Horse racing this weekend runs through Churchill Downs, where the 28th Claiming Crown fills Saturday’s card with nine starter allowance races worth $1.2 million. Then the Meadowlands takes over that night with eight harness stakes worth an estimated $2.65 million. Meanwhile, Belmont Park, Woodbine and Del Mar all add stakes from Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 15.
Churchill took Claiming Crown entries on Saturday, November 7, so the Louisville fields are already out. The other tracks draw later this week. Then, as those fields land, we’ll update this guide to horse racing this weekend with runners, morning lines and picks.
Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs
In short, the Claiming Crown is the championship for the horses who do the heavy lifting at racetracks all year. Every Claiming Crown race is a starter allowance, so each horse must have run for a set claiming price to qualify. However, nobody can claim a horse out of these races. As a result, owners can chase a big purse without the risk of losing their runner.
First post on Saturday is 1:00 pm ET, since Churchill runs a full 12-race card. After that, the Claiming Crown itself starts with Race 4 at 2:28 pm and finishes with the Emerald in Race 12 at 6:23 pm. Last year’s Claiming Crown at Churchill drew $12.8 million in bets. This year, three of the nine races drew enough horses to need an also-eligible list.
| Race | Post (ET) | Distance and Surface | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 4: Ready's Rocket Express | 2:28 pm | 6f, dirt | $100,000 |
| Race 5: Tiara | 2:57 pm | 1 1/16 miles, turf | $150,000 |
| Race 6: Glass Slipper | 3:26 pm | 1 mile, dirt | $100,000 |
| Race 7: Iron Horse | 3:55 pm | 1 1/16 miles, dirt | $100,000 |
| Race 8: Empress (new) | 4:25 pm | 6f, dirt | $100,000 |
| Race 9: Canterbury | 4:55 pm | 5 1/2f, turf | $150,000 |
| Race 10: Rapid Transit | 5:25 pm | 7f, dirt | $125,000 |
| Race 11: Jewel | 5:54 pm | 1 1/8 miles, dirt | $200,000 |
| Race 12: Emerald | 6:23 pm | 1 1/16 miles, turf | $175,000 |
All nine races run on Saturday, November 14, so purses total $1.2 million before extra Kentucky-bred money. Because of the conditions, Churchill can also move the turf races to the main track.
Kerness K Goes for 12 in a Row in the Ready’s Rocket Express
For us, Kerness K is the story of the day. Trainer Jamie Ness sends him out from post 4 in the $100,000 Ready’s Rocket Express at six furlongs, with Martin Chuan riding. He leads every Thoroughbred in North America with 11 wins from 13 starts in 2026. Saturday could make it 12 straight. Even so, all 14 of his career wins have come below stakes level, so this is a step up in class as well as a streak on the line.
Still, it won’t be easy. In fact, Concrete Glory won this race last year and returns from post 10 for Saffie Joseph Jr. with Yomar Ortiz Jr. aboard. On top of that, Joseph also saddles Swirvin from the rail for Tyler Gaffalione.
Defending Claiming Crown Winners Return
Concrete Glory isn’t the only 2025 champion back for more, though. Shape Note won the Canterbury for Mike Maker last year, and he lines up again from post 2 with Jose Ortiz. Maker also runs Proprietary Trade from post 11 with Gaffalione, so the barn has two shots at the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint.
Meanwhile, Nation took last year’s Rapid Transit for trainer Bob Hess Jr. This time he breaks from post 10 of 14 at seven furlongs with Luan Machado. Hess also entered Coach Cronin in the same race, which gives that barn two runners as well.
