layoff. The 3-year-old son of Good Magic, who hadn't run since finishing far back in the April 1 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream, was forwardly placed in the 1 1/8-mile race before taking the lead in the stretch and prevailing by a length over next-out winner Denington.

Harlan's Holiday Entries

5:04 p.m. – Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park

No trainer has had more starters in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) than defending champion Mike Maker's 10, and he'll have the chance to add to his total depending on how Red Run and Henley's Joy perform in Saturday's $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Henley's Joy is a 7-year-old millionaire that earned Grade 1 credentials in the 2019 Belmont Derby Invitational for Maker but hasn't visited the winner's circle since. He was moved to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen after finishing seventh to his stablemate in the 2020 Pegasus Turf, began 2022 in California with trainer Richard Baltas and was claimed back by Maker from another Hall of Famer, Mark Casse, for $62,500 in September. Henley's Joy was eased to finish last of 11 in a 1 5/16-mile optional claiming allowance Sept. 9 at Kentucky Downs the day he changed barns, but bounced back to be third going 1 1/16 miles over Woodbine's all-weather surface Oct. 8, beaten 1 ¼ lengths, in his most recent start.

Red Run will break from Post 8 with Edgard Zayas aboard in his ninth start since being claimed by Maker for $50,000 out of a runner-up finish March 12 at Oaklawn Park. The 4-year-old son of Gun Runner exits the 1 1/8-mile River City (G3) at Churchill where he found early trouble and wound up eighth, beaten four lengths, over a turf course rated good.

Another two-time Pegasus Turf-winning trainer with a pair of Fort Lauderdale starters is Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. Grand Sonata, most recently fourth in the River City, has won two of three starts on the grass at Gulfstream – the one-mile Dania Beach and 1 1/16-mile Kitten's Joy (G3) in succession in 2022. Jerry the Nipper is a six-time stakes-placed 6-year-old gelding, all against fellow New York-breds, most recently overcoming a late stumble to be fifth by two lengths in the one-mile Artie Schiller Nov. 12 at Aqueduct.

Trainer Chad Brown, who won the inaugural Pegasus Turf with eventual 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar, also entered two horses in Running Bee and Stone Age. Running Bee has put together two straight front-running wins though more than a year apart, returning from 13 months away with a 3 ¾-length optional claiming allowance triumph Nov. 17 at Aqueduct. Stone Age is a Group 3 winner in England that has made five previous North American starts, all in Grade 1 stakes, finishing third in the Belmont Derby and second in the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2022.

Fort Lauderdale Entries

Monday

4:36 p.m. – Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Inveigled has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a field of eight 2-year-olds following his eye-catching score at a mile three weeks ago. The Indiana-bred gelding stalked the early pace before making a three-wide move to the lead and drawing clear to win going away by 4 ¾ lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer Jane Cibelli may have reason to dream big for the gelded son of Enticed.

Otello is rated second on the morning line at 3-1 on the basis of a promising debut score at Aqueduct Nov. 4. The Christophe Clement-trained son of Curlin rallied from fifth to get up by a neck while going a one-turn mile.

First World War will make his stakes debut on dirt, following a strong runner-up finish in an optional claiming allowance over Churchill Downs main track Nov. 9. The Brendan Walsh-trained colt had run twice previously on turf, winning his debut at Kentucky Downs Sept. 13 and finishing a close-up fourth in the Bourbon (G2) at Keeneland.

Boy Magic, undefeated in two starts, is slated to make his stakes debut in the Mucho Macho Man. The son of Good Magic won at first asking by 4 ¼ lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight race at Delaware Park Aug. 24 before coming back a month later at Pimlico to win an optional claiming allowance over Catahoula Moon, who won the Maryland Million Nursery in his next start.

No More Time enters the Mucho Macho Man off an impressive debut victory at the one-turn distance at Gulfstream Oct. 23. The Jose D'Angelo-trained son of Not This Time, who finished second in his debut, attended the pace on the backstretch before pulling away to a 6 ¾-length victory.

Sea Streak, who was a beaten-favorite second behind Inveigled Dec. 9, returns in the Mucho Macho Man. Prior to his Gulfstream debut, the Eddie Owens Jr.-trained son of Sea Wizard scored a 4 ¾-length maiden special weight victory at Aqueduct.

Mucho Macho Man Entries

5:14 p.m. – Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park

Lengthened from one mile to 1 1/16 miles since last season, the Smarty Jones offers 21 total points (10-5-3-2-1, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Nine newly-turned 3-year-olds will take on this year's edition.

Just Steel exits a victory in the $225,500 Ed Brown Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs after two previous unsuccessful stakes starts in the G1 Hopeful at Saratoga and G1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. A son of Triple Crown winner Justify, Just Steel is trained by D. Wayne Lukas and owned by BC Stables. He was a $500,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Catching Freedom, a $575,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase for Albaugh Family Stables, had an extremely troubled trip last out as the even-money favorite in a 1 1/16-mile Churchill Downs allowance race on Nov. 9 for trainer Brad Cox. Ridden that day by Florent Geroux, the Constitution colt rallied from well off the pace, but ran into traffic problems at the top of the stretch and was bottled up for most of the stretch, seemingly full of run but with nowhere to go.

Informed Patriot and Gettysburg Address finished third and fourth, respectively, in the G3 Street Sense Stakes run over a sloppy track Oct. 29 at Churchill Downs. Cox has elected to take blinkers off Gettysburg Address, another son of Constitution who showed speed in the Street Sense but faltered in the final quarter mile. The Hard Spun colt Informed Patriot, trained by Steve Asmussen, subsequently finished third in an allowance race at Churchill Downs Nov. 25.

Smarty Jones Entries

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Sprinters are in the spotlight in South Florida, with a wide-open field of fillies and mares contesting the G3 Sugar Swirl at six furlongs, followed by the G3 Mr. Prospector Stakes, where Sibelius defends his title in a field of nine colts and geldings going seven panels. Gulfstream also attracted big fields for the Tropical Park Oaks and Tropical Park Derby scheduled over Gulfstream's new turf course.

There are no standouts in the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds, where six 2-year-old fillies will race a mile and 70 yards in quest of qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks (10-5-3-2-1 to the top five). The 1 1/16-mile Gun Runner Stakes, final event of a 12-race card featuring eight stakes at the New Orleans track on Saturday, attracted eight soon-to-be sophomore colts led by Brad Cox-trained Nash, a son of Medaglia d'Oro coming off a 10 1/4-length winning performance in a Churchill Downs maiden race in November that earned him a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. The top five in the Gun Runner will earn 10-5-3-2-1 points for the Kentucky Derby.

The final three Grade 1 stakes of the year highlight Santa Anita's opening day program, which offers a total of 11 races (including three Grade 2 stakes) and gets under way at 11 a.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Eastern.

Not surprisingly, trainer Bob Baffert holds a strong hand in the G1 Malibu for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs, with G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint pacesetter Speed Boat Beach leading his trio of entries, along with $3,550,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old purchase Hejazi, who returned from a seven-month hiatus to dominate an allowance field Nov. 3. Someone will walk away from the Malibu with G1 credentials to enhance their stallion resume.

The G1 La Brea, the companion race for 3-year-old fillies, looks to be wide open, with a field of 10 that includes just a single previous graded stakes winner, Richard Mandella-trained Ice Dancing, a daughter of Frosted who won the G3 Santa Ynez in January before going to the sidelines. In her comeback race in late October, Ice Dancing came up a half-length short, finishing second as a heavy favorite against older fillies and mares.

