Saturday’s card at Santa Anita Park comes just two weeks before the running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships down the freeway at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. The 10-race slate gets rolling at 4 pm ET / 1 pm PT and is headlined by the $80,000 Lure S. named for one of the best turf milers in my lifetime. The restricted stakes event over the grass goes as Race 9 and is included in a number of Santa Anita’s player friendly horizontal wagers. Here are a few horses I like on the card, including my top choice in the feature.Race 5:This state-bred MSW event for 2YO fillies over the sod that kicks off the Pick 6 and the All-Turf Pick 3 drew a field of eight led by #5 Druliner. The Clubhouse Ride filly comes in off a runner-up effort in her first try over the lawn back on August 28 at Del Mar. She beat #7 Eighties to the wire that day, but I give Eighties a big shot to turn the tables in her second start over the lawn. The Reddam Racing homebred was caught three-wide most of the way and moved before Druliner did to take on the leaders. She understandably did not have a ton of energy left late, but still battled hard to the wire to earn third. She gets a rider upgrade to Umberto Rispoli, should get the jump on the favorite once again, and appears poised to breakthrough for career victory number 1.Play: #7 Eighties (9-2 ML)Race 9: Lure StakesThe condition of the Saturday feature is key in assessing the chances of runners to get to the wire first since it is a significant class drop for horses exiting graded stakes events. The $80k race at one-mile over the sod is for those that have not won a stake of $60k at one mile or longer other than state-breds. This essentially means you have horses coming in to this spot not in their best form. I am hopeful this is the wake-up call for #4 Endlessly. The Amerman Racing colt was very good on the all-weather early in his career, tried the Kentucky Derby, and has not been the same since. That said, he has faced far better competition than he encounters today. Plus, one could argue he is rounding back into form despite failing to hit the board in three straight starts. Trainer Michael McCarthy probably sent him too far last out in the Del Mar Handicap (G2) and he ran better than the running line suggests two-back in the Wickerr. The son of Oscar Performance reunites with Umberto Rispoli. Hopefully, he comes to life with the decrease in competition.Play: Endlessly (7-2 ML) * pictured*Race 10:The finale is a state-bred first level allowance at event at 6-furlongs over the main track where I like 10-time winner #11 Brookys Gal. The I’ll Have Another filly makes her second start of the form cycle for trainer Isidro Tamayo after a half-length defeat at 6-1 at Los Alamitos in mid-September. The 4YO gal has already proven she can be competitive at this venue and over this surface with her runner-up finish to a gate-to-wire winner in a slightly lesser spot on March 8. She draws to the far outside, so traffic issues should not be a problem for jockey Abel Lezcano. Her nose for the wire and 8-1-ML offering make her my top play to close the day.Play: #11 Brookys Gal (8-1 ML)

EXTRA INCENTIVES10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Sunset 6 | final 3 races at Gulfstream & Santa AnitaBet $25, Get $5 | Remington Park R9 OK Classics Cup | BC Bankroll Builder10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Woodbine Mohawk | Breeders Crown Eliminations Night 1Bet $100, Get $10 | Royal Randwick (Aus) | $20M Everest Day cardSPECIAL WAGERSSunset Pick 6 | Last 3 Races at Gulfstream & Last 3 Races at Santa AnitaCoast-to-Coast Pick 5 | Gulfstream Races 7,10; Santa Anita Races 3,4,5TOURNAMENT TIME$100 Keeneland feeder | details$100 Santa Anita feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSPick 5 | $249,893 | Keeneland | begins Race 1 | 1:00 pm ETPick 5 | $104,054 (CAN) | Woodbine | begins Race 2 | 4:59 pm ET1/ST BET AI MOST LIKELY WOODBINE CARRYOVER PICK 5 WINNERWoodbine | Race 4 | 5:57 pm ET | #5 War In Charge (24%)KEY RACESRemington Park | Race 3 | 7:58 pm ET | OK Classics LassieRemington Park | Race 4 | 8:27 pm ET | OK Classics JuvenileRemington Park | Race 5 | 8:57 pm ET | OK Classics Distaff TurfRemington Park | Race 6 | 9:27 pm ET | OK Classics Distaff SprintRemington Park | Race 7 | 9:56 pm ET | OK Classics DistaffRemington Park | Race 8 | 10:28 pm ET | OK Classics SprintRemington Park | Race 9 | 11:00 pm ET | OK Classics CupRemington Park | Race 10 | 11:32 pm ET | OK Classics TurfRoyal