The last weekend before the Breeders’ Cup crams more stakes action into three days than most months manage. Scioto Downs crowns 12 harness champions across two nights. Belmont Park runs ten New York bred stakes worth $2.1 million on Empire Showcase Day. Laurel Park stages the 41st Jim McKay Maryland Million, Keeneland closes its fall meet with five stakes across Friday and Saturday, and Churchill Downs opens its 24 day Fall Meet on Sunday with two Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks points races.
Our weekend racing preview breaks down every card, the horses that stand out and the bets we want to build. Every race below is available to bet through MyWinners.
Weekend Racing Preview at a Glance
Saturday, October 24 carries the weight of the weekend. Belmont Park, Laurel Park, Keeneland, Horseshoe Indianapolis and Woodbine all run stakes in the afternoon, and the Breeders Crown finals take over Scioto Downs at night. Friday brings the Valley View at Keeneland and the four Breeders Crown finals for two year olds. Sunday belongs to Churchill Downs, with the Street Sense (G3) and Rags to Riches on opening day plus the Glen Cove (G3) at Belmont Park.
| Day | Track | Race | Grade | Purse | Distance / Surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri Oct 23 | Keeneland | Dean Dorton Myrtlewood | Listed | $300,000 | 6f |
| Fri Oct 23 | Keeneland | Bank of America Valley View | G2 | $400,000 | 1 mile turf |
| Fri Oct 23 | Belmont Park | Sands Point | G3 | $200,000 | 1 1/8 miles turf |
| Fri Oct 23 | Belmont Park | Perfect Sting | Ungraded | $175,000 | 7f turf |
| Fri Oct 23 | Scioto Downs | Breeders Crown 2YO finals (4) | G1 | $700,000 each | 1 mile |
| Sat Oct 24 | Belmont Park | Empire Showcase Day (10 NY bred stakes) | Ungraded | $2.1 million total | Various |
| Sat Oct 24 | Keeneland | Bowman Mill | Ungraded | $250,000 | 6f |
| Sat Oct 24 | Keeneland | Bryan Station | G2 | $400,000 | 1 mile turf |
| Sat Oct 24 | Keeneland | Hagyard Fayette | G3 | $350,000 | 1 1/8 miles dirt |
| Sat Oct 24 | Laurel Park | Maryland Million (8 stakes) | Ungraded | $900,000 total | Various |
| Sat Oct 24 | Horseshoe Indianapolis | Indiana Champions Day | Various | Over $1 million total | Various |
| Sat Oct 24 | Woodbine | Eternal Search | Ungraded | C$100,000 (about $71,000) | 7 1/2f turf |
| Sat Oct 24 | Scioto Downs | Breeders Crown finals (8) | G1 | $400,000 to $600,000 each | 1 mile |
| Sun Oct 25 | Churchill Downs | Street Sense | G3 | TBC | 1 1/16 miles dirt |
| Sun Oct 25 | Churchill Downs | Rags to Riches | Listed | TBC | 1 1/16 miles dirt |
| Sun Oct 25 | Belmont Park | Glen Cove | G3 | $200,000 | 7f turf |
| Sun Oct 25 | Woodbine | Overskate | Ungraded | C$100,000 (about $71,000) | 7 1/2f turf |
Breeders Crown Championships at Scioto Downs
Harness racing’s championship weekend returns to Eldorado Scioto Downs in Ohio with 12 Grade 1 Breeders Crown finals worth an advertised $7.2 million. Each two year old final carries a $700,000 purse. The three year old finals, the Open Pace and the Open Trot go for $600,000 apiece, and both Mare finals pay $400,000. Supplement fees push some pots higher, with the three year old Filly Trot final listed at $664,500. Racing starts at 6:00pm ET on both nights.
