Even the best horses competing in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships this coming Friday and Saturday at Del Mar have questions revolving around them. Here is a look at 10 questions handicappers must consider as part of their evaluation.
Every Sunday Noel Michaels will provide free full-card picks for a one racecard in North America. A veteran handicapper and tournament-play pioneer, Michaels also writes a weekly “Weekend Winners” blog for America’s Best Racing with a focus on key stakes races at marquee tracks. This feature will be straight-forward: full-card picks for one Sunday slate of races of his choosing.
Dirt sprints are the bread and butter of U.S. Thoroughbred racing and the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint is the crowning jewel of the division with the winner taking home the Eclipse Award as champion sprinter in 10 of the last 11 years and 13 of the last 15 seasons.
The $600,000, Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes Saturday is the second-to-last graded stakes race of the 2025 Keeneland fall meet, and the one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds has attracted a full field of 12 along with three also-eligibles on Saturday.
Following the retirement of reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, the 2025 Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar appears wide-open with many viable win contenders.