Randwick (Aus) | Race 7 | 1:15 am ET | Everest StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXLaurel Park | Race 5 | 2:20 pm ETBelmont at the Big A | Race 9 | 5:20 pm ETMeadowlands | Race 6 | 9:20 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHMike Maker | Belmont at the Big A | 4 of 5 entrants 9-2 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Remington Park | trainer Steve Asmussen | 5 wins, 1 second, 1 third from 9 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMDustin Fabian: Santa Anita Late Pick 4 Analysis for FridayJeremy Plonk: Oklahoma Classics Night at Remington Park AnalysisAl Cimaglia: Breeders Crown Eliminations Early Pick 5 Analysis for Woodbine MohawkJohnny Burke: Handicapping the Everest from Royal RandwickFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Woodbine Mohawk Park has a 13-race card, and the headliners are 2-year-olds competing in 7 Breeder Crown Elimination races. The 0.20 Early Pick 5 starts in Race 1. The sequence has a $75,000 guaranteed pool, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.Race 1 (6:35 PM EDT)1-Wallace Hartley (3-1)-Going to try to not over think the opening leg and will assume there isn't a form reversal coming. Has drawn off in the last 2 races to win easily and stopped the clock in 149.2 with a 26.2 final panel in last. Doug McNair should get away close to the top of the stack and will pick the time to push the button. Should roll by all of them again for a 3-peat.Race 2 (7:08 PM EDT)2-Spencer Hanover (5-1)-Will use a horse who has been improving, comes off an impressive win and has a top pilot in Jason Bartlett between the pipes. This is a versatile freshman that should be in play off the gate but doesn't need to be on top for the entire mile to win.5-Im Kronos S (5/2)-Took 40 days off after a sick scratch on 9-16. Came off the bench on 9-25 and rolled home with a 54.3 back half to take its 1st picture 2 back. Caught a rough trip last time against a salty field and cashed a 4th place check. Ake Svanstedt steers his pupil and this is a big track horse who could bounce back and take his Elim.Race 3 (7:31 PM EDT)4-Whoa Black Betty (3-1)-This will be the 3rd start for the David Menary filly and raced from off the pace in both races. Won its debut coming off cover, then was too far back and couldn't reach despite a 55.2 back half. JMac drives again and will look for a more aggressive steer tonight.5-Easy Station (5/2)-Took a few weeks off after shipping in from Lex and has cashed 2dn place checks in both starts off the bench. Showed good gate speed in last, raced well but couldn't seal the deal as a big odds-on choice. Louie Roy should be racing on the point or close to it off the car and could make amends for last week's loss.Race 4 (7:54 PM EDT)1-Endurance (6/5)-Beaten 2/5 favorite in the Million on 9-20 has nothing to apologize for coming up short at 2/5. Has banked over $768,000 this year, and has been resting since the last start. The Chris Beaver entry has won 6 of 8 and could be ready to add to that total here.5-Diabolic Hill (7/2)-Might be overlooked, and should be respected as had excuses in the last 2 races before taking a short hiatus. Qualifier at M1 on 10-9 was good and will look for a big try starting when the wings fold.6-Nix Nacken (5-1)-Could be a square price and this horse likes to work on bigger ovals. Has shown improvement in its last 2 races at the Red Mile. Yannick Gingras takes over as TMac steers the one above. My take is the Marcus Melander pupil is going to leave hard. If the opening turn goes well and lands in a close-up seat chances for a win improve a great deal.Race 5 (8:17 PM EDT)2-Always Dawn (9/2)-Comes off a nice win with an efficient trip against older and rallied to just get up. This will be the 3rd race for the Kevin Benn barn and has a 2nd place finish along with a picture. Dexter Dunn takes over for JMac who drives #5 and will look for another cozy trip. It's best to respect chances to double up, and does good work at Mohawk (16-3-6-2).5-Coco Jo Jo (10-1)-This mare has burned money in the last 2 starts but has not raced poorly. At this price, in a wide-open affair, will use and hope JMac can dial her up a notch.9-Asweetbeachhere (6-1)-Not loving the post draw but that makes the price in a race that is not easy to ready. This will be the 2nd start off a sick scratch. Has the gate speed to be put in play early on and is another that could win at a nice price with a top effort.$1 Early Pick 51/2,5/4,5/1,5,6/2,5,9Total Bet=$36Check me out on Twitter!

