Barbara Minshall

Whether digital or the old school paper variety, it is safe to say that most of the forms will be turned to the World Championship races. However, it should be noted that Saturday does sport some graded stakes action that you will not want to miss from both Santa Anita Park and Woodbine Racetrack. 'The Great Race Place' card gets the Breeders' Cup engines warmed with the GII Twilight Derby for 3-year-olds over the turf. If you are interested in how the course sets up for what's to come, then...

How's your Saratoga opening weekend stakes knowledge? You probably already knew that the Sanford S. is the only race that the legendary Man o' War ever lost. Or that over a five-year span in the '60s, the great Kelso amassed a staggering record of 63-39-12-2. You also knew that the late '80s warrior Quick Call, who lived to the ripe old age of 35, was denied a third consecutive GII Forego H. by a nose to Lay Down. And if you are pretty sharp, then you have it down pat...

Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford's Botta Swing (Not This Time--Lady of the Glen, by Purim), taking on the boys while looking to carry her sire's hot streak into the juvenile ranks, came out running Sunday, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors while lowering Woodbine's synthetic track record for 4 1/2 furlongs in the process. Away in midpack and then scrubbed on to take over with swift strides entering the bend, the chestnut was two clear and cruising midway on the turn as well-backed Ninetyfour Expos (Outwork) was asked to narrow...

Dreaming of Drew dominated in her return to the Tapeta and stamped herself as one to watch for next year's Woodbine Oaks and maybe even Queen's Plate while becoming her freshman sire (by Speightstown)'s second stakes winner. The chestnut earned a solid 81 Beyer Speed Figure for a second-out romp going short over this same strip July 18, but was out-nosed in the grassy Catch a Glimpse S. Aug. 23 and settled for fourth when stretched to a mile for the GI Natalma S. Sept. 20. Donning blinkers for the...