Santa Anita's other G1, the American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/4 miles on turf, similarly has just one previous graded winner, Anisette, most impressive last summer winning the G1 Del Mar Oaks. East Coast-based Be Your Best has been knocking on the door against top company for trainer Horacio De Paz, and she'll ship west to take on Anisette once again, having finished second to her at Del Mar.

Saturday

4:06 p.m. – Grade 3 Sugar Swirl Stakes at Gulfstream Park

After crisscrossing the country with stops in Kentucky, California, Oklahoma and Ohio, multiple stakes winner My Destiny is back home for what is expected to be her last race against a field of eight in the $125,000 Sugar Swirl.

Trained by owner Sam Wilensky's father, Herman, 6-year-old My Destiny will begin her new career as a broodmare in 2024, already booked to 2022 champion male sprinter Elite Power. She is enjoying her best season to date with four wins, two in stakes, from eight starts including a career-best performance to capture the six-furlong Flashy Lady Handicap by 5 ¼ lengths Sept. 24 at Remington Park.

Two-time defending Championship Meet leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. wheels Ed Seltzer's 7-year-old homebred mare Bluefield back just two weeks off a determined neck victory in the seven-furlong FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Joseph will also send out 4-year-old Intrepid Daydream, a recent private purchase by Miller Racing that has put together four consecutive wins including the six-furlong Shine Again and Politely and seven-furlong Maryland Million Distaff, all at Laurel Park. She arrived at Gulfstream Monday.

Sugar Swirl Entries

4:36 p.m. – Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Millionaire gelding Sibelius, who used his win last year as a springboard to Group 1 glory in Dubai, returns to make a title defense against a field of eight rivals in Saturday's $125,000 Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Though winless in three tries since returning to North America, running fourth in the June 3 Aristides at Churchill Downs, seventh by 4 ¼ lengths in the July 29 Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar and fifth in the Phoenix Oct. 6, Sibelius will be racing at his home track for the first time since a 2 ¼-length triumph in the Mr. Prospector on New Year's Eve 2022.

At the opposite end of the gate is Holly Crest Farm's 3-year-old New Jersey homebred Great Navigator, never worse than third in nine career starts with three wins. He is twice graded-stakes placed, having run second in the 2022 Sanford (G3) at 2 and third in his most recent effort, the Oct. 1 Vosburgh (G2) at Aqueduct. Finishing ahead of him that day were Cody's Wish, back-to-back winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and a candidate for Horse of the Year, and three-time Grade 2-placed Accretive.

Grade 2 winner Howbeit and fellow multiple stakes-winning stablemate Winfromwithin, who have combined for 12 wins and $767,591 in purse earnings from 52 starts; 2022 Gallant Bob (G2) winner Scaramouche; Hurricane J, a front-running winner sprinting 6 ½ furlongs Nov. 19 at Gulfstream; Dreaming of Kona, promoted winner of Gulfstream's one-mile Mucho Macho Man Jan. 1; Grade 1-placed Gilmore and 2019 Rebel (G2) winner Long Range Toddy complete the field.

Mr. Prospector Entries

6:30 p.m. – Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds

Off a dominant win in his second career start, the Godolphin homebred Nash has been installed as 7-5 morning line favorite against seven rivals in Saturday's $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes. Trained by Brad Cox, the son of Medaglia d'Oro sprinted on debut on October 7 at Keeneland. Nash sat a pocket trip and finished a clear second behind the gate to wire winner Booth. Stretched out to 1 1/16 miles for his follow-up start five weeks later at Churchill Downs, Nash went right to the lead and extended his margin of victory to the wire with every stride, romping up 10 ¼ lengths in front of his closest pursuer.

Catching Freedom, Cox's other Gun Runner entrant, also merits respect. Despite a compromised start and an extremely wide turn for home over a one-turn mile in his career debut at Churchill on October 1, the son of Constitution rolled home to win by 3 ¾ lengths.

Steve Asmussen, who trained Gun Runner for whom the race was named and won the inaugural edition with Epicenter, has two live runners in the race on Saturday.

It took Track Phantom three tries to break his maiden, but after finishing third then second over the one-turn mile at Churchill, he took his game to a new level in his first route try last time out. In a perfect pressing position early on, he took full command late on the backstretch and drew away to a convincing 4 ¾ length win.

Asmussen's other runner, the Gun Runner colt Risk It, is the class of the field. A dominant winner on August 19 at Saratoga first out of the box sprinting, Risk It stretched out to a one-turn mile for the Iroquois (G3) four weeks later at Churchill. Sent off as the 1.35-1 favorite, Risk It enjoyed a clear, stalking trip, but he could only manage second behind the 12-1 longshot West Saratoga. Stretched out to two-turns for the first time in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last out, he was a bit rank early on and was forced to check repeatedly on the backstretch. He found clear sailing on the far turn, but finished a well-beaten fourth behind Honor Marie.

In addition to the $100,000 purse, the Gun Runner will offer 2-year-olds, soon to be three, 10-5-3-2-1 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby 150 presented by Woodford Reserve.

Gun Runner Entries

Tuesday

3:00 p.m. – Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita

French-bred Easter, fresh off one of the most impressive turf performances of the year in Southern California for trainer Phil D'Amato, looms a standout versus five rivals at a mile and one eighth on turf.

Turning for home in the G2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles over the Del Mar turf Nov. 25, it appeared that D'Amato's top turf runner Hong Kong Harry had the race in-hand, but stablemate Easter pinned his ears under Antonio Fresu and powered to a half length victory while earning a lofty 99 Beyer Speed Figure.

With Fresu set to ride him back, Easter, a 5-year-old gelding who had won three of his nine stateside starts with Maryland-based Graham Motion prior to the Seabiscuit, will be seeking his third consecutive stakes victory on Tuesday.

San Gabriel Entries

4:00 p.m. – Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita

Anisette seeks the biggest win of her career as she heads a field of seven sophomore fillies going 1 1/4 miles on the grass course. Trained by Leonard Powell, Anisette's only previous try at the Oaks distance came two starts back in Santa Anita's G2 Rodeo Drive on Oct. 7, a race in which she finished a close second. With regular rider Umberto Rispoli back aboard, she cut back in distance to one mile on grass Nov. 5, finishing second by 3 ¼ lengths in the G3 Autumn Miss Stakes.

Trainer Horacio De Paz' Be Your Best is another who would prefer to have a fast pace to exploit in Tuesday's Oaks. In her first and only assignment versus male competition, she was last of 13 for most of the trip in the G2 Twilight Derby at a mile and one eighth on turf here Nov. 4 and came rolling on the far outside to finish eighth, beaten just 1 ¾ lengths under Irad Ortiz, Jr., who rides her back.

American Oaks Entries

4:30 p.m. – Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita

A three-time Group 1 stakes winner and favored in 10 out of his 12 starts in his native Argentina, John Sadler's Subsanador figures prominently as he makes his U.S. debut with Flavien Prat at the controls versus five rivals going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Subsanador has been idle since winning a Group 2 stakes in Argentina on July 29, but he enters the San Antonio on the strength of a strong work tab that included four consecutive bullet moves. Subsanador's Argentine resume reads 12-7-1-1 with earning of $149,124.

Richard Mandella-trained Salesman was the runaway 8 ¼-length winner of the G2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes going the seldom-run distance of a mile and five eighths at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. Salesman, who earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure that day, seems to have found a new home on dirt as a 6-year-old gelding. Raced nearly exclusively on turf in France, Salesman was well beaten in his first two stateside assignments on grass with Mandella, finishing ninth in the G1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita May 29 and 12th in the restricted Wickerr Stakes July 23 at Del Mar.

