TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Give Me a Break   After a string of five straight scoreless outings, Taxed eyes a much-needed break in the $150,000 Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn Park.   While the winner’s circle has been elusive for the 5-year-old mare in recent months, Taxed...

LOUISIANA – By Ed DeRosa   The “Horse of the Year” race will not be much of a race once the announcement is made and vote totals are known. Thorpedo Anna will win by a Secretariat-like margin and be 2024 Horse of the Year on the strength of five Grade 1 wins...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   More in Store   A noble effort from Barnes in the $200,000 San Vincente (G2) netted the lightly raced youngster ‘graded stakes winner status’ in his first test at the level.   The feature tilt on Santa Anita’s Saturday card went as...

CALIFORNIA — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight Race:  $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Santa Ynez Stakes, 7 furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita Park.   Date:  Sunday, January 5 (Race 7, 5:36 pm ET ).   What to do with a $20 Bet : $20 to win on A.Z. Wildcat   The...

CALIFORNIA — By Ed DeRosa   The stakes double on Saturday at Santa Anita Park features a juxtaposition of sorts as Triple Crown hopefuls take to the track for the San Vicente Stakes while older female sprinters feature in the Los Flores Stakes.   Racing Hall of Fame...

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...

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 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...