The nationwide tour of state-bred championship cards rolls through Remington Park on Friday night for the Oklahoma Classics. The 10-race program includes 8 stakes races for the Oklahoma-breds and reunites several familiar equine faces on the local scene. What's interesting about this year's Classics Night card is the number of past champions showing up in different race divisions compared to their previous success. Who wins these contests of musical chairs? Let's take our shots.1/ST BET and Xpressbet players be sure to take advantage of the Breeders' Cup Bankroll Builder promotion. Bet $25 on the Race 9 Oklahoma Classics Cup and get $5 deposited into your account on Oct. 31 to play this year's Breeders' Cup.Race 3: $100,000 LassieVeteran trainer Kari Craddock has had much success with the 2-year-old fillies here, winning this race 3 times and finishing second a year ago. She's got #8 Lil Miss Brisket (4-1 morning line odds) coming off a big maiden win in her second start. Her rider Richard Eramia jumps to go with the Joe Offolter barn, for which he's the go-to pilot, but that leaves Craddock a chance to lure Stewart Elliott, the track's leading rider in 2023 and 2024.Race 4: $100,000 Juvenile#7 Sooner Red (5-2 ML) rolled wire-to-wire in his career debut Sept. 20 and looks to continue an unbelievable run for the Robertino Diodoro barn in recent months at the track. Leading jockey Ramon Vazquez has returned to Remington like time stood still, moving straight to the top of the leaderboard and winning a wild 45% teamed with Diodoro here. Underneath give a look to #4 Royalamerican and #5 Threesocks for a C.R. Trout barn that aims for Classics Night and has won this division 3 times.Race 5: $130,000 Distaff TurfTwo-time reigning Remington Park Horse of the Meeting #2 Miss Code West (8-5 ML) has been an OKC dynamo. She romped by 4 in the Distaff last year on dirt, and recently has found a home on grass winning stakes at Lone Star and Remington Park. Kevin Scholl's stable star has the edge on defending Distaff Turf heroine #1 Doudoudouwannadance after comfortably defeating her in the Bob Barry Memorial last out. Favorites have won this division 9 of the last 10 years and that should continue. Late-running #3 Maybe Docie may pick up the exacta pieces with on-the-pace types likely to be softened by Miss Code West.Race 6: $130,000 Distaff SprintLongshot #5 Floras Ora (15-1 ML) can step up as a 3-year-old filly and claim this division with last year's winner opting for the Distaff going long. Floras Ora won the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes fillies' division in her first start of the year and now gets that key, second-off-the-layoff attempt. She made a huge improvement in 2024 between her first and second starts and a similar improvement can win this. I'll exacta key-box with #1 Letta's Legacy (9-5 ML), who is a remarkable 9-10 in the exacta locally and 6-6 in the exacta over 6 furlongs, as well as the ever-sharp #2 Artistic Vision (2-1 ML).Race 7: $145,000 DistaffWith last year's 1-2 finishers opting for the Distaff Turf this time around, it's last year's Distaff Sprint winner #7 Take Me Serious (6-5 ML) who gets a lot of attention here on the stretch-out. But I've liked both 2-turn route efforts by #4 Eireann (10-1 ML) and happily would take a good price on this one who is fresher at this time of year.Race 8: $130,000 Sprint#7 C W Prize (9-2 ML) was my pick in the Classics Cup going long last year, ran a credible second and has been rock-solid throughout the 2025 campaign. He's 9-10 in the exacta at Remington on dirt and a multiple stakes winner at Will Rogers Downs over this 6-furlong trip. He's the play over #5 Breakable Code (4-1 ML), runner-up in this race last year as the chalk and a super 5-for-7 on dirt at RP.Race 9: $175,000 Classics Cup#2 Mister Omaha (9-5 ML) ran fantastic on the front end of the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby vs. open company, beaten just 3-3/4 lengths when eventually third to Travers runner-up Bracket Buster. He won last year's Oklahoma Classics Juvenile and can be a hammerlock in this division for years to come for trainer Joe Offolter. I'll key him over #7 Flat Hanby on the long-awaited