Fri, 10/24/2025 - 10:32

Razor-sharp Awesome Bourbon takes on graded winner Cruden Bay in Overskate

Awesome Bourbon (No. 4) beats Monterey Bay0 at WO Aug 16 2025
Julie Wright
Awesome Bourbon has won three straight races and four of her last five. She finished a close third in the Overskate a year ago.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Sunday’s $100,000 Overskate Stakes features an intriguing matchup between Awesome Bourbon and Cruden Bay. They have taken different paths to this 7 1/2-furlong inner turf event for Ontario-sired stock, and Awesome Bourbon could go favored under Woodbine’s leading rider, Rafael Hernandez.

Thu, 10/23/2025 - 14:50

Breeders' Cup: After a slow start to the year, Pletcher set up for a big finish

Todd Pletcher April 26 2025
Barbara D. Livingston
Todd Pletcher’s 3-year-olds didn’t perform up to expectations this year, but he brings four strong older horses to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

In a year where he was a rare non-factor in the 3-year-old division, trainer Todd Pletcher surprisingly finds himself in contention for a record-extending ninth Eclipse Award as champion trainer on the strength of an older male division and a 2-year-old class that brings him to the Breeders’ Cup with several live chances.

It’s a position he couldn’t fathom after the first six months of the year, when he won just six graded stakes, three of which were Grade 1s.

Thu, 10/23/2025 - 14:17

Joseph, Maker like their chances in pair of New York-bred juvenile stakes

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Bravaro earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure for his debut win.

It can be hard to assess the strength of juvenile maidens coming out of flashy debut victories, but trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has several reasons to believe that Bravaro will be a deserving favorite in the $200,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday.

“He was very impressive first time out,” Joseph said. “He sat behind horses, and once he was able to get room, he finished off the race well. So he’s stretching out to a mile, and I think it should work in his favor.”

Thu, 10/23/2025 - 14:06

Sir Bahjy sitting on big race for Garcia in Unreachable Star

Coady Media
Trainer Genaro Garcia likes how Sir Bahjy is coming into the Unreachable Star.

The improving Sir Bahjy and the streaking Mackadoo will clash Saturday in the $250,000 Unreachable Star, the richest of four Thoroughbred stakes on the card at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The races are restricted to Indiana-breds by registered Indiana stallions and are worth a total of $650,000. There also are two $55,000 overnight stakes for Thoroughbreds on the card and six stakes for Quarter Horses.

Thu, 10/23/2025 - 13:31

Maker looking for bounce backs from My Mane Squeeze, The Wine Steward

Barbara D. Livingston
My Mane Squeeze will start in Saturday's Iroquois at Aqueduct before being entered in the Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Trainer Mike Maker is looking for similar bounce-back efforts from two runners in a pair of $200,000 statebred stakes on Empire Showcase Day at Aqueduct. My Mane Squeeze will return from a two-month layoff in the Iroquois, while The Wine Steward will switch back to dirt with a strong chance in the Hudson.

Missouri Sports Betting: Legal Updates & Future MO Sportsbooks

Missouri sports betting will begin in December, giving residents and guests of the Show Me State the opportunity to utilize online sportsbooks for the first time.

Although sports betting in Missouri is legal, sportsbooks are not quite live. However, the MO sports betting market is quickly taking shape with more sportsbooks being approved for operation.

As the Missouri sports betting launch date approaches, here are key dates, updates, and sportsbook announcements to be aware of.

Thu, 10/23/2025 - 13:02

De Paz carries season-long success into Empire Showcase Day

Barbara D. Livingston
Twenty Six Black enters the New York Turf Sprint Championship off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Championship.

Trainer Horacio De Paz has enjoyed a nice year with his New York-bred turf division, and Saturday’s Empire Showcase Day gives the stable one more opportunity for more stakes success in 2025.

DePaz has strong contenders in all three of the $200,000 statebred turf stakes being run Saturday – Twenty Six Black in the inaugural New York Turf Sprint Championship, Sounds Like a Plan in the the Mohawk for males, and Awesome Czech in the Ticonderoga for females.

Thu, 10/23/2025 - 12:51

Lynch, Pletcher send fillies south for Our Dear Peggy Stakes

Miss Picky wins maiden at SAR Aug 29 2025
Barbara D. Livingston
Miss Picky wins at Saratoga. She tired in the Miss Grillo but is in an easier spot on Saturday.

It will be several weeks before trainers Brian Lynch and Todd Pletcher ship the bulk of their stables south for the winter. But the two northern-based horsemen have sent in a couple of promising 2-year-old fillies likely to vie for favoritism going a mile on turf Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the $75,000 Our Dear Peggy Stakes.

Lynch will be represented in the Our Dear Peggy by the undefeated Storm’s Wake. Pletcher will counter with Miss Picky, who gets some class relief after finishing a tiring 10th earlier this month in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo at Aqueduct.