Elimination winners draw posts one through six in each final, so the speed that won last weekend also gets the best gates. We covered the elimination cards in our Breeders Crown eliminations preview.
| Final | Night | Purse | Elimination Winners (Driver / Trainer) | Also In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2YO Colt & Gelding Trot | Fri Oct 23 | $700,000 | Lifetime Dreamer (Gingras / Svanstedt); Wrong Sounds Right (T. McCarthy / Campbell) | |
| 2YO Colt & Gelding Pace | Fri Oct 23 | $700,000 | Blazin Lou (Dunn / Dinges); Starstruck Dreamer (T. McCarthy / Daley) | Eastie Boy, Shalom Hanover |
| 2YO Filly Trot | Fri Oct 23 | $700,000 | Blue Ranger (Dunn / Melander); Two Day Hangover (Dunn / Melander) | Birr Castle (Win and You’re In) |
| 2YO Filly Pace | Fri Oct 23 | $700,000 | No eliminations (10 entries) | |
| 3YO Colt & Gelding Trot | Sat Oct 24 | $600,000 | Diabolic Hill (T. McCarthy / Stoebe); Big Ranger (Tetrick / Lorentzon) | |
| 3YO Colt & Gelding Pace | Sat Oct 24 | $600,000 | Gentlemans Club (A. McCarthy / Lambert); Melillo (Wrenn Jr. / Burke) | |
| 3YO Filly Trot | Sat Oct 24 | $664,500 | Nezuko Kamado S (Zeron / Melander); Little Road (Brown / Hammer); Shes Moni (Gingras / Takter) | |
| 3YO Filly Pace | Sat Oct 24 | $600,000 | Hope Hill (Dunn / Engblom); Sangria Summer (MacDonald / Blais) | |
| Open Trot | Sat Oct 24 | $600,000 | Emoticon Legacy (McClure / Blais) | On To Norway, Super Chapter (byes) |
| Open Pace | Sat Oct 24 | $600,000 | Women Layer (Gingras / Morgan Jr.); Dandy Ideal (Tetrick / Pelling) | |
| Mare Trot | Sat Oct 24 | $400,000 | No eliminations (10 entries) | |
| Mare Pace | Sat Oct 24 | $400,000 | Twin B Joe Fresh (Dunn / Ryder) | Tarapasta, Unreasonable (byes) |
Friday, October 23: Four Two Year Old Finals
Lifetime Dreamer stole the show in the eliminations. The Ake Svanstedt trainee won by three lengths for Yannick Gingras in 1:52.4, a Scioto Downs divisional record that equaled the world record for two year old gelding trotters on a five eighths mile track. Wrong Sounds Right answered in the other division for Todd McCarthy and trainer Jim Campbell, winning by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:53.1 and paying $2.20. That colt and gelding trot final shapes up as the best race of Friday night.
The freshman colt pace looks far more open. Blazin Lou (Dexter Dunn, Tony Dinges) won the first elimination in 1:50.4, and Starstruck Dreamer (Todd McCarthy, Noel Daley) took the second in 1:50.2. Both elimination favorites lost. Eastie Boy finished second as the 6/5 choice, and Shalom Hanover ran third at the same price. Both still qualified and both can bounce back.
Marcus Melander and Dexter Dunn swept the Filly Trot eliminations with Blue Ranger (1:53.1, equaling the divisional track record) and Two Day Hangover (1:53.2). Birr Castle skipped the eliminations entirely after earning her place through a Win and You’re In race. The Filly Pace drew only ten entries, so that field goes straight to the final.
Saturday, October 24: Eight Finals for Three Year Olds, Older Horses and Mares
The three year old Colt Trot eliminations went to Diabolic Hill (Todd McCarthy, Annie Stoebe) in 1:51.2 and Big Ranger (Tim Tetrick, Anette Lorentzon) in 1:51.1. In the Colt Pace, Gentlemans Club (Andy McCarthy, Aaron Lambert) won the fastest elimination of the weekend in 1:48.3, and Melillo (Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Ron Burke) took the other in 1:49.3.
The three year old Filly Trot needed three eliminations. Nezuko Kamado S (Scott Zeron, Marcus Melander), Little Road (Brady Brown, Roger Hammer) and Shes Moni (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter) won them. Hope Hill (Dexter Dunn, Petter Engblom) and Sangria Summer (James MacDonald, Luc Blais) won the Filly Pace eliminations.