return, #8 Inca Empire, the defending champ meeting a slightly tougher field, and #3 Number One Dude, Mr. Reliable in these state-bred stakes over the years to put in a solid effort.Race 10: $130,000 TurfHe wasn't favored in either of the past 2 years, but #6 Eakly (5-1 ML) knows his way to the front and to the wire first in the Oklahoma Classics Turf. Give him a big chance to three-peat for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel, who's 32 victories in this series are far and away most of any conditioner. #7 Excaping the Blues (5-2 ML) set a course record 2 starts back and added the Red Earth Handicap for a fourth straight win most recently. He's not going down easily and will be forward as well in the mix. #8 Tap the Dot won this race in 2022 and at age 7 has been just about as good as ever. His late-running style could benefit from Eakly and Excaping the Blues duking it out. But give me Eakly once again.

Let’s start the weekend with a winner. Here’s my take on the Late Pick 4 at Santa Anita on Friday, which kicks off with Race 6, at 6:33PM ET.Race 6 (6:33PM ET)- $50K Maiden Claiming – 6 Furlongs (Turf)The sequence kicks off with maiden fillies and mares going six furlongs on the turf and I’m taking a stand against the 9/5 morning line favorite, #2 Frog. This filly has lost four consecutive races at this level and always concedes ground down the lane in races. Sure, she ‘can’ win, but she’s not a good favorite. I’ll go deeper here to try to beat her. My top pick is #6 PAARL (5/1) in a ‘second off the layoff’ move for John Sadler and dropping for a tag for the first time. She was a victim of a crowded break in a Del Mar MSW sprint last out and she did have to pull out of her spot. Did it cost her the win? No. But did it cost her a length? Maybe. This is a better spot for her. This is a good leg to find our price horse, so we’ll take advantage and also use a handful of others.Use Horses: #3 STORMY ROUGE (12/1), #4 MOLLY JENSEN (8/1), #6 PAARL (5/1), #7 WITHOUT A POUT (4/1), #9 (AE) EXPRESSIVE LOVE (8/1)Race 7 (7:03PM ET) - $20K Maiden Claiming – 6 FurlongsIn state-bred maiden claiming races, I generally look for two things right off the bat. 1) Horses dropping in class from Maiden Special Weight races and 2) Horses dropping in class from open company races. This is a big field, but not much luck in either area. A few horses, like #1 She’s Back (8/1) and #8 Southern Anton (9/2) are in Southern California after debuting at Emerald Downs in Washington. So not exactly an ‘apples-to-apples’ class drop and not really the one I’m looking for. #12 REMEMBER APRIL (5/1) does drop in from a pair of Del Mar turf MSW races, and #14 CHICA TIGRE (8/1) was running for a $50K tag during that same Del Mar meet. #5 PRISCILLA (6/1) is another MSW class dropper, and appears to be the likeliest winner. Note that #2 STRONG MORALS was bet down to even-money in her Del Mar debut at this level and flashed a ton of speed before dropping out.Use Horses: #2 STRONG MORALS (15/1), #5 PRISCILLA (6/1), #6 SHEER LIGHTNING (6/1), #13 REMEMBER APRIL (5/1), #14 CHICA TIGRE (8/1)Race 8 (7:33PM ET) - $40K Claiming – 1 Mile (Turf)We’re deep-by-deep to start the ticket, but I think the eighth race is a two-horse event. Juan Hernandez, Southern California’s leading rider, could have probably ridden a few of these but takes the call on Mark Rheinford’s #4 CAISSON (4/1). Hernandez and Rheinford don’t have a history and this horse has slowly improved all year. The distance is a big concern – he’s just 3-for-16 going a mile – and his deep-closing style probably isn’t perfect for this race, but plenty of favorable factors. #1 BEEF WINSLOW (9/5) finished behind CAISSON at Del Mar, but should use the rail to his advantage. The last two times he went a mile at Santa Anita, he won by open lengths and he appears to be sitting on another big effort. The wildcard is projected pacesetter #5 Crosby Beach. He has races in 2024 that would demolish this field, but his race off the pine at Del Mar was not good and it’s not an encouraging sign that Jeff Mullins, who claimed him for $50K off that effort, immediately drops him into a lighter spot with a $40K tag.Use Horses: #1 BEEF WINSLOW (9/5), #4 