Miss Temple City earns hard-fought victory in Matriarch

Miss Temple City rallied wide into the stretch of Sunday's Matriarch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, catching pacesetter Stays in Vegas and then just holding off the late-running Roca Rojo to score a nose win.

In Japan, Sound True put in his own furious late rally to take the Champions Cup (Jpn-G1), which was formerly known as the Japan Cup Dirt, at Chukyo Racecourse.

Fans can check out the photo gallery, with result charts, from Saturday's Claiming Crown at Gulfstream Park.

Jennifer Caldwell concluded her Eclipse Award choices with the sprinters.

Annals of Time captures first stakes win in Hollywood Derby

Annals of Time chose a good spot to earn his first stakes victory, taking the Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar by 1 1/2 lengths on Saturday. Also at the San Diego track, Vale Dori romped as the 1-2 favorite in the Bayakoa Handicap (G2).

At Aqueduct, Highway Star got up between rivals to captured the Go for Wand Handicap (G3).

U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) winner and Belmont Stakes (G1) third Lani will line up in the Champion Cup (Jpn-G1), formerly the Japan Cup Dirt, at Chukyo Racecourse on Sunday.

Jennifer Caldwell unveils her choices for champion turf male and female...and who shouldn't even be nominated.

Scott Shapiro analyzed Del Mar's closing-day Pick 6.

Penn Derby upgraded to Grade 1 for 2017

The American Graded Stakes Committee released its listing of U.S. Graded and Listed races for 2017 on Friday, with the biggest changes showing the Pennsylvania Derby upgraded to Grade 1 while the Wood Memorial and Blue Grass were both downgraded to Grade 2s.

Jennifer Caldwell had a tough time with one part of the juvenile championship titles of 2016 as she continues revealing her Eclipse Award nominees and picks.

Miss Temple City headlines Del Mar's closing-day Matriarch

Miss Temple City, who beat the boys twice in Grade 1s at Keeneland this year, tops a field of 12 entered for the closing-day feature of Del Mar's Bing Crosby Meet, Sunday's Matriarch Stakes (G1).

While Del Mar closes the door on 2016, Gulfstream Park kicks off its Championship Meet one day earlier with the 18th running of the Claiming Crown. Jennie Rees highlights some Kentucky-based runners who have a shot in the Claiming Crown.

Dick Powell looks at Aqueduct's main track, as well as touts Arrogate's talent, in this week's Handicapping Insights.

With the pre-release announcement that the Pennsylvania Derby is getting boosted to Grade 1 status for 2017, Ed DeRosa makes a case for moving the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) to Saratoga.

Jennifer Caldwell continues rolling out her nominees and picks for the 2016 Eclipse Awards with the sophomore division.

Paul Fishman proves victorious in the sixth annual TwinSpires Online Handicapping Championship.

Trio of graded stakes on tap Saturday

Del Mar and Aqueduct offer up the graded action for this weekend.

The California venue boasts two of the three Saturday graded events, with 12 entered in the Hollywood Derby (G1) and eight lining up in the Bayakoa Handicap (G2).

Seven distaffers will take their turn in the spotlight at Aqueduct on Saturday thanks to the Go for Wand Handicap (G3).

Jennifer Caldwell reveals her nominees, and choices, for Horse of the Year, older dirt male and older dirt female.

California Chrome to prep for Pegasus Cup at Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos will host the Winter Challenge on December 17, a 1 1/16-mile race intended to serve as California Chrome's prep for the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on January 28.

TwinSpires.com's Vance Hanson has some initial thoughts on his upcoming trip to Asia for the Hong Kong International Races on December 11.

Ed DeRosa has some helpful hints on how to beat the Turfway Park winter meet that begins Wednesday and runs through April 6, 2017.

Mutuel field favored in KDFW Pool 1

The mutuel field, or "All Other 3-Year-Olds," closed as the 6-5 favorite when Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) closed on Sunday. Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Classic Empire was the 6-1 choice among the individual interests and only other choice who closed at single-digit odds.

Midnight Storm was a runaway winner of the Native Diver Stakes (G3) while Term of Art proved best in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at Del Mar Sunday.

Kitasan Black wired the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) with jockey Yutaka Take aboard over the Tokyo turf on Sunday.

Mo Town, McCraken enter Kentucky Derby picture

Juveniles took center stage on Saturday across the country with five graded contests, both on dirt and turf, offered up as a post-Thanksgiving treat.

Mo Town and McCraken made the most noise by capturing the respective Remsen Stakes (G2) and Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) to thrown their hats into the Kentucky Derby (G1) ring. The fillies got in on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) fun when Miss Sky Warrior eked out a close win in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) and Farrell drew away to upset the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at 10-1.

Cross-country at Del Mar, Journey Home survived a rainstorm and wind-strewn debris on the turf course to take the Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3) for two-year-old fillies.

Connect added to the excitement by outdueling Divining Rod in the Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct while Ring Weekend just got up to score in the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) at Del Mar.

Kellie Reilly took a look at the home team, European threat and outsiders in Sunday's Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) at Tokyo.

Leading two-year-old Not This Time, a close second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), was unexpectedly retired on Monday to stand stud at Taylor Made Farm Monday after suffering a soft tissue injury. The colt was an immediate withdrawal from the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) Pool 1, which will be held November 24-27. The Mutual Field was made the 5-2 morning line favorite, followed by likely champion Classic Empire at 8-1.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager has Tapit as the 10-1 top individual choice. The wager will be offered only once, from November 24-27.

Gun Runner defeats elders to earn first Grade 1 win in Clark

Gun Runner seized the lead at the start and led wire to wire in Friday's Clark H. (G1) at Churchill Downs, notching his first Grade 1 tally with a 2 3/4-length triumph. Runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), the Steve Asmussen-trained sophomore colt was ridden by Florent Geroux.

Linda established herself as a turf filly to watch in the Mrs. Revere (G2) at Churchill Downs, turning back the rally of Harmonize in convincing fashion to register her first stakes victory.

Texas Ryano easily proved best in Friday's Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) at Del Mar, overhauling favored rival Ashleysluvssguar in upper stretch and drawing off to a 3 1/4-length decision.

Lady Fog Horn, Thatcher Street win Thanksgiving Day stakes

Lady Fog Horn and Thatcher Street posted minor upsets at Churchill Downs on Thursday, winning the $200,000 Falls City H. (G2) and $100,000 River City H. (G3) respectively. Lady Fog Horn, a six-time stakes winner in her native Indiana and the  Hoosier State's reigning Horse of the Year, registered her first graded victory when scoring by 1 1/2 lengths at 6-1. Thatcher Street, who re-rallied to the lead after being passed in upper stretch, notched his initial graded tally with a half-length decision at 7-1.

Nuovo Record rebounded from a disappointing performance in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), rallying to deny even-money favorite Arles by a nose in Thursday's $101,725 Red Carpet (G3) at Del Mar.

Claimed for $50,000 in late July and overlooked at 32-1 following an unplaced effort in a turf sprint, Heaven's Runway got up late to defeat 4-5 favorite Stallwalkin' Dude in Thursday's $200,000 Fall Highweight (G3) at Aqueduct.

Dick Powell handicaps Saturday's Remsen S. (G2), a Kentucky Derby qualifying race at Aqueduct, in Handicapping Insights.

Kentucky Derby points on the line in Kentucky Jockey Club, Remsen

Thanksgiving Saturday is a big day in American racing. At Churchill Downs, McCracken and Daddy's Lil Darling top their respective fields in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and Golden Rod (G2). Both are qualifiers as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks series.

Juveniles will also be in action at Aqueduct in other Derby and Oaks preps. Takaful will try and make it two-for-two in the Remsen (G2), while trainer Rudy Rodriguez has a three-pronged challenge in the Demoiselle (G2) for fillies.

The feature at Aqueduct on Saturday is the $500,000 Cigar Mile (G1), led by one-turn mile specialist Anchor Down and Pennsylvania Derby (G2) winner Connect. Lewis Bay heads the Comely (G3) for three-year-old fillies.

Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) runner-up Om head the field in the Seabiscuit H. (G2) at Del Mar, which also hosts the Jimmy Durante (G3) for juvenile fillies on the turf.

Clark Handicap draws salty field of 10

The $500,000 Clark H. (G1), the Black Friday feature at Churchill Downs, has come up salty with three-year-old Gun Runner challenging older rivals Noble Bird, Hoppertunity, Effinex, and Shaman Ghost.

James Scully gives his scouting report on each horse in Pool 1 of the 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW), while Ed DeRosa has some information you can use before betting the Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager.

Japanese invader Nuovo Record is looking to rebound from a lackluster Breeders' Cup try in the Red Carpet (G3) at Del Mar on Thanksgiving Day, while Ashleyluvssugar is the one to fear in Friday's Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) at the seaside course.

Not This Time retired, withdrawn from KDFW Pool 1

Leading two-year-old Not This Time, a close second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), was unexpectedly retired on Monday to stand stud at Taylor Made Farm Monday after suffering a soft tissue injury. The colt was an immediate withdrawal from the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) Pool 1, which will be held November 24-27. The Mutual Field was made the 5-2 morning line favorite, followed by likely champion Classic Empire at 8-1.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager has Tapit as the 10-1 top individual choice. The wager will be offered only once, from November 24-27.

Thanksgiving Day brings great racing at Churchill Downs, with Include Betty and The Pizza Man the respective top weights in the $200,000 Falls City H. (G3) and $100,000 River City H. (G3).

At Aqueduct on Turkey Day, Stallwalkin' Dude will be favored to take the venerable Fall Highweight H. (G3) under a 134-pound impost, while Green Gratto seeks to become the first male every to win the century-old race twice.

On Thanksgiving Eve, racing fans can feast on lots of stakes action at Zia Park and Penn National.

From the weekend, Kellie Reilly recapped the final local preps for the Hong Kong International Races, as well as Mastery's comfortable victory in the Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar.

Gunnevera, Shane's Girlfriend win impressively at Delta Downs

Gunnevera made a sweeping move to the lead around the final turn and drove home a 5 3/4 length winner of the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (G3) on Saturday. It was the second graded win of the season for the Dialed In colt, who previously captured the Saratoga Special (G2) and earned 10 qualifying points toward 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) eligibility for his Jackpot victory.

Earlier in the card, Shane's Girlfriend romped to a stakes-record 13 1/4-length win in the $400,000 Delta Downs Princess (G3), setting a new stakes mark of 1:37.98 for one mile.

Elsewhere on the racing front, Ivan Fallunovalot zoomed home to take the $250,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) at Laurel under Calvin Borel, while down in South Carolina the final Grade 1 hurdle of the season, the Colonial Cup, was won by Top Striker by more than 10 lengths over presumptive champion Rawnaq.

Likely champion older male California Chrome turned in his first workout since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) two weeks ago on Saturday at Los Alamitos, which might card a special Pegasus World Cup (G1) prep for the five-year-old on December 17.

Kellie Reilly previews the final local preps for the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin, which will be held in the early hours of Sunday morning U.S. time.

Rawnaq trying to wrap up championship honors in Colonial Cup

Rawnaq is seeking to wrap up an Eclipse Award as champion steeeplechaser with a win in the Colonial Cup (NSA-G1) at Camden on Saturday.

Ed DeRosa takes a look at picks and plays for the Delta Downs Jackpot as well as Laurel Park's Frank J. De Francis Dash Stakes on Saturday.

Kentucky Derby, Oaks tickets for sale online

General admission tickets to the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) are now available for online purchase at special pricing through December 31.

Dick Powell revisited the 2016 Breeders' Cup, offering up a few of his post-race impressions on the runners, in this week's Handicapping Insights.

De Francis Dash headlines Laurel's Fall Festival of Racing

Laurel Park plays host the Fall Festival of Racing on Saturday featuring seven stakes including the Frank J. De Francis Dash, which has been reinstated as a Grade 3 contest this year.

Margaret Ransom was honored with the Stan Bergstein Writing Award on Wednesday from Team Valor.

Ron Flatter made a case for Songbird to be a Horse of the Year nominee.

Things to look for as Fair Grounds meet on the horizon

With Fair Grounds' lengthy 2016-17 meet opening Saturday, Ed DeRosa reminds prospective bettors to respect speed and the rail on the main track at the New Orleans course, among other things.

Did racing's long-term popularity take a hit with allegedly limited coverage during television's golden age? Vance Hanson has discovered some truths about racing's presence on the tube and suggests the issue is a bit more complicated.

Juveniles compete for $1.4 million in Delta Downs Jackpot, Princess

The $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (G3), won last year by eventual classic winner Exaggerator, tops a lucrative card at the Louisiana track on Saturday. A competitive field of 10 is led by Saratoga Special (G2) winner Gunnevera.

Earlier in the card, Golden Mischief tops a 10-filly field in the $400,000 Delta Downs Princess (G3), a race won in recent years by turf star Tepin and fellow champion Take Charge Brandi.

Hay Dakota upsets Commonwealth Turf at 29-1

Hay Dakota came flying down the center of Churchill Downs' grass on Saturday to upset the Commonwealth Turf (G3) at 29-1.

Bigger Picture also proved best at a price, though not 29-1, at Aqueduct earlier in the day. The 9-1 shot scored in the Red Smith Handicap (G3) to earn his first stakes win.

Also at Aqueduct, Sticksstatelydude led throughout to take the $150,000 Discovery (G3) for three-year-olds.

In his final Horse of the Year commentary, Vance Hanson notes the disconnect between success in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and winning various Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year, since 2010.

Pre-race data foretold Arrogate's Classic win

Dick Powell believes Arrogate's Breeders' Cup Classic victory was very predictable based on the information provided ahead of the race.

Sir Dudley Digges, hero of the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Queen's Plate, returns against 10 rivals on Saturday at Churchill Downs in the Commonwealth Turf (G3). The Mike Maker-trained three-year-old hasn't been seen in competition since finishing second in the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the August 21 Breeders' Stakes, on Woodbine's turf.

Aqueduct plays host to a pair of graded contests on Saturday. The Red Smith H. (G3) drew a dozen, including one main-track only entrant, and the Discovery S. (G3) features 11 sophomores.

Sir Dudley Digges tops Commonwealth Turf

Sir Dudley Digges, hero of the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Queen's Plate, returns against 10 rivals on Saturday at Churchill Downs in the Commonwealth Turf (G3). The Mike Maker-trained three-year-old hasn't been seen in competition since finishing second in the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the August 21 Breeders' Stakes, on Woodbine's turf.

Aqueduct plays host to a pair of graded contests on Saturday. The Red Smith H. (G3) drew a dozen, including one main-track only entrant, and the Discovery S. (G3) features 11 sophomores.

Recaps, thoughts and opinions from the two-day Breeders' Cup

The Breeders Cup news and notes blog features recaps from all 13 races, transcripts from the post-race interviews as well as thoughts and opinions following the championship event.

Ron Flatter was full of praise for Highland Reel and Queen's Trust after the duo captured the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), respectively.

Arrogate runs down California Chrome in thrilling 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic

Arrogate rallied to catch California Chrome in the shadow of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) wire on Saturday at Santa Anita Park to wrap up three-year-old champion honors and put himself in the running for Horse of the Year. The lightly raced sophomore also handed trainer Bob Baffert his third consecutive win in the Classic.

Coolmore's Highland Reel wired the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) under a brilliant front-running ride by Seamie Heffernan, defeating Flintshire and turning the tables on defending champion Found. In the process, Aidan O'Brien inched closer to Bobby Frankel's single-season record of 25 Group 1 wins.

The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) also went the way of Europe, as Sir Michael Stoute's Queen's Trust nipped fan favorite Lady Eli in stakes-record time. Frankie Dettori then delivered his trademark flying dismount from the Cheveley Park homebred.

The United States struck back in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), with the Bill Mott-trained Tourist upsetting defending champion Tepin, also in stakes-record time. The WinStar homebred benefited from a superb trip orchestrated by Joel Rosario.

Baffert had celebrated a win earlier on the card with another lightly raced sophomore, Drefong, who conquered the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). And among the distaff speedsters, Finest City dethroned Wavell Avenue in the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Classic Empire gutted out a close decision in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) over Not This Time to stamp himself the presumptive two-year-old champion male. Champagne Room upset the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at 33-1 to kick off the Breeders' Cup Saturday action with a bang.

Obviously was making his fifth Breeders' Cup appearance on Saturday and finally earned a win in the Championships when taking the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

For all the Breeders' Cup news, notes, photos, recaps and transcripts for the Classic, Mile, Turf, Sprint, Filly & Mare Sprint, Juvenile, Juvenile Fillies and Turf Sprint, check out the Breeders' Cup News & Notes blog.

Commenting on the Eclipse Awards picture in the aftermath of Breeders' Cup 2016, Vance Hanson contends that Arrogate is a worthy Horse of the Year, while Ed DeRosa counters that California Chrome's overall CV makes the Horse of the Year race debatable.

Earlier on Saturday came the news that Shaman Ghost was out of the Classic with a fever, and Kellie Reilly filed another edition of Breeders' Cup pedigree fun facts.

Beholder noses out Songbird in Breeders' Cup Distaff

Ed DeRosa compared Beholder's win in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) over Songbird to the Cubs' victory in the World Series over the Indians.

There was an upset in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), as the 11-1 Tamarkuz outkicked Gun Runner, leaving 3-5 favorite Dortmund back in fourth.

Oscar Performance and New Money Honey prevailed in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) off easy Grade 3 triumphs in New York.

The connections of Beholder, Tamarkuz, Oscar Performance and New Money Honey all had plenty to say in the post-Breeders' Cup race press conferences.

In his wrap-up of Breeders' Cup Friday, Scott Shapiro analyzed how Santa Anita's surfaces were playing, and determined that both dirt and turf were fair to all running styles. Vance Hanson reviewed Breeders' Cup Friday.

Looking ahead to Saturday, James Scully offered his Pick 4 plays as well as his best bets in the Breeders' Cup, Shapiro mapped out the Pick 5, and Hanson discussed the Late Pick 4 on Breeders' Cup Saturday.

On the pedigree front, Kellie Reilly has an overview of the notable stallions represented in Breeders' Cup 2016, along with pedigree fun facts.

Jennie Rees talked about the "ultimate experience" Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) runner Spelling Again is giving her owner as well as Miss Temple City facing off against her "good friend" Tepin in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

Lord Nelson scratched from Breeders' Cup Sprint, retired

Lord Nelson, the 5-2 second favorite on the morning-line for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), has been withdrawn from that Saturday contest after being treated with antibiotics for an infection. He's been retired to Spendthrift Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.

European invader Suedois was also scratched from the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) due to a stress fracture.

Songbird will attempt to join Personal Ensign and Zenyatta as an undefeated Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner on Friday.

Kellie Reilly revealed her rooting interests for Breeders' Cup 2016 while Jennifer Caldwell unveiled a profile for Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner Yellow Agate.

Jennie Rees talked about Daddys Lil Darling, Lull and Limousine Liberal.

John Mucciolo gave out some live longshots for Breeders' Cup Saturday, Dick Powell discussed betting strategy for the the 2016 Breeders' Cup and James Scully talked up his Breeders' Cup Friday Pick 4 plays.

Scott Shapiro divulged his best longshot of the Breeders' Cup as well as his choices for the Players' Pick 5 on Breeders' Cup Friday.

Breeders' Cup Picks and Profiles

Jennie Rees took a look at Tom's Ready and I'm a Chatterbox.

Jennifer Caldwell analyzed the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, specifically Valadorna, Jamyson 'n Ginger, Dancing Rags, Daddys Lil Darling and With Honors.

Vance Hanson gave out his picks for Breeders' Cup Friday and talked about the historical significance of this year's Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

Ed DeRosa discussed strategies for improving big event racing wager ROI and compared the World Series to the Breeders' Cup.

Tim Quek has an eye on the 2017 Kentucky Derby and which Breeders' Cup Juvenile runners might make that field.

Scott Shapiro identified several factors that could come into play for this weekend's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park.

Handicapping the Breeders' Cup in full swing

The TwinSpires.com crew get to work handicapping this year's Breeders' Cup, with John Mucciolo calling the Distaff (G1) the race of the year and giving the nod to Tamarkuz in the Dirt Mile (G1).

Scott Shapiro looks back to Monday's post draw and gives his opinion on the winners and losers.

James Scully notes speed is common trait in three horses he expects to outrun their odds this weekend.

Vance Hanson has three turf longshots he'll be looking to boost exotic payoffs on Saturday's card.

Kellie Reilly's final Breeders' Cup International profiles cover reigning Breeders' Cup winners Found and Hit It a Bomb.

Be sure to check out our Breeders' Cup News & Notes page for a compendium of news, opinion, and profiles.

Breeders' Cup post positions and draw quotes

On Monday the fields were set for 2016 Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will take place Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

The Breeders' Cup Classic drew 10, with California Chrome made the morning-line even-money favorite, while Songbird was made the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the eight-horse field in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

The connections discussed the Breeders' Cup draw afterward.

Kellie Reilly analyzed both the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint -- Washington DC, Suedois, Karar, Home of the Brave -- and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf -- Spain Burg, Roly Poly, Intricately, Hydrangea, Cavale Doree, Madam Dancealot,  in her latest round of Breeders' Cup international profiles.

Vance Hanson took a look at Monday night's Melbourne Cup in Australia.

Gun Runner likely headed for Dirt Mile

Gun Runner worked four furlongs in :48.80 on Sunday, and afterward his connections revealed the chestnut will likely be entered in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Carina Mia also took to the track on Sunday, working a half-mile in :47.60 to ready for next Saturday's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Kellie Reilly rolled out another group of profiles on international runners taking part in the Breeders' Cup -- Cougar Mountain, Dutch Connection, Spectre, Alice Springs and Limato.

James Scully discussed why he believes Valadorna will improve in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).