TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon Going the Distance It wasn’t exactly a knockout performance from Butterbean, but the filly did just enough to hold on for a half-length win in Saturday’s $150,000 Mistletoe Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred closed with the...

TORONTO — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight race: $100,000 purse Steady Growth Stakes     Date:  Sunday, December 10 (Race 8)    Why to watch:  The competitive race, showcasing 11 starters, is the final stakes event of the 2023 Woodbine thoroughbred season.    Who to watch in...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon Stakes Winner Showdown Los Alamitos Race Course is set to host the $200,000 Starlet Stakes (G2) on Saturday afternoon. Stakes winners Chatalas (2-1) and Nothing Like You (9-5) head what’s expected to be a small field of 2-year-old fillies vying for...

LOUISIANA — By Ed DeRosa The largest purse on Louisiana Champions Day slate is the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes. However, the most lucrative races for bettors might be later on the card. The Classic drew just a field of six horses and is scheduled as Race 5...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon Dancin’ Down the Line Frac Dancer made it clear who was in the lead this past Saturday’s Clarendon Stakes at Woodbine. Sent off at 3-1, the 2-year-old colt held the top position from gate to wire to capture the $150,000 affair by a neck over 9-5...

TORONTO — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight race: $150,000 purse Valedictory Stakes (G3)     Date:  Sunday, December 3 (Race 7)    Why to watch:  The 1 ½-mile Tapeta race has attracted 14 hopefuls, a mix of frontrunners, stalkers, and late-closing types.    Who to watch in the...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon Mischievous Mile Everso Mischievous’ connections have sparked victory cigars at Aqueduct once this year, and they’ll have the chance to do it again in the $500,000 Cigar Mile. Coming off a narrow half-length win in the one-mile Forty Niner Stakes on...

NEW YORK — By Ed DeRosa A trio of horses exiting two very different types of races will “meet in the middle” and face nine others in a competitive Cigar Mile on Saturday at Aqueduct. Leading the dozen is multiple graded stakes winner Senor Buscador, last seen finishing...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon Golden Opportunity This Saturday, historic Churchill Downs in Kentucky will play host to a top-flight event for 2-year-old fillies. The $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) presents a stiff challenge for the group of eight youngsters, but three stand out...

NEW ORLEANS — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight race: $200,000 “Thanksgiving Classic Stakes” at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, LA.     Date:  Thursday, November 23 (Race 9)    Why to watch:  The six-furlong dirt race for 3-year-olds and up has some intriguing...