CAISSON (4/1)Race 9 (8:03PM ET) – $35K Maiden Optional Claiming – 6 1/2 FurlongsFriday’s nightcap attracted 10 maidens – 6 of them first-time starters. Nobody is in for a claiming tag. In races like this I generally favor horses with some experience, especially if they were bet a little in prior start(s). #3 DEBBY’S GAL (5/2) is the favorite here and probably for good reason. She was bet to 12/1 in her debut last month at Los Alamitos, a race that also featured a 2/5 favorite for Michael McCarthy. She finished 3rd that day and picks up Juan Hernandez to ride. Of those who have started, she’s probably the one you want, along with #6 MIMI’S MEMORY (5/1). She went off at 9/1 at Del Mar and flashed speed before dropping out. This group is more to her liking. Let’s also give a look to first-time starter #7 TOKALA (8/1). He shows a pair of very fast gate drills in preparation for this debut and the Ryan Hanson / Adrian Escobedo combo have clicked at 15% over the last two years at Santa Anita, with a $2.67 ROI. Daughter of Yaupon sold for $100K at Keeneland last September for 4x the $25K stud fee and offspring of star sprinter Yaupon have been predictably proficient on debut.Use Horses: #3 DEBBY’S GAL (5/2), #6 MIMI’S MEMORY (5/1), #7 TOKALA (8/1)Pick 4 TicketRace 6: 3, 4, 6, 7 (add 9 if draws in)Race 7: 2, 5, 6, 13, 14Race 8: 1, 4Race 9: 3, 6, 7Ticket Cost: $60 for 50-cent play

Fall Saturdays at Keeneland are almost always fun. I particularly enjoyed attending, and of course, wagering on this card headlined by a pair of underrated graded stake sprints for 3YOs. The Perryville (G3) drew a compact field this year led by the second and third place finishers in the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) in late August, while the Raven Run (G2) attracted an oversubscribed group of sophomore fillies going 7-furlongs over the main track. I am chalky in the Perryville, so I will save you my selection of Captain Cook, but here are a few horses that should provide a lot better value on Saturday in the Bluegrass State.Race 2:My first play of the afternoon comes in this wide-open restricted MSW at 1 1/16-miles over the main track where I landed on second-time starter #4 Flat Rock Road. The Woodford Thoroughbreds homebred debuted at Churchill Downs going the tricky 6.5-furlong distance and made a solid account of himself for trainer Will Walden. The Street Sense colt was caught wide throughout in his first start and still battled on to finish third to a class dropper for Mark Casse that got a much better trip. Walden stretches this guy out to two-turns, protects him this time, and legs up hot riding John Velazquez. An improved effort should be expected.Play: #4 Flat Rock Road (10-1 ML)Race 8:There is a noticeable lack of serious speed signed on in this third-level allowance over the Keeneland lawn. #3 This Is Uscar projects to be forward assuming he stays in to try the grass for his second time, but is not a need the lead type. #9 Genius Jimmy could be sent aggressively in his first local try, but either way #1 Theismann should benefit. The $1.15M Keeneland September 2021 purchase has not panned out thus far, but appears to have found a home going two-turns on the grass. Two-back at Ellis Park in his first turf route effort he took advantage of a favorable inside trip when posting a career best effort. Then the C R K Stable gelding avoided regression five weeks later when holding off a stronger group in Louisville and did so while stalking just off the pace. Luis Saez was aboard that day and returns to ride this son of Quality Road that should get a great trip along the inside either on the lead or in the pocket. Hopefully, the Peter Eurton trainee can make it three in a row!Play: #1 Theismann (8-1 ML)Race 9: Raven Run (G2)The featured event for 3YO fillies as always came up salty led by Godolphin homebred #9 Ragtime. The Union Rags filly has done very little wrong through four starts with her lone defeat coming by a neck two-back in the Test (G1). She is a serious sprinter, but her lack of gate speed certainly could present some challenges in this full field 7-furlong affair making her 3-1-ML price tough to swallow.I landed on a filly with the opposite