Steven Crist

We're 72 percent of the way through the 2010 calendar of U.S. Grade 1 stakes, with 81 declared official and 30 still to be run. Here are the results so far, and the remaining schedule: (Thanks as always for the sortable database of graded stakes at thoroughbredreport.com)

Here's the timetable for the 13 graded stakes, nine of them Grade 1's, being run around the country today on what amounts to an unofficial Breeders' Cup Preview Day. Three of the current four favorites for the BC Classic -- Zenyatta, Blame and Lookin at Lucky -- are in action today and heavily favored to win their final preps, with Quality Road training up to the race off his Woodward victory Sept. 4.  

Here are the lineups for Saturday's nine Grade 1 races, five at Belmont starting with the Vosburgh at 3:23 pm (all post times are Eastern time) and ending with the Jockey Club Gold Cup at 5:48 pm, followed by four at Hollywood starting with the Norfolk at 6:18 pm and ending with the Goodwood at 8:20 pm. The two columns following each horse's name are his her or her highest winning level and top Beyer Speed Figure:

On my previous half-dozen trips to Woodbone, which is in Etobicoke, Ontario on the outskirts of Toronto near the airport, I had  stayed at airport hotels near the track instead of in the heart of the city. This past weekend, I decided to be a more cosmopolitan traveller and stay in downtown Toronto. Big mistake.

The Breeders' Cup today announced the race schedules and betting menus for Nov. 5 and 6 at Churchill Downs, and there's a lot for horseplayers to like, particularly when it comes to betting minimums, guaranteed pools and even field size. As the charts below illustrate, trifectas, pick-3's and pick-4's will all be available in 50-cent minimums for the first time this year, and five pick-4 and pick-6 pools will be guaranteed at a total of $6 million. Also, all Breeders' Cup fields will accomodate up to 14 starters, whereas some races had been limited to 12 starters in the past: