The Brad Cox stable continued its recent cleanup of lucrative worldwide dirt stakes for older horses when First Mission rallied in between rivals in the stretch to take the $1.25 million Oaklawn H. (G2) on Saturday.

After a dull effort in her season debut in mid-January, the managers at Calumet Farm transferred the four-year-old filly Gin Gin from Brad Cox to Brendan Walsh in the hopes he could answer a lingering question: Did Gin Gin still want to be a racehorse?

One of the highlights of Skippylongstocking's 2024 campaign, a victory in the Oaklawn H. (G2), might be one this year, too, if the six-year-old veteran gets home on top in Saturday's renewal of the $1.25 million feature over 1 1/8 miles.

Placings behind the Horse of the Year in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) were solid showings for Candied, who makes her season return Friday in the $350,000 Doubledogdare (G3) at Keeneland.

Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna notched her sixth career Grade 1 victory in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.

If his performance in Friday's $552,013 Maker's Mark Mile (G1) is any indication of what to expect the rest of the season from Carl Spackler, the rest of the turf miler division will have a hard time keeping up.

From a depth perspective, Saturday's $1.25 million Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park appears about the same as its local prep, the Azeri (G2), was on March 8.

An ill-timed loss in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) last November likely cost Carl Spackler a championship among the turf male set, but it's that quality that makes him especially dangerous on Friday in the $650,000 Maker's Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

Burnham Square, a pleasant surprise who keeps on giving, confirmed his spot in next month's Kentucky Derby (G1) by winning the $1,225,625 Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland on Tuesday.

Upsets were prominent on Tuesday's Blue Grass Day undercard at Keeneland, the biggest being Positano Sunset's 14-1 surprise over the favorite Emery in the $623,338 Madison (G1) for fillies and mares.

All went according to connections' plan for La Cara in the $742,782 Ashland (G1) at Keeneland on Monday.

The expectation that Saturday's $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) would yield the likely favorite for next month's Kentucky Derby (G1) came to fruition when Journalism followed up his last-out win in the San Felipe (G2) with a come-from-behind score in the 1 1/8-mile test.

The California form heading into the Kentucky Derby (G1) was flattered in New York on Saturday when Rodriguez gave nine rivals the slip in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.

An unusual start to the 2025 spring meet at Keeneland begins Sunday, the first of eight consecutive days of racing at the Lexington, Ky., plant after an inordinate amount of rain pelted the region this week and forced officials to postpone cards scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

A days-long wet weather system forecast to affect central Kentucky this weekend could wreak havoc on Keeneland's signature program of the spring meet on Saturday, in particular the two stakes scheduled for the turf.

White Abarrio, a justifiable 1-20 favorite in the $150,000 Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, shook clear of filly rival Power Squeeze at the top of the stretch and won comfortably by 5 1/4 lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr.

There are no sure things in racing, but bettors shouldn't be given too much flak for thinking and behaving accordingly about White Abarrio in the $165,000 Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

The biggest and brightest stages have not generally been kind to Saudi Crown, who nonetheless has bankrolled more than $3.2 million in earnings. However, Saturday's $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) appears to be one of those spots the Grade 1 veteran can shine in.

The Steve Asmussen stable's prospects for the Kentucky Derby (G1) took a serious hit last month after Magnitude was sidelined following a dynamic victory in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds. They were revived to an extent on Saturday when Tiztastic confirmed his participation in the Churchill Downs classic with a 2 1/4-length win in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2).

Good Cheer's status as the undefeated Kentucky Oaks (G1) favorite remained unchanged on Saturday after the Godolphin homebred went about her business in the $396,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2).