running style in #1 Delightful Claire. The Rigney Racing runner has been well meant from the start based on the amount of money she took in each of her first three starts. She enters her first start at Keeneland off a better than looks third to Ragtime in the Dogwood (G3). Ragtime and #3 Strong State came from well out of it early to finish one-two last month in Louisville, while Delightful Claire was on the lead throughout. She was no match late for the top two, but did run far better than any others prominently placed. #7 Maida could be a thorn in her side early, but if not she could have things her way early at a very playable price.Play: #1 Delightful Claire (10-1 ML)

EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Hawthorne | today’s racesTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Keeneland feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot pick 6 | $35,076 (CAN) | Woodbine | begins Race 2 | 5:59 pm ETJackpot pick 6 | $28,436 | Charles Town | begins Race 3 | 7:57 pm ET1/ST BET AI MOST LIKELY KEENELAND WINNERKeeneland| Race 2 | 1:32 pm ET | #12 Matty’s Baby (23%)LONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXKeeneland | Race 5 | 3:08 pm ETHorseshoe Indianapolis | Race 6 | 4:48 pm ETBelmont at the Big A | Race 8 | 4:53 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHMiguel Clement | Belmont at the Big A | 4 of 5 entrants 5-1 or less oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Delaware Park, Parx | trainer Jamie Ness | 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third from 8 startersPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer best bets today in Xpressbet.com member’s section

Twelve contenders and four alternates have drawn a spot in The Everest (G1) at Royal Randwick for Australia’s richest race on Friday night US-time. The headlines (this one included) have rightfully focused on the world’s top-rated sprinter, KA YING RISING, who ships in from Hong Kong to test his might. Michael Hawkes, co-trainer of local leading sprinter BRIASA, has sent his warning that this is not a “one-horse race” despite the global focus on KA YING RISING. Let’s look at the field and try to determine whether this is indeed a one-horse race, or if you’re better off taking a shot against in the AU $20 million bout.#1 KA YING RISING *pictured* | J: Zac Purton | T: David HayesRecord: 16-14-2-0There isn’t much to say about the world’s top-rated sprinter that hasn’t been said before, but in making his first start outside of Hong Kong, this gelding is taking quite a big bite. To give some context to KA YING RISING’s resume, half of his victories are in group stakes company and a fourth of them came in Group 1 competition. He has two second-place finishes, one by a nose as a result of a bad jump out of the gate and the other by a quarter-length after an undesirable trip on the lead. Both of his losses came in January of 2024, and the champion has been undefeated ever since.His works leading up to The Everest have been the subject of discussion after finishing third in his trial run. However, he worked easily and was never really asked for much, and David Hayes has insisted his training has him peaking at the perfect time. His tune-up race in Hong Kong was as effortless as his works on the grounds in Australia and he looks primed for another championship run. The competition will be stiff, but the homecoming for Zac Purton appears to be in the hands of the racing Gods as all signs point to KA YING RISING being healthy, in form, and capable of his best.#2 BRIASA | J: Tyler Schiller | T: Michael, John & Wayne HawkesRecord: 12-8-1-0BRIASA comes into the race at the peak of his career output having won two of his last five runs, including Group 1 and Group 2 stakes victories. He tried stretching out to seven furlongs in April but didn’t have the final push at the 50-meter mark to hang onto his lead. On September 20, BRIASA came up short in a Group 2 at Randwick going five and one-half furlongs before coming back for a Group 2 win on October 4 at six. BRIASA appears to be the most highly rated local runner, but a splash of inconsistency against the best fields could be the deciding factor as he prepares for the toughest race of his career. He should try to run a similar race as KA YING RISING, but BRIASA has shown weakness down the stretch where others in this field have that extra gear to utilize the entire length of the race. This will be his most daunting task, and he’ll need to run the race of his life to make it to the wire first.