Among the older horses, Women Layer and Dandy Ideal both paced 1:48.4 to win the Open Pace eliminations. Emoticon Legacy took the Open Trot elimination for Bob McClure and Luc Blais, while On To Norway and Super Chapter earned byes into that final. Twin B Joe Fresh won the Mare Pace elimination for Dexter Dunn and Chris Ryder, with Tarapasta and Unreasonable joining on byes. The Mare Trot drew ten entries and goes straight to the final.
Posts for the three year old Colt Pace, three year old Colt Trot, Open Trot and Open Pace finals are drawn on Tuesday, October 20. Look out for our dedicated Breeders Crown Championships guide for full fields and selections.
Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park
Saturday’s Belmont Park card is all about horses foaled in New York State. Ten stakes carry $2.1 million in combined purses, per NYRA’s stakes schedule. The $250,000 Empire Classic and the $250,000 Empire Distaff headline the day, both at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. Eight more stakes at $200,000 each fill out the program.
The Hudson and the Iroquois go 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt for older males and fillies and mares. The Maid of the Mist and the Sleepy Hollow give two year olds a mile on dirt. On turf, the Mohawk and the Ticonderoga go 1 1/8 miles, and the two New York Turf Sprint Championships go six furlongs.
Bank Frenzy won last year’s Empire Classic for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and jockey Manny Franco. Valtellina took the 2025 Empire Distaff for Ray Handal and Dylan Davis. Our full Empire Showcase Day guide will carry the fields, posts and selections once entries are drawn.
Belmont Park’s weekend does not stop there. Friday features the $200,000 Sands Point (G3) for three year old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf, along with the $175,000 Perfect Sting. Sunday brings the $200,000 Glen Cove (G3) for three year old fillies at seven furlongs on turf, where Flowerhead, Quiet Street and Carmel Coast stand out among the nominees.
Keeneland Closes Its Fall Meet
Keeneland wraps up its 17 day Fall Meet on Saturday, one week before it hosts the Breeders’ Cup. Friday and Saturday carry five stakes between them, and all five fields are drawn.
Valley View Stakes (G2), Friday
The $400,000 Bank of America Valley View brings ten three year old fillies to a mile on the turf as Race 9, with a 5:16pm ET post. Sister Troienne returns to the track where she won a 1 1/16 mile turf allowance at last year’s fall meet. Brian Lynch’s filly has since won three stakes at Gulfstream Park, the Wait a While, the Ginger Brew and the Sweetest Chant, and Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the ride from post 5. Ultimate Love breaks from the rail for John Velazquez and Michael Trombetta. Essential Lady arrives off a win for Jonathan Thomas and Jose Ortiz.
Friday’s card also includes the $300,000 Dean Dorton Myrtlewood for two year old fillies at six furlongs as Race 8, with a 4:44pm ET post. Brad Cox sends Angel of Kirk with Irad Ortiz Jr., and Stress Relief carries top weight of 122 pounds for Kinnon LaRose.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Morning Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ultimate Love | John Velazquez | Michael Trombetta | TBC |
| 2 | Spin a Tune | Jaime Torres | Eoin Harty | TBC |
| 3 | Define (IRE) | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan Walsh | TBC |
| 4 | Call On Me | Cristian Torres | Rusty Arnold | TBC |
| 5 | Sister Troienne | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Brian Lynch | TBC |
| 6 | Rhapsody in Motion | Danny Sheehy | Anna Meah | TBC |
| 7 | Essential Lady | Jose Ortiz | Jonathan Thomas | TBC |
| 8 | Faye’s Gold | Adam Beschizza | Grant Forster | TBC |
| 9 | That’s How We Love | Reylu Gutierrez | Philip Antonacci | TBC |
| 10 | Dakotah Blue | Francisco Arrieta | Saffie Joseph Jr. | TBC |
Bryan Station Stakes (G2), Saturday