Switched to dirt at a mile and one sixteenth in the restricted Los Alamitos Special Sept. 17 he ran a much improved third, followed by his rollicking win on Nov. 4.

San Antonio Entries

5:30 p.m. – Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita

A stakes winner on both turf and dirt, versatile Speed Boat Beach heads a powerful three-horse contingent for trainer Bob Baffert. Second, beaten a head two starts back by top sprinter Dr. Schivel in the G2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 30, Speed Boat Beach made all the early running in the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 4, but tired to finish fourth, beaten three lengths.

Baffert's other two entries are Fort Bragg, fresh off a facile 2 ¼ length allowance score at 4-5 going 6 ½ furlongs on Nov. 17 at Del Mar, and Hejazi, off as the 8-5 favorite in a first condition allowance at six panels here on Nov. 3 and he blew the competition away, winning by 5 ½ lengths.

Always dangerous under any circumstances, eastern-based trainer Brad Cox will send out Giant Mischief, who will be ridden for the first time by Kazushi Kamura, who led all riders at Woodbine's recently concluded meet with 161 winners.

Malibu Entries

6:00 p.m. – Grade 2 Mathis Mile Stakes at Santa Anita

Phil D'Amato's hard-hitting English-bred Almendares retains the services of Flavien Prat and figures to be tough to deny among a field of seven sophomores going a mile on turf.

A 3-year-old gelding with a terrific stretch kick, Almendares rallied from far back to win going away by three quarters of a length in a one mile turf second condition allowance Dec. 3 at Del Mar—earning a career best 95 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.

A hard-charging fifth, beaten one length two starts back at 1 1/8 miles on turf in the G2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita Nov. 4, Almendares finished well to be third, beaten one length three starts back in the G2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 3.

An authoritative 2 ¼-length one-mile maiden turf winner in his eighth career start Sept. 9 at Del Mar, the Jeff Mullins-trained Dandy Man Shines rallied for another 2 ¼-length one-mile turf win in the restricted Let It Ride Stakes on Nov. 10 and thus seeks his third win in a row with Umberto Rispoli at the controls on Tuesday.

Mathis Mile Entries

6:30 p.m. – Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita

Trainer Michael McCarthy's Clearly Unhinged rates top billing among 10 sophomore fillies going seven furlongs. Most recently sixth at 23-1 in the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint here on Nov. 4, Clearly Unhinged, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief, was second two starts back in the G3 Chillingworth Stakes Sept. 29, and in the best race of her career three starts back, she was second, beaten a head going seven panels in the G1 Test at Saratoga on Aug. 5.

Two-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Brad Cox appears well represented by lightly raced Howl, a daughter of Practical Joke who ships in from her Kentucky base unbeaten in two starts, her most recent triumph a one length score going seven furlongs in an ungraded stakes at Laurel Park Nov. 25.

La Brea Entries

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Just like the Futurity, the Los Alamitos version of the Starlet has been dominated by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has won six consecutive renewals since 2017, giving him nine wins overall in the event. Baffert has won seven of the last nine runnings of the Futurity (scheduled at Los Alamitos next week) and 13 overall.

But while the Starlet is this week's lone graded stakes, there is stakes action throughout the country, including nine Louisiana Champions Day events for Louisiana-breds at Fair Grounds on Saturday. The Gulfstream Park championship meet is in full swing with a pair of stakes for 2-year-olds of each sex on Saturday – the Pulpit and Wait a While to be run over the South Florida track's new turf course. Oaklawn's first Saturday of the 2023-'24 meet features the Mistletoe Stakes for fillies and mares and the Ring the Bell Stakes for 3 and up sprinters.  Turfway Park offers the My Charmer on Saturday and Tampa Bay Downs will have two FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes for older runners. Canada's Woodbine is hosting a pair of Ontario-bred stakes on Saturday (La Prevoyante) and Sunday (Steady Growth).

Overseas, the Hong Kong Jockey Club is conducting its major quartet of Group 1 turf stakes on Sunday at Sha Tin, with first post for that card late Saturday night in the Eastern Time Zone of the U.S. An excellent lineup of horses from around the world  has converged on Hong Kong for that annual fixture.

Saturday

7:28 p.m. ET – Grade 2 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos

A half-dozen juvenile fillies have entered the Grade 2, $200,000 Starlet, and there is no standout in this group going 1 1/16 miles.

The aforementioned Bob Baffert has two strong chances, led by 9-5 morning line favorite Nothing Like You, bidding for her third consecutive victory after three unsuccessful attempts to break her maiden. The Malibu Moon filly is coming off a hard-fought nose victory in the ungraded Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 19. She will be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

The other Baffert, listed at 5-2 in the morning line, is the Uncle Mo filly Grazia, who won her debut at Del Mar Nov. 12 by 3 1/4 lengths as the odds-on favorite.  Flavien Prat has the call aboard Grazia.

The lone graded stakes winner in the group is Mark Glatt-trained Chatalas, a daughter of Gun Runner who went gate to wire to win the G2 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita Oct. 7. She subsequently finished a troubled ninth behind Just F Y I in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies after being jostled hard at the start. Antonio Fresu rides.

Two maidens in the race, Richard Mandella-trained Flynn's Chance and Doug O'Neill-trained Pacific Rose,  have shown some ability in their previous races and have every right to improve. The final starter, Great Forty Eight, got it together in her fourth start for Tim Yakteen to exit the maiden ranks at Del Mar Nov. 12.

Starlet entries

Sunday

Night owls will find some familiar names in the four Group 1 events comprising the Hong Kong International Races from Sha Tin in a 10-race program that gets under way at 11:25 p.m. Eastern / 8:25 p.m. Pacific.

Aidan O'Brien is sending an especially solid contingent from Ballydoyle in Ireland, and several Japanese horsemen are taking advantage of the lucrative purses and international prestige of this premiere event. France, the United Kingdom and Singapore are also taking on a home team of Hong Kong-trained runners who are becoming increasingly stronger with each passing year. There are no U.S.-based horses competing this year.

Free past performances courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club

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Those stakes are supported by a pair of G3 turf races for 2-year-olds, the Jimmy Durante on Saturday and the Cecil Demille on Sunday.

On Saturday at Aqueduct, a quartet of graded stakes races are the highlight of a solid Cigar Mile (G2) card. Todd Fincher trainee Senor Buscador has shipped East to be the slight Cigar Mile favorite over 11 rivals. Included on the afternoon's card are two races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks: the Remsen and the Demoiselle, respectively.

Also on Saturday is the $1 million Claiming Crown, a series of races for former claiming horses which will be held at the Fair Grounds this year, as well as a pair of Florida Sires Stakes races at Gulfstream Park.

Saturday

3:45 p.m. – Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct

The Remsen, carded as Race 9, awards the top-five finishers with 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points, respectively, towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs.

Dornoch, full brother to Kentucky Derby winner Mage, will attempt to give trainer Danny Gargan a repeat victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen, a nine-furlong route for juveniles, at Aqueduct Racetrack. Dornoch arrives from a dominant 6 1/2-length victory at third asking with a gate-to-wire performance on October 14 at Keeneland, garnering an 87 Beyer Speed Figure. His graduation came on the heels of a close runner-up effort to Noted in the one-mile Sapling in August at Monmouth Park where he raced wide and was jostled near the seven-eighths mark.