#3 OVERPASS | J: Joshua Parr | T: Bjorn BakerRecord: 32-10-6-0The likely early speed of the field, OVERPASS has been in declining form over the course of the last calendar year. In November of 2024, this seven-year-old won the Group 1 Winterbottom at a fairly slow 1:09 over six furlongs. After taking time off until April of this year, OVERPASS has been winless in three official attempts finishing 2nd, 5th, and 9th. These races were against largely Group 1 competition, but the field doesn’t get any easier with BRIASA and KA YING RISING stalking him every step of the way. This gelding would need an easy lead and a crawling pace to take advantage of to win Australia’s richest race. Quite frankly, there isn’t much about this field that spells out an easy trip for the seven-year-old. If he digs back to his career best, he may have a puncher’s chance.#4 JIMMYSSTAR | J: Ethan Brown | T: Ciaron MaherRecord: 20-9-4-2If OVERPASS looks like opening speed, JIMMYSSTAR is the horse that will settle far off the pace and his bettors won’t be nervous as they wait for him to shift into gear late and roar down the stretch. He came up just short of BRIASA in the Group 2 Premiere at Randwick on October 4. His victory in the Group 1 All Aged came at seven furlongs on a soft track, but he looked much the best for the distance. The six-year-old revels in longer sprints, but if everybody is going all-out early he may have an opening to exploit late. Like the other highly-rated locals, JIMMYSSTAR is going to need to dig in to find the run of his life to take down KA YING RISING, but crazier things have happened in racing. His running style should benefit him in trying to take down BRIASA and KA YING RISING if they have to battle with OVERPASS for five furlongs, but his resume still lacks the consistency and quality of his main competitors.#5 WAR MACHINE | J: Tim Clark | T: Ben, Will & JD HayesRecord: 14-7-2-2WAR MACHINE is taking a big step forward but has been on a tear lately winning four of his last five. Three of those victories came at seven furlongs, or close to it, and the most recent at the six-furlong distance he will run in The Everest (G1). For context, WAR MACHINE won at Flemington on a Good turf course at six furlongs with a time of 1:08.53. BRIASA finished in 1:07.98 in his Group 2 victory at Randwick in October. If you assume a sixth of a second is equal to a length, that puts BRIASA at about three lengths ahead of WAR MACHINE. This runner will be settling off the pace along with JIMMYSSTAR, but the on-paper times he runs make me hesitant to think he’ll be able to clear this field at six furlongs. WAR MACHINE seems to really excel in the final furlong of his seven-furlong victories, but he just won’t have that much track to run this weekend.#6 MAZU | J: Jason Collett | T: Joseph PrideRecord: 40-9-4-6MAZU claimed his last victory in April of this year in the Group 3 Hall Mark, but has been somewhat underwhelming in his campaign since. Having run twice on slower conditions, he deserves some grace for his recent resume, but this runner is 9-5-1-1 on a Heavy turf course so he certainly likes the soft grass. The seven-year-old gelding just seems to be ready for some class relief after this to try to get back into winning form. It’s hard to say no to the opportunity this kind of purse brings, but on paper the bite seems to be too big for MAZU to chew. Expect him to try for an early lead alongside OVERPASS, but I think the distance and quality of his competition will chew him up before he can sniff the wire.#7 JEDIBEEL | J: Kerrin McEvoy | T: Brad WiddupRecord: 24-8-7-17-1-2-1 at six furlongs, 8-2-2-0 at Randwick, and in declining form this year, JEDIBEEL doesn’t offer much to bettors on paper. In his last run against MAZU, JIMMYSSTAR and BRIASA, he was nowhere near threatening to find the wire first. The field here only gets tougher even with familiar foes. This distance just doesn’t suit him, and I think this six-year-old will be ready to get back to on-par competition as his campaign continues.