OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Danny Gargan sent out a couple of good-looking 2-year-old colts to debut victories at Saratoga this summer and, at one time, both were being considered for starts in graded stakes this fall.

But Golden Tornado, whose race has since produced three next-out winners, has been sidelined with bucked shins, so Talkin will carry the banner for Gargan and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While Royal Testament spent the summer racing out of town, it’s not because trainer George Weaver didn’t believe the 2-year-old filly was good enough to compete in New York. It’s more about how the calendar came up.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Chaos seemed to be part of Reef Runner’s brief career in California, which consisted of the final Saturday of August at Del Mar and on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Reef Runner, typically based at Gulfstream Park with trainer David Fawkes, was disqualified from first and placed second in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 30. With the demotion, Reef Runner lost a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 1.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 22nd, 23rd, and 24th graded stakes wins of 2025 for trainer Bob Baffert occurred at Santa Anita over the weekend with some results that were hard to forecast.

While Cavalieri overcame a troubled start to win Sunday’s Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares as the 7-10 favorite and secure a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 1, wins by Nevada Beach at 8-1 in Saturday’s Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes, and Imagination at 5-1 in Sunday’s Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship were surprises.

Corningstone, reasonably priced at 1-5, somehow managed to lose the Cardinal Handicap during the first week of October 2024 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The Cardinal has a different name this year, the Piedi Bianchi, but bettors, same as last year, figure to put their faith in Corningstone on Wednesday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Phillip My Wine has reached full bloom since joining trainer Mark Casse’s Woodbine barn, and he will be favored while making a subtle drop in class in Thursday’s headliner.

Phillip My Wine defeated Ontario-sired maidens off an 11-month layoff when going 6 1/2 furlongs on the grass in his May 30 seasonal bow. Two weeks later, the 4-year-old led until late stretch when second in an Ontario-sired nonwinners-of-two main turf sprint.

Heading toward the final big state showcase program of the season, reigning Ohio-bred horse of the year Generous Lover gets a chance for one more prep Thursday as she headlines the field in the $75,000 Greg Veit Scarlet and Gray Stakes for Ohio-bred fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs at Thistledown.