Copper Tax [post 9, Kendrick Carmouche] streaks in off five consecutive victories for conditioner Gary Capuano, most recently shipping out of Delaware Park for the first time to capture the six-furlong James F. Lewis, III on November 11 at Laurel Park. The son of Copper Bullet was bumped at the start and trailed farther off the pace than he had ever been in his six lifetime outings, but overcame the challenge to rally late and notch the neck score over Inveigled.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will send out two contenders in the regally-bred debut winner Sierra Leone [post 7, Jose Ortiz] and second-out maiden-winner Domestic Product [post 2, Manny Franco].

Sierra Leone made his highly anticipated debut on November 4 with a rallying 1 1/4-length score after bobbling at the start and racing five-wide in the stretch to sweep past Change of Command and complete the mile in 1:36.94. The son of Gun Runner was a $2.3 million purchase at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale and is out of the Grade 1-winning Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love. This third dam, the multiple graded stakes-winner Roamin Rachel, also produced 2004 Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy.

Domestic Product was a winner at second asking on October 27 at Belmont at the Big A, taking a nine-furlong maiden tilt by 4 1/2 lengths with a prominent trip under Manny Franco. The son of Practical Joke improved greatly with a stretch-out after finishing fifth in a six-furlong sprint on debut in August at Saratoga.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will also be represented by a pair of contenders as Moonlight [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Private Desire [post 10, Jose Lezcano] each vie for their first stakes victory.

Moonlight enters from a closing runner-up effort over sloppy and sealed going in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Street Sense on October 29 at Churchill Downs where he made a bid from fourth down the stretch and came up 2 3/4 lengths shy of Liberal Arts. The son of Audible was making his stakes debut off a dominant second-out maiden conquest on September 28 at Belmont at the Big A when annexing a one-mile off-the-turf maiden by eight lengths and garnering a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

Private Desire looks to rebound from an even fourth-place effort last out in the one-mile Nashua on November 5 where he raced greenly at the seven-eighths and was wide into the stretch. The son of Constitution boasts a field-best 94 Beyer for a second-out graduation sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on September 16 over the Big A main track. He finished fourth in a July 29 maiden at Saratoga where Dornoch also debuted and finished second.

Where's Chris [post 8, Isaac Castillo] will look to double up on stakes scores for trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. after winning the one-mile Nashua by three-quarter lengths on November 5 here. The son of Twirling Candy stalked a half-length off pacesetting post-time favorite Book'em Danno in second before coming to even terms with his foe at the top of the lane. The pair drew off and dueled strongly down the stretch with Where's Chris coming out on top in a final time of 1:36.75.

Completing the field are Nashua third-place finisher Billal [post 6, Junior Alvarado], who races with blinkers off for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott; and maiden winners Drum Roll Please [post 5, Javier Castellano] for trainer Brad Cox and Le Dom Bro [post 1, Jose Gomez] for conditioner Eniel Cordero.

Remsen Entries

4:12 p.m. – Grade 2 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct

Senor Buscador will cut back sharply in distance as he headlines a talented 12-horse field in the $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap. Trained by Todd Fincher, Senor Buscador enters from a seventh-place effort in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic on November 4 at Santa Anita Park. With Geovanni Franco up from post 8, Senor Buscador rallied from last-of-12 and well off the pace to finish 5 1/4-lengths back of the victorious White Abarrio.

Hoist the Gold [post 11, John Velazquez, 121 pounds] also arrives from an off-the-board effort at the Breeders' Cup where he finished sixth in the Grade 1 Sprint. Trained by Dallas Stewart, the 4-year-old Mineshaft colt left post 3-of-8 under Hall of Famer John Velazquez in the six-furlong sprint as Speed Boat Beach rocketed through splits of 21.99 seconds and 44.35, setting it up for the late kick of Elite Power to win by 1 1/2-lengths in a final time of 1:08.34.

Everso Mischievous [post 2, Cristian Torres, 119 pounds] boasts a perfect in-the-money record of 6-4-2-0 for purse earnings of $524,640, including an impressive score last out over returning rivals Dr Ardito and Accretive in the one-mile Grade 2 Forty Niner on October 28 for trainer Brad Cox.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will have three chances to secure his third Cigar Mile win when sending out multiple graded stakes-placed Accretive [post 10, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 121 pounds], graded stakes-placed New York-bred Dr Ardito [post 5, Manny Franco, 119 pounds] and maiden winner Cascais [post 4, Jose Ortiz, 114 pounds].

West Virginia-homebred Coastal Mission [post 1, Arnaldo Bocachica, 119 pounds] enters on a six-race win streak, all at Charles Town, for trainer Jeff Runco. The 4-year-old Great Notion gelding has won 11-of-16 starts, including a trio of stakes wins at his Charles Town base led by an open-company score two starts back in the two-turn seven-furlong Russell Road on August 25 and the state-bred West Virgina Breeders' Classic going nine furlongs last out on October 14.

Breeders' Cup alumni Three Technique [post 7, Javier Castellano, 120 pounds] will look to get back to winning ways following an eighth-place finish in the Sprint for trainer Jason Cook.

Rounding out a talented field are graded stakes-winner High Oak [post 6, Luis Saez, 118 pounds] for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott; the multiple graded stakes-placed Pipeline [post 12, Jose Lezcano, 117 pounds] for conditioner Cherie DeVaux; stakes-winner Offaly Cool [post 8, Abner Adorno, 117 pounds] for trainer Jacinto Solis; and allowance winner Castle Chaos [post 9, Dylan Davis, 116 pounds] for trainer Robert Falcone, Jr.

Cigar Mile Entries

6:30 p.m. – Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar

The Hollywood Derby is the first of two Grade 1 races scheduled for this weekend at Del Mar and Brown has brought the G1 Saratoga Derby winner, Program Trading, out west. The English-bred colt won the first three races of his career before running second in the G3 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in September.

Brown also will send out Redistricting, another English-bred, this one by Kingman. His lone venture into Grade I company ended in a forgettable seventh-place finish in the Belmont Derby in July. He rebounded with a win in an entry level allowance race three months later.

Charles Appleby will send out Silver Knott, a heartbreaking second in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf when he was nosed out by Victoria Rose. Appleby took the English-bred home for the winter and, following his 2023 debut in May, brought him back to the states.

Silver Knott has run four times since his return, but has yet to get back to the winner's circle. In his last, the G2 Twilight Agenda at Santa Anita, he finished second, a half a length behind the winner.

Webslinger comes out of the Mark Casse barn. He is an ultra-consistent son of Constitution who finished a nose behind Silver Knott in the Twilight Agenda. Of his 12 lifetime starts, he has won four wins, including the G2 American Turf on Derby Day at Churchill Downs. He finished in-the-money five other times, never more than two lengths behind the winner.

The local contingent is led by Seal Team, the impressive winner of the Twilight Agenda last out at Santa Anita on the Breeders' Cup undercard.

Others of note are Maltese Falcon, winner of the G3 La Jolla during the summer meet at Del Mar, and Reiquist, another nose back of Webslinger in fourth in the Twilight Agenda.

Hollywood Derby Entries

Sunday

6:30 p.m. – Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar

A dozen fillies and mares have signed on for the one-mile Matriarch on Del Mar's turf course, with trainer Chad Brown shipping in four for the race, including favorite Whitebeam. The winner of the G1 Diana two starts back, Whitebeam most recently finished fourth in the G1 First Lady at Keeneland.

Brown's other three entrants are multiple G2 winner Fluffy Socks, stakes winner Beaute Chachee, and multiple G3 winner Surge Capacity.

