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The final preparations for Breeders’ Cup contenders crank up this week, the first of two blockbuster weekends before the world championships.
There are 17 graded stakes across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, led by five “Win and You’re In” races split between Belmont at the Big A and Santa Anita Park.
The first Breeders’ Cup challenge race of the weekend is the Grade 2 Beldame on Friday at Belmont at the Big A. The following day, the New York track runs the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, G2 Woodward, G2 Gallant Bloom, G3 Belmont Turf Sprint, and the G3 Vosburgh, a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Santa Anita’s fall opening weekend action is headlined by the G1 Goodwood Stakes, a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the G2 City of Hope Mile Stakes, a challenge race for the Mile. Two more challenge races, the G2 Zenyatta Stakes (Distaff) and G2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (Sprint), are run on Sunday.
The Great Race Place also runs the G2 John Henry Turf Championship, G2 Eddie D. Stakes, G2 City of Hope Stakes, and G3 John C. Harris Stakes during their opening weekend.
At Laurel Park, the historic Laurel Futurity and Selima Stakes are contested. The two stakes are run over 1 1/16 miles on the turf, with the Selima Stakes restricted to juvenile fillies.
Churchill Downs holds a G2 doubleheader on Saturday, with the 1 ⅛-mile Lukas Classic Stakes and the mile G2 Ack Ack Stakes.
Remington Park hosts the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday night. Their card includes eight stakes total.
North of the border, Woodbine holds the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Canadian-bred 3-year-olds will go 1 ½-miles on turf in the Breeders’ Stakes.
Saturday
2:07 pm – G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont at the Big A
Godolphin has a two-pronged attack for their attempt to capture their first Joe Hirsch Classic in 22 years. Two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Rebel’s Romance is the morning-line favorite. He was fourth in the Joe Hirsch in 2023, and has won four of six starts this year. G1 Sword Dancer winner, El Cordobes, is Godolphin’s other entrant.
The remaining three runners include defending Joe Hirsch winner Far Bridge, G2 winner Redistricting, and one-eyed stakes winner Rebel Red. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez has two main-track-only entrants.
5:39 pm – G2 Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs
After finishing fourth on the turf in the G1 Arlington Million, Mystik Dan returns to Churchill Downs for the Lukas Classic. He won the G3 Blame over the same nine furlongs as the Lukas Classic.
Another McPeek trainee, Rattle N Roll, makes his first start since the Dubai World Cup, won by fellow entrant Hit Show. Charles Town Classic winner Banishing tries to make it back-to-back graded stakes scores in the Lukas Classic.
8:08 pm – G1 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita Park
First Mission ships west for trainer Brad Cox, and has been named the 8-5 morning line favorite for the 1 ⅛-mile Goodwood Stakes. Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano makes his 2025 debut in the Goodwood as the second choice.
Sunday
8:00 pm – G2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at Santa Anita Park
Reigning Eclipse champion sprinter Straight No Chaser makes his first start since finishing eighth in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. Last year, the MyRacehorse flagbearer parlayed a victory in this race into a win in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, albeit off a shorter layoff.
Also in the field are the last-out G2 Pat O’Brien Stakes winner Dr. Venkman, and Bob Baffert-trained graded stakes winners Speed Boat Beach and Imagination.
Santa Anita Sprint Championship entries
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Sep 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.