#8 ANGEL CAPITAL | J: Ben Melham | T: Chris WallerRecord: 9-5-0-0As the record indicates, ANGEL CAPITAL is sort of the “all or nothing” horse. He’s either winning, or he’s completely off the board. With a pair of wins in listed stakes at six furlongs, he boasts a solid 3-2-0-0 at this distance, but this is no listed stakes. His times in those six-furlong runs are vastly slower than the regular times put up by his competition, and we have no evidence to say he can magically pick up a couple of seconds between races. If this horse wins, it’ll just have to be one that beats me.#9 JOLIESTAR | J: James McDonald | Chris WallerRecord: 16-7-4-2JOLIESTAR comes into this race with the rare line item on his resume of having not only beaten BRIASA but having won in impressive fashion. Outside of a ninth-place finish on April 5 in the Group 1 T J Smith, JOLIESTAR has been a menace to any field she has had the pleasure of running against. She ran second to JIMMYSSTAR in the Group 1 All Aged before coming back to roar past BRIASA in the Group 2 The Shorts. This five-year-old mare also has the benefit of a potential hot pace between the assumed favorites, and the breaks are set up to go her way if all things play out perfectly. This is not a mare you can count out easily.#10 LADY SHENANDOAH | J: Damian Lane | T: Chris WallerRecord: 9-5-2-1LADY SHENANDOAH will be glad to be back at Randwick where she boasts a 4-3-1-0 record, but none of those four runs have been The Everest (G1). Her times at six furlongs show a very beatable competition in nearly every try, and I do think losing James McDonald to JOLIESTAR does further hurt her chances at making a splash on the tote board. This mare wins races, there’s no doubt about that, but I do expect this race to shape up just a bit too tough for her. She has only run a third of her races at six furlongs, and the connections certainly prefer to set her up for longer distances than what she’ll run at Randwick this weekend.#11 MAGIC TIME | J: Michael Dee | T: Grahame BeggRecord: 22-8-2-4On paper, there isn’t much to say about MAGIC TIME other than she seems to be slowing down in her six-year-old campaign and this field is just too much for her. She wins half the races she runs at six furlongs, but in her last five races she has won only once in a Group 3 stakes race running six furlongs in 1:10.01. In other words, she got a win but her Group 3 foes were nowhere near what she’ll see at Randwick. Unfortunately, she feels like an easy toss for handicappers.#12 TEMPTED | J: Craig Williams | T: Ciaron MaherRecord: 8-4-1-2The lone Godolphin runner in this field, TEMPTED also bears the burden of being a three-year-old against some of the toughest older horses in the hemisphere. This daughter of Street Boss certainly has the connections and pedigree to catch the eye of handicappers, but I think she’s taking a huge step forward in a spot that may end up being a blemish on an otherwise successful resume. She’ll need to improve drastically here to be considered a contender.Race ForecastTop Choice: #1 KA YING RISINGUpset Alert: #4 JIMMYSSTAR & #9 JOLIESTAROVERPASS and MAZU should both try for an early lead, and I expect the two to do battle upfront with KA YING RISING and BRIASA just off the pace. Settling back will be JIMMYSSTAR and JOLIESTAR waiting to see how the field shapes up and where the gaps may lie as they head towards home. I think the pace and pressure of such a big race will be too much for BRIASA who will start to tread water while KA YING RISING makes his late move and starts pushing past slowing contenders. From somewhere far off the pace, JIMMYSSTAR and JOLIESTAR will start looking for a lane and passing by tiring rivals. I expect KA YING RISING to be just a touch too much, but don’t be shocked if one of the late closers gets set up to slingshot home winning by a nose.Predicted Top Four#1 KA YING RISING#9 JOLIESTAR#4 JIMMYSSTAR#2 BRIASAHow I’ll Play ItWin: 4 or 9 (depending on who has the higher odds at post time)Exacta: 1 w/ 4,9Trifecta: 1 w/ 4,9 w/ 4,9Superfecta: 1 w/ 4,9 w/ 4,9 w/ 2