Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners got their New Year’s Eve party started early Saturday with a graded turf double at Santa Anita, courtesy of Air Force Red and Queen Goddess.

For the second straight day at Del Mar, jockey Flavien Prat made a well-timed move aboard a Phil D’Amato trainee to win a Grade 2 turf event.

Godolphin’s homebred Santin, who broke through with his first stakes win in the Turf Classic (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day, followed up over the same Churchill Downs course and distance in Saturday’s Arlington Million (G1).

At Del Mar on Sunday, Heywoods Beach dethroned 9-10 favorite Tizamagician in the Cougar II (G3), and Irideo pulled a $65 upset in the Wickerr S. after the big scratch of Smooth Like Strait.

The $125,000 Cougar II (G3) is Del Mar’s Sunday feature, but the real headline act comes one race later in the $100,000 Wickerr S.

Count Again dethroned Smooth Like Strait in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita, earning a free ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

After the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), Santa Anita’s Grade 1 action on Memorial Day shifts to turf for the Shoemaker Mile (G1), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), and the Gamely (G1) for turf distaffers.

One Godolphin horse acts up in the gate and gets scratched, then his favored stablemate goes out and wins a Breeders’ Cup trophy. If that’s an insufficient summary of the Juvenile Turf, it explains the sense of déjà vu when the script was replayed in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Mo Forza and United successfully defended their titles in the City of Hope Mile and John Henry Turf Championship, respectively, and Going to Vegas punched her Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf ticket in the “Win and You’re In” Rodeo Drive.

If Mo Forza had been dethroned in Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Mile (G2), the defending champion would have had a few excuses at his disposal.

After a few tough beats at the top level, Smooth Like Strait finally won a deserved Grade 1 trophy in Monday’s $300,500 Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita. In the process, the Michael McCarthy trainee secured a free ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 6.

Vance Hanson reviews the Turf Classic, Churchill Distaff Turf Mile and American Turf for Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day!