TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Red Hot Coal   On a run of two straight stakes wins, Coal Battle (9-2) enters the $250,000 Smarty Jones with no intentions of slowing down.   A pair of impressive, and strikingly similar performances in the Remington Springboard Mile (hard...

FLORIDA — By Sean Collins   Eight grade 1 winners received invitations to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25, including 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan  and 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner White Abarrio ....

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   A Roaring Success   Mufasa (CHI) claimed his spot atop the throne with a lionhearted effort in Saturday’s $165,000 Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream Park.   Squaring off against overwhelming 2-5 favorite and 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)...

NEW YORK — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight Race:  $150,000 Queens County Stakes, 1 1/8 miles on the main track   Date: Sunday, December 29 (Race 8, 3:35 pm ET )   What to do with a $20 Bet: $10 to win, $5 to place, and $5 to show on #7 Law Professor    The Reason: This...

CALIFORNIA — By Ed DeRosa   The downhill turf course at Santa Anita Park is one of the more unique race configurations in North America with its big sweeping turn going downhill before crossing over the main track for a blitz toward the finish.   It is that course...

CALIFORNIA — By Ed DeRosa   The limb I am going out on to say that the Frankel Stakes on Friday at Santa Anita Park is a three-horse race is more a full on branch than a twig, but eliminating more than half the field has some merit, and there are other clues to point...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   A Year to…   Although White Abarrio’s 2024 season has been a far cry from his brilliant 2023 campaign, the 5-year-old can end the year on a high note with a proper showing in this Saturday’s $165,000 Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream Park....

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Ten Hut!   Both Major Dude (2-1) and Fort Washington (11-1) put forth a valiant effort in Saturday’s $215,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2T) at Gulfstream Park, but only one left the 1 1/8-mile battle victorious.   A neck’s distance ended up being...

FLORIDA — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight Race:  $65,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 1/16 miles on the turf   Date: Sunday, December 22nd (Race 10, 4:55 pm ET )   What to do with a $20 Bet : $10 to win, $5 to place, and $5 to show on #10 Zenith   The Reason: In a race with...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   I’ll be Transparent…   Win for the Money’s intentions are clear ahead of this Saturday’s $215,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2T) at Gulfstream Park.   While the 5-year-old gelding failed to live up to his name last time out with a 10th-place finish...