Forever Young earned a well-deserved first U.S. success Saturday in the $6.37 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, a first for a Japan-based horse.

The scratch of morning-line favorite Nysos wasn’t the only dramatic development in Saturday’s $1.001 million Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

The Pacific Classic, which offers a $1 million purse and is contested over 1 1/4 miles, highlights Del Mar's summer meet on Saturday.

Sierra Leone and Fierceness will have a fifth meeting in their rivalry, but their first this year, in the $1 million Whitney (G1) at Saratoga.

Although billed as a showdown between Fierceness and White Abarrio, the $970,000 Metropolitan H. (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday fell instead to Raging Torrent, perhaps the one true mile specialist in the field.

Saratoga has been the scene of some of the best moments in the racing careers of Fierceness and White Abarrio, who highlight a small but very select field in the $1 million Metropolitan H. (G1) on Saturday.

Fierceness, a champion at two and one of last year's leading three-year-old colts, commenced his four-year-old campaign in fine style Friday at Churchill Downs, recording a track-record setting victory in the $750,000 Alysheba (G2).

The finalists for the 2024 Eclipse Awards were announced on Sunday, except for the identities of the Horse of the Year candidates.

Sierra Leone won Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar decisively over three-year-old rivals Fierceness and Forever Young.

***Updated after the draw with post positions and morning line odds

Racing fans hoping for an epic 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday at Churchill Downs got their wish. In the closest finish for more than a quarter century, Mystik Dan hit the wire a desperate nose in front of Sierra Leone.

***Updated after the scratch of Encino; post position draw with morning-line odds for Kentucky Derby 150

One week after storming to a 13 1/2-length victory in the Florida Derby (G1), reigning champion two-year-old male Fierceness closed as the decisive 5-2 favorite in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6.

Following a disappointing third in the Holy Bull (G3), champion two-year-old male Fierceness rebounded spectacularly in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, scoring under wraps by 13 1/2 lengths.