NEW ORLEANS — By Ed DeRosa What you do with #5 Hidden Connection in the Joseph E. “Spanky” Broussard Memorial Stakes depends on what you make of her last race. The Connect filly, who nearly upset champion Echo Zulu in the Fair Grounds Oaks last year, was given a 3-1 chance to...

TORONTO — By Chris Lomon Spotlight race: $100,000 King Glorious Stakes (Race 12)    Date:  Sunday, December 17th at 4:27pm PT / 7:27pm ET)    Why to watch:  The 10-horse field presents a wide-open affair with several contenders vying for top prize.    Who to watch in the King...

KENTUCKY — By Ed DeRosa We here at Railbirds love picking winners. Reading that, you might be saying to yourself, “Self, if they love picking winners so much then why don’t they do more of it?” Well, I’m here to tell you that something we love even more than picking winners is...

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 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...

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...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon Hooked on a Feeling It may have taken a few tries, but once Millie Girl got her first taste of graded stakes glory, she couldn’t let the feeling go. The 5-year-old won her second career graded bout, and second in a row, this past Saturday at Woodbine....

TORONTO — By Chris Lomon Spotlight race: $100,000 Lake Ontario Stakes Date: Friday, November 10 (Race 7) Why to watch: The Ontario Sired Heritage Series final for 3-year-old colts & geldings features some impressive local talent. Who to watch in the Lake Ontario: #1 Souped...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon Let’s Try this Again What was the difference between first and second place the last time Transient (GB) squared off with Vergara? Three-quarters of a length. That’s about the same as two yards on a football field or the width of an NHL hockey net....

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon Déjà vu On September 16, Eternal Hope (IRE) bested Neecie Marie to take home the $350,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3) at Belmont. The duo met again at Belmont nearly one month later for the 26th running of the Sands Point Stakes (G2) and...