The revamped version of the Sunshine Millions will feature six races at Gulfstream Park, exclusively for Florida-breds, with a combined purse of $1.3 million.
The $300,000 La Brea Stakes comes our way on Saturday, December 31 at Santa Anita Park. 3-year-old fillies are featured in this 7-furlong race in the first of three legs in Santa Anita's "La Cañada Series". The race features a number of top contenders, the most exciting being Turbulent Decent who has a real shot at the Eclipse Award in the 3-year-old Filly category.
The first derby of 2012 takes place on Sunday at Gulfstream Park with the inaugural running of the Gulfstream Park Derby. The new race will be run at a mile and a sixteenth, which means it is a very good test for 3-year-old horses being pointed to the Kentucky Derby.
The 75th season at Santa Anita begins on Monday, Dec. 26th with a full card of racing. The 79-day meet runs through April 22. Opening day features four stakes races with the highlight being the Grade 1 $300,000 Malibu Stakes, which is the last race on a nine-race card with a post time of approximately 4:23 pm Pacific.
The last big money race of the year takes place on Saturday with the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park. The race should give us an idea of the early favorites for next year's Kentucky Derby.
With his win this past Tuesday at Laurel Park, Rapid Redux has cemented his legacy among some of the best horses of all time
The Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes on Saturday at Hollywood Park is expected to have Weemissfrankie as the heavy betting favorite in a field of six. The race for 2-year-old fillies also includes Charm the Maker, who won the Sharp Cat Stakes last month; Killer Graces, who won two sprint stakes earlier this year; Self Preservation, who simply can't find a way to beat Weemissfrankie; Lady Pecan and Mi Vida.
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) released the stakes schedule for Aqueduct Racetrack's 2012 winter/spring meet, with the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial on Saturday, April 7 the centerpiece of 13 graded stakes worth $3.75 million for the 79-day meet which begins on January 1.
High carryover pool totals are always good to see, and Wednesday's card at Hollywood Park will feature a sizable $39,535 carryover in its Super High Five wager. This dollar minimum wager is offered in conjunction with the last race on the card each day at Hollywood Park, and challenges horse handicappers to pick the first five finishers home in the race.
Hollywood Park has two stakes races this weekend with the $100,000 Native Diver Handicap on Saturday and the $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap on Sunday. Let's look at both of these feature races for this weekend.