Second choice on the morning line is Michael McCarthy-trained Queen Goddess, winner of January's Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf and most recently second in the G2 Goldikova on the Breeders' Cup undercard.

Other top locally-trained entrants are Carla Gaines' Closing Remarks and Richard Mandella's Ruby Nell.

Matriarch Entries

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At Churchill Downs, Saturday's card features the G3 Chilukki, in which Hidden Connection will try to end a losing streak for trainer Bret Calhoun.

Out West, Del Mar will conduct a stakes doubleheader Saturday featuring a pair of $100,000 offerings – one for older Cal-bred sprinters and the other for 2-year-old fillies.

The “older” race is the Cary Grant Stakes, a seven-furlong spin for 3-year-olds and up that has drawn a field of nine homegrown sprinters. It is topped – and seriously topped – by the multiple-stakes winner The Chosen Vron, who takes not a class drop but a plunge from Grade 1 company to the state-bred ranks and is listed at 4-5 in the morning line.

The filly affair – the Desi Arnaz Stakes — has five entered and also gets a 4-5 morning line favorite in the Kentucky shipper Royal Slipper, who was sent west by trainer Wesley Ward, a man who specializes in developing young horses.

Fair Grounds begins its winter meet on Friday, and offers three Louisiana-bred stakes on opening day as well as on Saturday.

Saturday

1:48 p.m. – Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes at Aqueduct

Integration will look to notch back-to-back graded victories in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Hill Prince, a nine-furlong inner turf test for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the son of Quality Road was last seen scoring an off-the-pace triumph in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Virginia Derby on September 9 at Colonial Downs in his first start against winners. There, he rated 6 1/2 lengths off the pace under returning rider Kendrick Carmouche and unleashed a strong turn of foot down the stretch to sweep past his rivals and prevail by 1 1/4 lengths over Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational-winner Program Trading. The effort was awarded a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.

Freedom Trail [post 1, Jose Ortiz] looks to break through at the graded level for trainer John Terranova after a strong optional claiming performance against elders on September 21 at Belmont at the Big A. The son of Collected finished a game second to Exact Estimate, who was runner-up next out in the Artie Schiller, in a nine-furlong turf tilt when rallying from 6 1/2 lengths back and came up just a neck shy, earning a career-best 93 Beyer.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will have three chances to win his fourth Hill Prince with I'm Very Busy [post 8, Manny Franco], Equitize [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Faraday [post 5, Javier Castellano].

Hill Prince Entries

5:12 p.m. – Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes at Woodbine

Sprint star Patches O'Houlihan will face nine rivals in Saturday's $175,000 Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) at Woodbine.

A 3-year-old son of Reload-Maythefourthbwithu, Patches O'Houlihan arrives at the six-furlong main track race for 3-year-olds and up riding a six-race win streak after securing a gritty nose victory in the Vigil Stakes (G3) on September 16.

Bred and owned by Frank Di Giuilio, Jr. and trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Robert Tiller, Patches O'Houlihan sports a 7-0-0 career mark from eight starts.

Other starters include multiple graded stakes winner War Bomber (IRE), graded stakes winners Dream Shake and Ironstone, multiple graded stakes placed Ice Chocolat (BRZ), graded stakes placed Rockcrest, and stakes winner Sky's Not Falling.

Kennedy Road Entries

5:35 p.m. – Grade 3 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs

She Can't Sing will attempt to defend her victory in last year's Chilukki Stakes (G3) when she meets eight fillies and mares entered for this year's edition of the $300,000 one-mile race next Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Chris Block, She Can't Sing is an eight-time winner from 38 starts. The 6-year-old daughter of Bernardini has won four of those races at Churchill Downs, including her 3¾-length triumph in last year's Chilukki.

Block also has entered Richard Perkin's 14-time winner Oeuvre, who's set to make her first start against graded stakes company. The 4-year-old Illinois-bred daughter of Shackleford is on a three-race win streak with victories in the Jean Elizabeth Handicap at Hawthorne and consecutive allowance wins at Kentucky Downs and Keeneland. Jockey Jareth Loveberry will be in the irons from post 4.

Trainer Bill Mott, a two-time Chilukki winner, aims for his third victory in the race with 2022 Gazelle (G3) winner Nostalgic. Ridden by Florent Geroux from the rail, Godolphin's homebred Nostalgic finished 10th in the 2022 Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), just ahead of fellow Chilukki rival Hidden Connection, who finished 12th. Nostalgic, a Medaglia d'Oro filly, began her 4-year-old season in mid-July, finishing second to Sixtythreecaliber in a third-level allowance contest. Four weeks later she defeated five rivals in allowance company and would go on to finish third to Randomized and A Mo Reay six weeks later in the Beldame (G2).

Chilukki Entries

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Highlighting that trio is Saturday's Kathryn Crosby, a one-mile contest on the turf for fillies and mares with nine entrants. Phil D'Amato's Dolce Zel is the morning line favorite.

Turf contests are the highlight on Saturday at both Aqueduct and Churchill Downs; the New York card features the G2 Red Smith and the G3 Pebbles, while the Kentucky one features the G3 River City.

Churchill's Saturday program will also showcase talented female sprinter Wicked Halo as she chases her ninth career win in the $300,000 Dream Supreme.

Additionally on Saturday: a pair of graded stakes are on offer at Woodbine, three listed stakes are carded for Laurel Park, and Gulfstream will host a pair of sprint stakes for 2-year-olds.

Saturday

3:43 p.m. – Grade 2 Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct

Trainer Christophe Clement is hopeful that third time will be the charm with multiple Grade 1-placed millionaire Soldier Rising as he makes his third straight start in the $300,000 Red Smith going 11 furlongs over the inner turf at Aqueduct. Soldier Rising finished a respective third [2021] and ninth [2022] in the past two runnings of the Red Smith. This year, the 5-year-old Frankel gelding has finished a late-rallying second in four Grade 1 turf events on the circuit.

Mike Maker will unleash a pair of formidable contenders in Cross Border [post 4, Manny Franco] and Red Run [post 9, Ruben Silvera].

Cross Border enters from a redeeming triumph in the 12-furlong Cape Henlopen on September 16 at Delaware Park. The evergreen English Channel 9-year-old brags field-high earnings of $1,333,258 through a record of 52-13-8-7, including back-to-back victories in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga in 2020-21. His lone victory at the Big A took place at the Red Smith distance in a November 2019 allowance event.

Red Run was a last out fourth in the Sycamore after a 1 1/4-length allowance triumph in September going nine furlongs over the Churchill Downs turf. The 4-year-old Gun Runner colt has finished no worse than fourth since being claimed by Maker in March from Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle Lost Ark [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] following a triumph in an off-the-turf Jockey Club Derby Invitational on October 7 at Belmont at the Big A. Lost Ark is a half-brother to last year's Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Nest.

Nineeleventurbo [post 6, Joel Rosario] makes the journey to New York for Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale after capturing a 12-furlong second-level allowance on October 14 over good ground at Keeneland. The 6-year-old More Than Ready gelding was previously second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap in September, finishing 1 1/4 lengths behind Grade 1-winning millionaire Gold Phoenix.

Red Smith Entries

5:12 p.m. – Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes at Woodbine

Awesome Treat, a 5-year-old daughter of Awesome Patriot-Tiz a Treat, looks for her first stakes success in Saturday's $175,000 Bessarabian Stakes (G2), at Woodbine. The seven-furlong main track feature for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, has drawn 14 starters, including Awesome Treat.

