Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. teamed up to turn a big-race double on Memorial Day at Santa Anita.

The adjective in his name fits Formidable Man, who figures to be a shorter price than usual in search of his fourth career graded stakes triumph Monday in the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.

Michael Ryan’s homebred Be Your Best extended her winning streak to three in Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The 1 1/16-mile companion race for turf distaffers has an even more international vibe, albeit through the presence of high-powered imports rather than any foreign raiders.

CJ Thoroughbreds’ Hang the Moon is getting the hang of pulling upsets in major turf races.

Unlike the Just a Game (G1) with its overrepresentation of Chad Brown runners, Friday’s other major event for turf distaffers at Saratoga, the $750,000 New York (G1), boasts a much more varied field of 13.

On a stakes-packed Sunday afternoon at Santa Anita, Newgate capped off a big day for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and legendary jockey Frankie Dettori, battling gamely to win the $400,000 Santa Anita H. (G1).

The graded stakes action at Santa Anita got off to a formful start on Tuesday, courtesy of odds-on favorites Anisette and Easter, respectively, in the $300,000 American Oaks (G1) and $200,500 San Gabriel (G2).

As the region braces for Hurricane Hilary, a more benevolent force of nature blew through Del Mar on Saturday – 4-5 favorite Anisette, who stormed from last to first in the Del Mar Oaks (G1).

One day after hosting an exciting renewal of the Belmont S. (G1), Belmont Park put on a quality Sunday card highlighted by a quartet of stakes.

Belmont Park has doubled its Sunday stakes offerings to a grand total of four, with the Wonder Again (G2) and Jersey Girl rescheduled to join the Tremont S. and Astoria S.

Update: With Belmont Park canceling Thursday due to dangerous air quality, the two scheduled stakes were moved to Sunday.

Going into Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), Meditate ranked as the class of the field and accordingly the 2.04-1 favorite. But the Aidan O’Brien filly had to defy a couple of historical trends.

Smart debut winner Be Your Best will try to go 2-for-2 in Thursday’s P.G. Johnson S. at Saratoga