Recaps of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" American Pharoah (G1) and Oak Leaf (G2) at Santa Anita, qualifiers on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks

An odds-on favorite, Salahudin overcame a tough trip to prevail in Saturday's Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs, the first qualifier for the 2027 Kentucky Derby.

Jockey Flavien Prat bagged three stakes wins at Churchill Downs on Saturday, including an odds-on success aboard Splendora in the $326,000 Locust Grove (G2).

Odds-on Hughes gave Bob Baffert a 20th score in the Del Mar feature, rebuffing a tag-team challenge from the Doug O’Neill barn in a purely intramural affair.

The first stakes winner for her first-crop sire, 2022 Preakness (G1) hero Early Voting, Miss Monica, also ranks as his top-selling two-year-old.

Owen Almighty, Igniter, and Manuka Honey won for Luis Saez, Florent Geroux scored a stakes double with Salahudin and Conceit, and Jaime Torres guided Five a Side on the big day at Ellis Park.

The Sorrento (G3) at Del Mar turned into a virtual match race, as Wesley Ward’s 8-5 Ruiva tried to fend off Bob Baffert’s 4-5 favorite Holmby.

It’s still early in the season for two-year-olds, but Hughes demolished the Best Pal (G3) in the manner of a colt going places for Bob Baffert.

Explora, who had run like a Grade 1-quality filly since the start of her career, finally earned that distinction on Saturday with a runaway score in the $500,000 Test (G1) at Saratoga.

Odds-on favorites Knightsbridge and Splendora had little difficulty asserting their superiority on the Haskell Day undercard at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Last year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) star Good Cheer returned triumphant in Friday night's Iowa Distaff, one of four stakes to kick off the Festival of Racing at Prairie Meadows.

Further Ado turned the page on a subpar 11th as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and Explora, fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), also rebounded at Churchill Downs.

Nysos blew past rivals entering the stretch and drew off to a four-length victory in Saturday’s $1 million Metropolitan (G1) at Saratoga, winning impressively as the 7-5 favorite.

The reigning Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner shook off a dull showing earlier this month to capture the 1 1/16-mile feature.

Crude Velocity came into Saturday’s $741,330 Pat Day Mile S. (G2) at Churchill Downs unbeaten in two tries and proved to be one to watch in the coming months in scoring a tough victory against pacesetter Englishman. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden to victory by Florent Geroux, the CSLR Racing Partners' color-bearer earned a black-type score in his initial try.

A better trip helped So Happy, but the Mark Glatt trainee might have received an extra lift, just when he needed it.

A rail bid proved golden for Incredibolt on Saturday when he dominated nine rivals in the $506,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.

Speedway Stables’ Potente joined the Kentucky Derby (G1) picture and remained unbeaten in Saturday’s $201,000 San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita, catching Robusta in the final strides to post a head win.

Japan’s Forever Young confirmed his status as the world’s top-ranked dirt horse, and a globetrotting legend, by successfully defending his title in Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1).

The Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby picked up an exciting new player in unbeaten Al Haram, U.S. shippers swept the $2 million sprints, and more from Saudi Cup Day.