An Aidan O'Brien-trained hotshot may seem like a sure thing but Charles Darwin will have to defy a 17-year losing trend for favorites in the opener on the third day of Royal Ascot.

Ombudsman produced a blistering turn of foot to power clear of Anmaat in the June 18 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse.

The progressive American Affair produced a powerful performance to hold off Frost At Dawn and strike in the King Charles III Stakes (G1) for Scottish trainer Jim Goldie June 17.

Los Angeles and Anmaat square off June 18 in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.

With a quiet weekend of racing for the top level, Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner Raging Torrent held his lead in Week 21 of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll.

Docklands bounced back to go one better and cause a 14-1 shock as he narrowly denied Rosallion in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) June 17 to open the Royal Ascot meeting in thrilling fashion.

Having been beat in her three starts since winning this race a year ago, Vahva aims to right the ship June 21 in the $300,000 Chicago Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

On the June 16 BloodHorse Monday: OBS director of sales Tod Wojciechowski previews the June 17-18 sale with Olivia Newman, while Louie Rabaut and Sean Collins take a look at key Breeders' Cup divisions and talk youth in racing with Frank Angst.

Meisho Tabaru led gate to wire for an upset victory over Bellagio Opera in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) June 15 at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan.

The Takarazuka Kinen (G1), set for June 15 at Hanshin Racecourse, has been moved up two weeks to duck the summer heat but the field is likely to provide enough hot competition on its own in the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In".

Ag Bullet surged past male rivals in the stretch to register a clear win the $500,000 Jaipur Stakes (G1T) June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.

Jantar Mantar rebounded from a bitter disappointment in Hong Kong and a long layoff to win the Yasuda Kinen (G1) June 8, earning a "Win and You're In" berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

Under a front-running ride from Frankie Dettori, Raging Torrent defeated older division heavyweights Fierceness and White Abarrio with a thrilling score in the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

While many of her rivals scrambled over the sloppy track, Dorth Vader took aim on runaway leader Dazzling Move and fired past that rival in midstretch for a convincing score at 8-1 odds in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 6 at Saratoga Race Course.

Think Big will look to continue his ascent up the ladder as the nation's top turf sprinter when he goes for grade 1 glory in the $500,000 Jaipur Stakes (G1T) June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

Soul Rush, victorious in the Dubai Turf (G1) in his last start, returns to Tokyo Racecourse June 8 seeking to improve on his third-place finish in the 2024 Yasuda Kinen (G1).

Four days before the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), trainer Doug O'Neill admitted to feeling some nerves, though not for the usual horse trainer reasons.

Think Big will look to continue his ascent up the ladder as the nation's top turf sprinter when he goes for grade 1 glory in the $500,000 Jaipur Stakes (G1T) June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

Jon Clay is reaping the benefits of campaigning Raging Sea, a RNA at the 2021 Keeneland September Sale. She is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the June 6 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, a race she finished fourth in last year.

More is on the line in the June 7 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) than the $1 million purse. The prestigious middle-distance Met Mile is also known as a stallion-making race, and it regularly carries championship implications.