The $200K Claiming Crown Jewel
The Jewel is the richest race of the day at $200,000, so it gets its own spot in Race 11 over 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. Overall, nine horses go to post at 5:54 pm ET. Last year, Double Your Money won it at 9/1 for trainer Ben Dunn. So prices do land here.
| Horse (Post) | Jockey and Trainer | Morning Line |
|---|---|---|
| Expect the Best (1) | Rafael Bejarano for Ron Moquett | TBC |
| Margie's Fun Son (2) | Luis Saez for Ronald Abrams | TBC |
| Papa Yo (3) | Tyler Gaffalione for Linda Rice | TBC |
| Urban Planner (4) | Yomar Ortiz Jr. for Mike Maker | TBC |
| Carolo Rapido (5) | Cristian Torres for Norm Casse | TBC |
| Groveland (6) | Francisco Arrieta for Eddie Kenneally | TBC |
| Indy Charges On (7) | Jose Ortiz for Lacey Gaudet | TBC |
| Break Out (8) | Junior Alvarado for Michael Campbell | TBC |
| Freedom Principle (9) | Jaime Torres for Gerard Ochoa | TBC |
Once Churchill Downs publishes the morning line, we'll add the odds here.
At the inside, Expect the Best draws the rail for Ron Moquett and Rafael Bejarano. By contrast, Linda Rice sends out Papa Yo for Gaffalione from post 3. Then Freedom Principle breaks from post 9, the widest draw in the field, for Gerard Ochoa and Jaime Torres. We’ll add our pick as soon as the morning line comes out.
The Emerald and the Turf Races
Finally, the $175,000 Emerald closes the card at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Chad Brown sends Unit Economics (GB) from post 2 with Gaffalione, and that name alone makes him one to watch. Also, Mike Maker has War Officer on the rail plus Battle Call on the also-eligible list.
Three Claiming Crown races go on the grass: the Tiara, the Canterbury and the Emerald. However, the conditions allow Churchill to move any of them to the main track. So watch the forecast. A wet Louisville week could move any of them, which would change how you build tickets around turf form.
Dream Supreme Stakes
The $300,000 Dream Supreme gets the stakes side of horse racing this weekend going early as Race 3 at 1:58 pm ET. Overall, this is a listed sprint at six furlongs for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up, and it’s the 21st running. Six go to post. In fact, Saffie Joseph Jr. trains half of them.
| Horse (Post) | Jockey and Trainer | Morning Line |
|---|---|---|
| Mystic Lake (1) | Tyler Gaffalione for Saffie Joseph Jr. | TBC |
| Haulin Ice (2) | Francisco Arrieta for Saffie Joseph Jr. | TBC |
| A.Z. Wildcat (3) | Florent Geroux for John Sadler | TBC |
| Echo Sound (4) | Luis Saez for Rusty Arnold | TBC |
| Indy Bay (5) | Jose Ortiz for Saffie Joseph Jr. | TBC |
| Justinqueso (6) | Brian Hernandez Jr. for Ian Wilkes | TBC |
Once Churchill Downs publishes the morning line, we'll add the odds here.
Saffie Joseph’s Dream Supreme Trio
On paper, Mystic Lake is the class of the trio. The 5-year-old daughter of Mo Town has won 13 of 28 starts, 11 of them stakes, and earned $1.7 million. Her three graded wins are the 2024 Miss Preakness (G3), the 2024 Charles Town Oaks (G2) and the 2025 Inside Information (G2). However, 2026 has been quieter, with two wins from seven starts. Last time out, she ran second to Maida in the Endine at Delaware on October 17.
Haulin Ice, the richest Arkansas-bred in history, brings the better recent form. She won two graded stakes in 2025, the Vagrancy (G3) and the Princess Rooney (G3). This year she won the Matron at Oaklawn for the second year running, then ran second to Maida in the Honorable Miss (G2) at Saratoga. So she’s our early lean of the three.
Then there’s Indy Bay, the 2025 Charles Town Oaks winner, who makes her Churchill debut. By contrast, she has won just one of seven starts this year.
Three Dream Supreme Outsiders
Still, three outsiders want a say. John Sadler sends out A.Z. Wildcat with Florent Geroux, while Rusty Arnold runs Echo Sound for Luis Saez. Finally, Ian Wilkes saddles Justinqueso for Brian Hernandez Jr.