Trained by Steve Attard, the dark bay mare, fourth in last year's Bessarabian, heads into Saturday's affair off a pleasing runner-up finish in the Ontario Fashion (G3) on October 14. Dismissed at 38-1, Awesome Treat rallied stoutly down the lane to miss top prize by a half-length in the six-furlong test.

Other starters include multiple graded stakes winner Our Flash Drive, along with graded stakes winners Loyalty, Midnight Stroll, Miss Dracarys, Ready To Venture (GB), Spun Glass and multiple graded stakes winner Artie's Princess.

Bessarabian Entries

5:35 p.m. – Grade 3 River City Stakes at Churchill Downs

Wise Dan Stakes (Grade 2) winner Stitched headlines an over-subscribed field of 15 turf specialists that entered Saturday's 44th running of the $300,000 River City Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Greg Foley, Stitched achieved his biggest honors winning the Wise Dan three starts ago at Ellis Park. The 4-year-old son of Mizzen Mast has won six races overall and also sports stakes victories in last year's Caesar's and Mystic Lake Derby. Jockey Florent Geroux will be in the irons from post No. 9.

Among the other rivals entered to face Stitched is Calumet Farm's three-time winner Cellist. Trained by Rusty Arnold, Cellist nearly led gate-to-wire three weeks ago in the 1 ½-mile Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland but was caught in the last jump by Bold Act. Cellist will break from the rail under Martin Garcia.

River City Entries

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Headlining the weekend is the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, led by Bob Baffert trainee Arabian Knight (3-1), Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (4-1), Rick Dutrow trainee White Abarrio (4-1), and Chad Brown trainee Zandon (12-1).

The Breeders' Cup Classic has a post time of 6:40 p.m. ET. In addition to the Classic, the Breeders' Cup Distaff (5:10 p.m. ET post time) and Breeders' Cup Turf (5:50 p.m. ET post time) will be presented live Saturday on NBC and Peacock.

A total of 175 horses were entered including five defending Champions: Caravel, Cody's Wish, Elite Power, Goodnight Olive, and Twilight Gleaming. There are 48 international contenders from five countries who traveled to the United States to prove their mettle in the global showcase.

Live racing coverage of the 40^th Breeders' Cup World Championships begins this Friday featuring the Juveniles in action at 4 p.m. ET on USA Network and Peacock. Six-plus hours of live coverage on Saturday begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on USA Network and Peacock and continues on NBC and Peacock at 3:30 p.m. ET. This weekend marks the first time all 10+ hours of coverage will stream live on Peacock.

Friday

5:40 p.m. – Grade 1 BC Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita

Spendthrift Farm's homebred Tamara, a daughter of three-time Breeders' Cup winner Beholder, is the 4-5 morning line choice for the $2 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), which drew a field of 13 going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Richard Mandella trains Tamara, who will be ridden by Mike Smith from post 7.

BC Juvenile Fillies Entries

7:00 p.m. – Grade 1 BC Juvenile at Santa Anita

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's Locked is the 7-2 morning line favorite for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), which drew a field of 11 set to race 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Locked will be ridden by Jose Ortiz and exit post 6.

BC Juvenile Entries

Saturday

3:10 p.m. – Grade 1 BC Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita

Cheveley Park Stud's five-time Group 1 winner Inspiral (GB) is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) to be run at 1 1/4 miles. Trained by the Gosdens, Inspiral will be ridden by Frankie Dettori from post 6 in a field of 12.

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Warm Heart (IRE), fresh off two Group 1 victories at a mile and a half in Europe, is the 3-1 second choice. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Warm Heart will be ridden by Ryan Moore from post 2.

Third choice at 4-1 is Peter Brant's In Italian (GB), who set the pace before finishing second in this race last year at Keeneland. Trained by Chad Brown, In Italian will be ridden by Joel Rosario from post 1.

BC F&M Turf Entries

4:30 p.m. – Grade 1 BC Mile at Santa Anita

Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.'s Songline (JPN) is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1). A three-time Grade 1 winner and earner of more than $6.2 million, Songline will depart post 10 under Keita Tosaki in the field of 14.

Godolphin runners Master of The Seas (IRE) (7-2) and Mawj (IRE) (4-1) are the second and third morning line propositions.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Master of The Seas exits a tough nose beat in the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland in his most recent start. Prior to that he won the Woodbine Mile (G1) under William Buick, who has the mount Saturday from post 14.

Saeed bin Suroor trains Mawj, who returned from a five-month layoff to win Keeneland's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) on Oct. 14 going 1 1/8 miles. Oisin Murphy has the mount Saturday from post 6.

BC Mile Entries

5:10 p.m. – Grade 1 BC Distaff at Santa Anita

Juddmonte's Idiomatic (5-2), daylight winner of the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) and Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) in her past two starts, is the morning line favorite for the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) to be run at 1 1/8 miles with a field of 11. Trained by Brad Cox, Idiomatic has won her past four starts and will start from post 4 with Florent Geroux aboard.

Co-second choices at 4-1 are Adare Manor and Clairiere.

Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor has won her past five starts for trainer Bob Baffert, a streak topped by a 5 1/4-length victory in the Oct. 1 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. Juan Hernandez has the mount from post 5.

Stonestreet Stables' Clairiere, who was beaten a head in a three-horse photo in last year's Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland, has two Grade 1 victories this year for trainer Steve Asmussen. Joel Rosario has the mount from post 9.

BC Distaff Entries

5:50 p.m. – Grade 1 BC Turf at Santa Anita

European standouts Mostahdaf (IRE) and Auguste Rodin (IRE), who have combined for five Group 1 victories this year, top the morning line of a 13-horse field for the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) to be run at 1 1/2 miles.

Shadwell Estate Company Ltd.'s Mostahdaf (5-2), winner of the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) and Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) in his past two starts, is trained by John and Thady Gosden. Jim Crowley has the mount Saturday and will exit post 9.

Owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Westerberg and trained by Aidan O'Brien, Auguste Rodin (3-1) won the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) in his most recent start. Leaving from post 5, Auguste Rodin will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

BC Turf Entries

6:40 p.m. – Grade 1 BC Classic at Santa Anita

The 1 1/4-mile Longines Breeders' Cup Classic is topped by morning-line favorite Arabian Knight (3-1), campaigned by Zedan Racing Stables Inc. and trainer Bob Baffert. Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co. Ltd.'s Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Ushba Tesoro (JPN) (4-1) opposes in his United States debut in the richest of 14 Championship races worth more than $31 million in purses and awards to be run over two days Nov. 3-4.

Arabian Knight, a 3-year-old winner of three of four career starts and most recently victorious over older horses in the FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic (G1), will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 12.

Ushba Tesoro was the runaway winner of the Dubai World Cup in March at the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles. Freshened for six months after that victory by trainer Noboru Takagi, Ushba Tesoro easily won his comeback race Sept. 27 in Japan under Yuga Kawada, who has the mount Saturday from post position 8.

Also at 4-1 on the morning line is C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC's White Abarrio. Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., White Abarrio enters off a 6 1/4-length victory in the Whitney Stakes (G1) under Irad Ortiz Jr., who retains the mount Saturday from post 3.

Completing the field are Bright Future (post 11, 10-1), Clapton (post 7, 20-1), Derma Sotogake (JPN) (post 5, 20-1), Dreamlike (post 10, 30-1), Missed the Cut (post 4, 30-1), Proxy (post 13, 12-1), Saudi Crown (post 6, 12-1), Senor Buscador (post 9, 30-1), and Zandon (post 2, 12-1).

