TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   When There’s Sparks… Get Smokin has seen a thing or two across 32 starts, five graded stakes wins, and over $2.1 million in total purse earnings. But one thing the mighty 8-year-old hasn’t seen is the winner’s circle after the Eclipse Stakes...

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   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   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...

CALIFORNIA — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight Race:  $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes, 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf for Golden State Series Eligible California Bred Or California Sired Fillies And Mares Four Year Olds And Upward.   Date:  Sunday, March 16 (Race 8,...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Quantifiable Results   Tejano Twist has accomplished many things over his spectacular 38-start career, including reaching double-digit wins (10) and surpassing the $1.5 million career purse earnings mark.   However, the title of ‘multiple...

CALIFORNIA — By Chris Lomon   Spotlight Race:  $100,000 Pasadena Stakes, one mile on the turf for 3-year-olds   Date:  Sunday, March 9 (Race 9, 7:30 pm ET )   What to do with a $20 Bet : $2 exacta box: #2 Shea Brennan, #7 Will Then, #8 Tiz Secure $8 to win on #7...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   A busy but fulfilling eight-start sophomore campaign earned Tarifa a few months of down time before her 2025 debut, which comes this Saturday in the $300,000 Beholder Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.   The three-time graded stakes winning filly...

FLORIDA — By Ed DeRosa   With apologies to Tampa Bay Downs announcer Jason Beem for completely and shamelessly stealing his line, we’re in for another “Titanic tussle in Tampa” when the starter springs the latch on this year’s Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday.   I feel...