Also, keep in mind that Churchill Downs racing is only available to MyWinners bettors in Connecticut, online and in venue.
Meadowlands Fall Final Four and FanDuel Championships
Later on Saturday, the Meadowlands closes the major stakes season on the Grand Circuit. For harness fans, it’s the biggest night of horse racing this weekend. In total, eight stakes carry estimated purses of $2.65 million, split between four finals for 2-year-olds and four FanDuel Championships for horses aged 3 and up. First, four $400,000 finals for 2-year-olds make up the Fall Final Four: the Valley Victory and Goldsmith Maid on the trot, plus the Governor’s Cup and Three Diamonds on the pace.
Next, the FanDuel Championships bring the best 3-year-olds together with the older stars. The Open Pace and Open Trot go for $350,000 each, while the Fillies and Mares Trot and Fillies and Mares Pace carry $175,000 each. Also, in each FanDuel division, the top declared horse on points draws from posts 1 to 6 before the rest take an open draw.
As for timing, post time is 6:20 pm ET for a 13-race card, and Fox Sports 2 shows the action from 9 to 11 pm ET. On top of that, the 20-cent Survivor Pick 7 on Races 3 to 9 pays out every night. Since fields aren’t out yet, we’ll fill in the finalists here once the Meadowlands draws posts.
Belmont Park’s Awad and Stewart Manor
Earlier on Saturday, Belmont Park puts two juvenile turf sprints on Saturday’s card, with first post at 11:40 am ET. Both are worth $175,000. Both also run six furlongs on the grass. For example, the Awad, now in its 14th running, is open to 2-year-olds. Meanwhile, the Stewart Manor, in its ninth running, is for 2-year-old fillies.
So both races give us an early look at juvenile turf talent heading into 2027. As soon as NYRA draws the card later this week, we’ll add runners, posts and our picks.
Woodbine Kennedy Road Stakes
The Kennedy Road (G2) is Woodbine’s headline act in horse racing this weekend, a six-furlong sprint on Saturday on the Tapeta for 3-year-olds and up. Because it runs in Canada, it carries a guaranteed purse of C$175,000, which works out at about $124,000. Also, Ontario-breds can earn up to C$35,000 more, or about $25,000.
Lately, Nobals has owned this race. Two runnings, two wins. He won it in 2024, then repeated in 2025 for trainer Larry Rivelli and jockey Rafael Manuel Hernandez, stopping the clock in 1:09.85. That 2025 running also saw the stewards place Lucky Score fourth for interference. Since Woodbine hasn’t drawn this year’s field yet, we’ll confirm later whether Nobals goes for three straight.
Then on Sunday, Woodbine runs two Ontario Sired Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. The Ashbridges Bay is for fillies, while the Lake Ontario is for colts and geldings. As a result, each one carries C$100,000, or about $71,000.
Del Mar Bob Hope Stakes
Del Mar’s Bing Crosby Season continues with the Bob Hope Stakes (G3) on Sunday. This year, the $100,000 race goes seven furlongs on the main track for 2-year-olds. Last year, though, Del Mar postponed the Bob Hope and then cancelled it after only three horses entered. So a full field this year would be a welcome sign for juvenile racing in California.
Before that, on Saturday, the Desi Arnaz Stakes offers $100,000 for 2-year-old fillies over the same seven furlongs. As usual, Del Mar’s first post is mostly 12:30 pm PT across the meet. Entries for both stakes come out later in the week, and then we’ll add them here.
How to Bet on Horse Racing This Weekend with MyWinners
Horse racing this weekend gives you a full day of Claiming Crown racing at Churchill, then championship harness from the Meadowlands well into Saturday night. On top of that, Belmont, Woodbine and Del Mar fill the gaps with stakes on both days. As the week goes on, we’ll keep updating this page with fields, morning lines and our picks.
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.
Image © Churchill Downs Inc