The $400,000 Bryan Station drew 12 three year olds for a mile on the turf, plus four also eligibles, as Race 8 at 4:44pm ET. Bottas chases a third straight stakes win for Miguel Clement after taking the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) at Saratoga and the $1.75 million Gun Runner at Kentucky Downs. He carries 122 pounds from post 4. Alpyland is our angle at a bigger price. Mark Casse’s colt has won four stakes this year, including the Penn Mile (G3) over this same mile on turf, and Javier Castellano rides from post 12. Remember Mamba (Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz) completes the top three in our book.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | Morning Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackout Time | Emmanuel Esquivel | Kenny McPeek | 118 | TBC |
| 2 | McCready | Julio Hernandez | McLean Robertson | 118 | TBC |
| 3 | Blinging it Back | Axel Concepcion | Mark Casse | 118 | TBC |
| 4 | Bottas | Tyler Gaffalione | Miguel Clement | 122 | TBC |
| 5 | Infiltrate | Ben Curtis | Brendan Walsh | 118 | TBC |
| 6 | Conducted | Luis Saez | Jose D’Angelo | 118 | TBC |
| 7 | Remember Mamba | Jose Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux | 120 | TBC |
| 8 | Aces Honor | Luan Machado | Ethan West | 118 | TBC |
| 9 | Fancy Sailor | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Brian Lynch | 118 | TBC |
| 10 | Immortalised (FR) | John Velazquez | Brendan Walsh | 118 | TBC |
| 11 | Touch of Fire | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Brad Cox | 118 | TBC |
| 12 | Alpyland | Javier Castellano | Mark Casse | 120 | TBC |
| 13 (AE) | Banksy’s | Joel Rosario | David Fawkes | 118 | TBC |
| 14 (AE) | Gramp’s Legacy | Johan Rosado | Jeremiah O’Dwyer | 118 | TBC |
| 15 (AE) | No Joke Joe | Luis Saez | Joe Sharp | 118 | TBC |
| 16 (AE) | Royal Causeway | Cristian Torres | Dallas Stewart | 118 | TBC |
Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G3), Saturday
The $350,000 Hagyard Fayette goes 1 1/8 miles on dirt as Race 9 at 5:16pm ET, with 12 runners plus one also eligible. Hit Show goes for a third straight Fayette for Brad Cox and Wathnan Racing. The 2025 Dubai World Cup (G1) winner has banked more than $8.7 million, and Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from the rail. Silent Tactic won the Oklahoma Derby (G3) last time out for Mark Casse. Bill Mott sends Stars and Stripes with Luis Saez, and Bob Baffert ships in Nevada Beach for Francisco Arrieta.
The $250,000 Bowman Mill opens the Saturday stakes as Race 6 at 3:40pm ET. Five two year olds go six furlongs, led by Steve Asmussen’s Booked, the Sanford (G3) winner and Hopeful (G1) third at Saratoga.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | Morning Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hit Show | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Brad Cox | 122 | TBC |
| 2 | Alexander Helios | Micah Husbands | Saffie Joseph Jr. | 122 | TBC |
| 3 | San Siro | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Brendan Walsh | 122 | TBC |
| 4 | Nevada Beach | Francisco Arrieta | Bob Baffert | 122 | TBC |
| 5 | This Is Uscar | Edgar Morales | Jordan Blair | 122 | TBC |
| 6 | Tiztastic | Joel Rosario | Steve Asmussen | 122 | TBC |
| 7 | Gearing Up | Cristian Torres | Rusty Arnold | 122 | TBC |
| 8 | Stars and Stripes | Luis Saez | Bill Mott | 122 | TBC |
| 9 | Tumbarumba | Tyler Gaffalione | Brian Lynch | 122 | TBC |
| 10 | Silent Tactic | Javier Castellano | Mark Casse | 120 | TBC |
| 11 | Willy D’s | John Velazquez | Mike Maker | 124 | TBC |
| 12 | No Bien Ni Mal (BRZ) | Dylan Machado | Paulo Lobo | 122 | TBC |
| 13 (AE) | So Sandy | Jose Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux | 122 | TBC |
Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park
The 41st Jim McKay Maryland Million fills Laurel Park’s 12 race card on Saturday, with first post at 11:15am ET. Eight Maryland Million stakes carry $900,000 combined. The $150,000 Maryland Million Classic at 1 1/8 miles headlines. The $125,000 Turf and the $125,000 Ladies follow, and five more races carry $100,000 purses: the Lassie, the Nursery, the Sprint, the Turf Sprint and the Distaff. Four starter handicaps for Maryland sired or Maryland bred horses complete the program.