BC Classic Entries

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The Fayette serves as the closing-day feature of the 17-day Fall Meet at Keeneland: it features a Group 1 winner in Chile, a Grade 2 winner at Santa Anita, and five Grade 3 winners among 14, including two also-eligibles, entered for the 1 1/8-mile contest.

The Grade 2 Forty Niner (previously the Kelso), is one of three stakes on Saturday's lucrative 11-race program at Aqueduct, including the Grade 2, $250,000 Mother Goose, and the listed $135,000 Awad.

For the third time this fall, the jumpers return to Virginia on Saturday, where they'll compete for $325,000 in purses at the International Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, the second richest program on the National Steeplechase Association autumn calendar. The card consists of eight races – over timber, hurdles, and a mixed bag of obstacles – as well as events for runners at all levels of competition from maiden claiming to stakes. In all, 57 horses have been entered.

On Sunday, the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense Stakes is the featured event on opening day of the 21-day Fall Meet at Churchill Downs, and offers the winner 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for 2024. The 11-race program will feature all 2-year-old racing. Two races prior to the Street Sense is the $200,000 Rags to Riches Stakes (Listed) for 2-year-old fillies.

A total of 100 New York-breds are entered for a special 10-race card on Closing Day Sunday at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet to celebrate the best of New York for the annual Empire Showcase Day, featuring eight stakes races worth $1.6 million, led by the $250,000 Empire Classic and $250,000 Empire Distaff.

Saturday

3: 48 p.m. – Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes at Aqueduct

Xigera will look to make the grade in Saturday's $250,000 Mother Goose, a nine-furlong route for sophomore fillies. Trained by Philip Bauer, the Nyquist dark bay has flashed talent on turf and dirt, taking the Tepin over the Ellis Park green in July and the Seneca Overnight last out on September 23 over the Churchill Downs main track.

Defining Purpose [post 7, Junior Alvarado] earned Grade 1 glory in April at Keeneland with a 20-1 upset score in the Ashland when posting a prominent half-length score over Punchbowl, who was a neck better than returning rival Julia Shining. Trained by Kenny McPeek, the Cross Traffic grey followed with a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks but redeemed herself off a two-month break by winning the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks. She was last seen finishing a distant fifth in the Grade 1 Cotillion contested at 1 1/16-miles over a sloppy and sealed main track on September 23 at Parx.

Chad Brown trainee Occult [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] exits a third-place finish in the Cotillion, rallying from last-of-9 to finish 1 3/4-lengths back of Ceiling Crusher, who successfully shipped in from the West Coast. Brown will also saddle a pair of sophomore contenders for Klaravich Stables in dual graded stakes-placed Undervalued Asset [post 4, Manny Franco] and maiden winner Peak Popularity [post 2, Dylan Davis].

Foggy Night [post 1, Jose Lezcano], winner of the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks in July for trainer Butch Reid, Jr., will look to make amends from a distant sixth-place finish last out in the Grade 1 Cotillion.

The regally-bred Julia Shining [post 3, Javier Castellano] made the grade at second asking here for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, overcoming a bobbled start to post a neck score in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Demoiselle over sloppy and sealed footing. Julia Shining followed with third-place efforts in the Suncoast in February at Tampa Bay Downs and the aforementioned Ashland in April at Keeneland. Last out, she was eased when ninth in the Grade 1 Alabama in August at the Spa where she has continued to work regularly over Oklahoma training track.

Mother Goose Entries

4:53 p.m. – Grade 2 Forty Niner Stakes at Aqueduct

Stakes-winner Everso Mischievous will make his first start in graded company in Saturday's $300,000 Forty Niner, a one-mile test for 3-year-olds and up that was previously run as the Kelso, at Belmont at the Big A. Trained by two-time Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the sophomore son of Into Mischief was last seen winning the seven-furlong Harrods Creek on September 23 at Churchill Downs where he raced one length off the pace in second under Cristian Torres before taking command at the stretch call and drawing off to a 3 1/4-length victory in a final time of 1:22.15.

Graded stakes-winning Maryland-bred Double Crown [post 1, Jose Gomez] looks to defend his title in this event on the heels of a closing third-place effort in the Maryland Million Classic on October 14 at Laurel Park. Trained by Ray Ginter, Jr., the son of Bourbon Courage won the Polynesian against open company two starts back at Pimlico Race Course with a driving finish up the rail.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown sends out a strong pair in dual graded stakes-placed Accretive [post 3, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and multiple stakes-winning New York-bred Dr Ardito [post 5, Manny Franco].

Film Star [post 4, Jose Lezcano] arrives at the Forty Niner in impressive form as he makes his ninth outing for trainer Linda Rice after being haltered for $75,000 out of a win in April at Keeneland. The Flatter bay was most recently second to Zandon in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Woodward.

Completing the field are the pair of multiple graded stakes-placed Synthesis [post 8, Isaac Castillo] and five-time winner Business Model [post 7, Dylan Davis] for owner/trainer David Jacobson; Swiftsure [post 6, Kendrick Carmouche], who enters off a pair of wins for trainer Horacio De Paz.

Forty Niner Entries

5:16 p.m. – Grade 2 Fayette Stakes at Keeneland

A Group 1 winner in Chile, a Grade 2 winner at Santa Anita, and five Grade 3 winners are among 14, including two also-eligibles, entered for the 66th running of the $350,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland on Saturday.

O'Connor (CHI) has the 2022 Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) at the top of his 10-win resume. Now trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., O'Connor is winless in five starts this year but is graded stakes-placed in three of those races. He most recently was fifth in the Woodward (G2) Oct. 1 at Belmont at the Big A. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post 9.

Sunday

5:35 p.m. – Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes at Churchill

Generous Tipper, the recent third-place finisher in the Breeders' Futurity (Grade 1), tops a field of eight 2-year-olds for the $200,000 Street Sense Stakes (G3) on “Stars of Tomorrow I” at Churchill Downs. Generous Tipper, trained by Kenny McPeek, was a 7 ½-length maiden special weight winner on closing day of the Ellis Park meet in late August. The son of this race's namesake, Street Sense, finished third to Locked and The Wine Steward three weeks ago in the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will retain the mount from the rail.

The Street Sense field also includes eye-catching debut winner Parchment Party. Owned by Pin Oak Stud and trained by Bill Mott, Parchment Party rallied from 11 lengths off the early pace to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Sept. 15 at Churchill Downs. The son of Constitution will once again be ridden by James Graham from post No. 5.

Other Street Sense entrants include Iroquois (G3) third-place finisher Liberal Arts; Belmont at Aqueduct eight-length maiden winner Moonlight; and gutsy Churchill Downs maiden special weight winner Informed Patriot.

The Street Sense is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season where the top five finishers will be awarded points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale towards qualifying for the 150th Kentucky Derby.

Street Sense Entries

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On Friday, Aqueduct' G3 Knickerbocker will be held off the turf, and has scratched down to a field of three runners. Later Friday, eight stakes races comprise the Oklahoma Classics at Remington Park, led by a closely-matched field of 11 for the OKC Turf in race 10.

On Saturday, the British flat racing season comes to its conclusion with two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In races featured as part of a spectacular British Champions Day card. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) (G1) gives the winner an automatic starting position for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) and the winner of the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) earns an invitation to the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

Also Saturday, the G1 Grand National will be held for steeplechasers at Far Hills, and the Florida Sire Series Susan's Girl and Affirmed will be held at Gulfstream Park, while the G3 Ontario Derby is the feature at Woodbine.

