TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Mission: Complete A first-rate effort from First Mission in Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) propelled the hard-nosed 5-year-old over $2 million in lifetime earnings. Slotted into post three, the 6-5 closing line choice hovered...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Fantastic Four There’s a ‘Final Four’ feel with Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at, you guessed it, Oaklawn Park. The quartet responsible for providing that energy consists of 2-1 opening line favorite First Mission,...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   What Else is New? Thorpedo Anna made things interesting in Saturday afternoon’s $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) when she looked unhurried leaving the gate. That, however, was the extent of the intrigue, as the reigning Horse of the Year...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   A Worthy Endeavour Where’s My Ring isn’t just a question Chris Paul asks himself in the mirror, it’s also the name of the 4-year-old filly with the best chance to dethrone Thorpedo Anna in Saturday’s $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Extra, Effort! While it wasn’t the open-and-shut case his trainer Michael McCarthy may have hoped for, Journalism still penned a satisfying ending to Saturday’s $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1). After getting off to a slower than usual start...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Blue Chip Blue Grass A $750,000 top prize and up to 200 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points are up for grabs this Tuesday in the $1.25 million Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. While heavy rains moved Keeneland’s bustling Saturday card to...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Sweet Dreams Sandman entered Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park with $444,595 to his name and exited $810,000 richer after an impressive 2 ½-length score. Slotted into post six as the third choice in the field of nine,...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Take My Hand Sandman enters Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) hoping to break through at the graded level. Taking to Oaklawn Park, the site of his last three starts and two of four graded stakes attempts, Enter Sandman has made...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   ‘Tiz the Time Tiztastic stunned his foes and Fair Grounds’ Saturday afternoon crowd with a brilliant 2 ¼-length victory in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G1). Closing as the field of 10’s fifth choice, Tiztastic, at 7-1, showed incredible...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Keep Those Options Open Let’s try this again… In last week’s edition of WOT, we wrote about undefeated colt John Hancock’s prospects of remaining perfect in the $500,000 Virginia Derby. But, as we all know, plans change. The Brad Cox charge...