Barbadian Runner returns to defend his Classic title for trainer Henry Walters after winning the Battery Park Stakes at Delaware Park on October 3. Market Maven drew the rail for Jamie Ness and Mychel Sanchez. Had to Have Him won last year’s Turf Sprint and was among the 245 horses pre entered for the day.
Indiana Champions Day at Horseshoe Indianapolis
Horseshoe Indianapolis stages its seventh Indiana Champions Day on Saturday, with first post at noon ET and more than $1 million in purses across the card. The state’s top Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses share the program.
The Quarter Horse championships carry the most money. The Miss Roxie Little Futurity, a Restricted Grade 3 for Indiana bred two year olds, offers $150,000 added at 400 yards. The Governors Stake final for two year olds runs for $125,000 added, and the QHRAI Derby final for three year olds and the Indiana Open Championship at 440 yards each carry $100,000 added. The Miss Roxie Little Juvenile and the Governors Juvenile Stake round out the Quarter Horse stakes.
Woodbine Weekend Stakes
Woodbine runs two Ontario sired stakes on its inner turf course, both at 7 1/2 furlongs and both worth C$100,000 (about $71,000). The Eternal Search for fillies and mares three and up goes Saturday, and the Overskate for three year olds and up follows on Sunday.
Churchill Downs Fall Meet Opening Day
Churchill Downs opens its 24 day Fall Meet on Sunday, October 25, with first post at 1:00pm ET. The opening card is Stars of Tomorrow I, built around two year olds and Family Adventure Day.
The Street Sense (G3) goes 1 1/16 miles for two year olds and awards 10, 5, 3, 2 and 1 Kentucky Derby points to the top five. Endrush and Real Goodbar look like the early names to beat, while Blessed Flyer arrives unbeaten but has not run since June. The Rags to Riches offers the same points scale toward the Kentucky Oaks for juvenile fillies over the same trip, with Oh She Said Yes the standout on paper.
The meet runs through Sunday, November 29. Circle the 28th Claiming Crown on Saturday, November 14, six Thanksgiving Day stakes on Thursday, November 26, the Clark (G2) on Friday, November 27, and Stars of Tomorrow II on Saturday, November 28 with the Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod. Betting on Churchill Downs races through MyWinners is available to Connecticut residents.
Our Weekend Racing Preview Best Bets
Weekend Racing Preview Banker: Hit Show in the Fayette
A two time defending champion and Dubai World Cup winner drawn on the rail, with Irad Ortiz Jr. riding. Hit Show sets the standard in this field, and we want him on top in multi race bets ending in the Fayette.
Weekend Racing Preview Value Play: Alpyland in the Bryan Station
Bottas will take the money off two straight stakes wins, but Alpyland has already won a graded stakes at this exact trip and brings four 2026 stakes wins to the race. We like him to win and in exacta boxes with Bottas.
Breeders Crown Play: Lifetime Dreamer on Friday Night
Equaling a world record in an elimination tells us plenty. Wrong Sounds Right brings the bigger reputation, but Lifetime Dreamer showed more raw speed last Friday. We will play him to win and key him over Wrong Sounds Right in exactas.
Bet the Whole Weekend With MyWinners
From Breeders Crown night at Scioto Downs to opening day under the Twin Spires, this weekend gives us a final tune up before the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland on October 30 and 31. Build your Pick 4s on Saturday, line up the Breeders Crown exactas and come back Sunday for the Street Sense. Every race in this weekend racing preview runs through MyWinners pools.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