Sunday's headliner is the G3 Dowager at Keeneland, featuring nine fillies and mares to go 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

Saturday

5:16 p.m. – Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland

Alva Starr, runaway winner of the Prioress (G2) at Saratoga in her most recent start, headlines a field of nine 3-year-old fillies entered in the $350,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2). A winner of three of five races for trainer and co-breeder Brett Brinkman, Alva Starr made her graded stakes debut in the six-furlong Prioress and led all the way in posting an 8¾-length victory. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Alva Starr for the seven-furlong Raven Run and will exit post position 7.

Ladner and trainer and co-breeder Brett Brinkman have been down this road before. Two years ago, they came to Keeneland for the Raven Run with a filly they co-bred named Cilla, who had just posted a breakthrough Grade 2 victory in the Prioress.

Also in the field for the Lexus Raven Run are recent Grade 3 winners Lady Radler and Vahva.

Lady Radler posted a 23-1 upset in the seven-furlong Dogwood (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 23 for trainer Michael Campbell. Jesus Castanon has the mount for the Lexus Raven Run and will break from post position 8.

Vahva won the seven-furlong Charles Town Oaks (G3) as the favorite in her most recent start for trainer Cherie DeVaux. Vahva will be ridden by John Velazquez and break from post position 4.

Raven Run Entries

5:41 p.m. – Grade 3 Ontario Derby at Woodbine

OLG Canadian Triple Crown jewel winners Velocitor and Touch'n Ride are set to compete in the $150,000 Ontario Derby, which drew a field of 10 3-year-olds to go 1 1/8 miles on the Tapeta.

Kevin Attard trainee Velocitor will make his return to the track after winning the Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown at Fort Erie Race Track on September 12. Velocitor has a record of 4-1-1 from 10 starts. The son of Mor Spirit won the Coronation Futurity last November and ran fourth in The King's Plate ahead of his Prince of Wales win.

Twin City, Cool Kiss, Stanley House and Twowaycrossing join Velocitor and Touch'n Ride as horses racing in Saturday's Grade 3 Ontario Derby that competed in a leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. All six horses raced in two of the three legs of the Triple Crown.

Layne Giliforte trainee Touch'n Ride won the mile and a half Breeders' Stakes over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on October 1. Twowaycrossing is the only other starter in Saturday's Ontario Derby that ran in the Breeders'.

Ontario Derby Entries

Sunday

4:12 p.m. – Grade 3 Dowager Stakes at Keeneland

Vergara and Transient (GB), who ran 1-2 in the Aristocrat Ladies Marathon (G3) at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 9, headline a field of nine fillies and mares entered for the $300,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) to be run at 1½ miles on the grass.

Trained by Graham Motion, who has won the Dowager three times, Vergara prevailed by three-quarters of a length at Kentucky Downs to earn her first victory of 2023 from four races. Joel Rosario, who was aboard that day, retains the mount and will exit post position 3.

Motion will have a second starter in Team Valor International's Romagna Mia (GB). A Group 2 winner last year in Italy, Romagna Mia was third in the Beverly D. (G1) in her U.S. debut at Colonial Downs on Aug. 12. John Velazquez has the mount and will exit post 6.

Saffie Joseph Jr. trains Transient, who is three times graded-stakes placed in 2023. Tyler Gaffalione retains the mount and will break from post position 9.

Dowager Entries

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The world's richest turf race, the $20 million Everest, will go off at 1:15 a.m. (Eastern) on Saturday morning at Australia's Royal Randwick.

State-breds will be on display at multiple tracks this weekend as well.

Headlining the action at Laurel Park is Saturday's 1 1/8-mile Maryland Million Classic for 3-year-olds and up, the richest on a 12-race card featuring eight stakes and four starter stakes that comprise 'Maryland's Day at the Races,' celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

West Virginia-breds take center stage at Charles Town Saturday, with nine total stakes topped by the Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders' Classic.

Canadian-foaled 2-year-olds get their chance to shine Saturday in the 1 1/16-mile Cup and Saucer Stakes over the Woodbine turf course.

Also on Friday, 2-year-old Louisiana-breds will be in the spotlight with a pair of stakes races at Delta Downs.

Saturday

1:10 p.m. – Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes at Aqueduct

Grade 1-placed Irish-bred Be Your Best will look to return to winning form in the nine-furlong inner turf route for sophomore fillies. Trained by Horacio De Paz, the Muhaarar bay returns to New York following a runner-up effort on Aug. 19 in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.

Eternal Hope [post 7, Jamie Spencer] will face four returning rivals from her deep-closing score last out in the 11-furlong Grade 3 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational on September 16 here for trainer Charlie Appleby. The Teofilo chestnut was away last-of-7 under Jamie Spencer in the 11-furlong test and trailed as many as 23 lengths back before rallying six-wide down the lane to secure a neck score over Neecie Marie.

Neecie Marie [post 5, Abner Adorno] returns for another crack at Eternal Hope following her narrow miss last out after a ground-saving rally under returning rider Abner Adorno in the Jockey Club Oaks for trainer Butch Reid, Jr.

Others returning from the Jockey Club Oaks are fourth-place Highland Grace [post 8, Junior Alvarado] for trainer Barclay Tagg, fifth-place Quarrel [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche] for conditioner Robert Ribaudo, and the Jose Jimenez-trained pacesetter Stephanie's Charm [post 9, Jose Gomez], who will race with blinkers off.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will also send out a formidable pair of contenders looking to make the grade in dual Grade 3-placed Alpha Bella [post 10, Jose Ortiz] and Soviet Excess [post 1, Dylan Davis].

Sands Point Entries

5:10 p.m. – Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park

Ournationonparade will be chasing history in more ways than one when the 6-year-old gelding returns to make a title defense in the $150,000 Classic on the 38th Jim McKay Maryland Million Day. Ournationonparade, co-owned and trained by Jamie Ness, can become just the sixth horse to win the Classic in back-to-back years and the first since Admirals War Chest in 2015-16.

Seven rivals (plus three also-eligibles) are expected to face the defending Ournationonparade.

Maryland Million Classic Entries

5:16 p.m. – Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland

Mawj, a half-sister to champion and two-time Breeders' Cup winner Modern Games, headlines a field of 12 3-year-old fillies plus one also-eligible entered for the 40th running of the $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) to be contested at 1 1/8 miles over the Keeneland turf course.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Mawj will be making her North American debut in her first start since winning the Qipco One Thousand Guineas (G1) in May at Newmarket in England going a mile. She is undefeated in three races in 2023 with her first two victories coming at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates. Oisin Murphy has the mount on Mawj and will break from post 4.

Looming as a major threat to Mawj is Elusive Princess. Now trained by Arnaud Delacour, Elusive Princess cruised to a 3¼-length victory as the favorite in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G3) on Aug. 4 in her North American debut. Group 1-placed in Europe this spring, Elusive Princess will exit post 2 and be ridden by Flavien Prat.

Sunday

4:12 p.m. – Grade 2 Franklin Stakes at Keeneland

Caravel will attempt to become the second runner to win the $350,000 Franklin (G2) in consecutive years when she headlines a field of nine fillies and mares for the 5½-furlong turf sprint. Trained by Brad Cox, Caravel is perfect in three Keeneland starts with the initial victory coming in last year's Franklin. Following that triumph, she beat the boys in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and opened her 2023 campaign with a win over males in the Shakertown (G2). Regular rider Tyler Gaffalione has the mount and will break from post 1.

Leading the opposition to Caravel is Stonestreet Stables' Twilight Gleaming, a five-time stakes winner that includes a victory in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at Del Mar. Trained by Wesley Ward, Twilight Gleaming will be ridden by John Velazquez and break from post 4.

Franklin Entries

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