Fans enjoyed a coast-to-coast showcase of top-level racing last weekend, highlighted by five Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series races. Belmont at the Big A along with Santa Anita Park’s opening weekend took center stage, while additional graded stakes across the country added even more intrigue. The outcomes not only secured several Breeders’ Cup berths but also reshaped divisional storylines heading into the fall.

Locked, a 4-year-old colt by Gun Runner, squeaked out a win in the Grade 2 Woodward Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct, surging to the lead in the final strides to win by three-quarters of a length under John Velazquez. This was the second time Locked has found the winner’s circle this year. He dominating the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in March by 8 ½ lengths. He has only finished out of the money once in his five starts this year, which were all in Grade 1 or Grade 2 stakes. He ranks 11^th in the older male division and 31^st overall with $976,175 in purse earnings.

Mystik Dan was back in the winner’s circle for the second time since his 2024 Kentucky Derby win with Francisco Arrieta aboard for the injured Brian Hernandez Jr. Arrieta made a gutsy move to split horses at the sixteenth pole to guide Mystik Dan to victory in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs by three-quarters of a length for trainer Kenny McPeek. Mystik Dan rose to 21^st in the older male division and 59^th overall with $657,300 in purse earnings this year.

One of the best performances of the weekend came in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes at Aqueduct, where 2022 and 2024 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance dominated by 3 ½ lengths. The 7-year-old Godolphin omebred secured his 20^th career victory and his ninth Grade or Group 1 win in the Joe Hirsch and earned a lofty 123 Equibase Speed Figure, which topped all horses in North America last week and is the second highest speed figure earned this year.

Unbeaten Cavalieri (Eclipse Sportswire)

Cavalieri has a perfect 5-for-5 record in her career and has earned three straight graded stakes wins this year, all at Santa Anita. She won the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes in January, the Grade 1 B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile Stakes Presented by FanDuel TV in March, and Sunday’s Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes in her return from a six-month layoff. She won the Zenyatta by 1 ¾ lengths over stablemate Richi to punch her ticket to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff for trainer Bob Baffert. With her win on Sunday, Cavalieri moved up to 35^th in the older female division with $360,000 in 2025 purse earnings.

Along with Cavalieri’s win, trainer Baffert also added two more Breeders’ Cup automatic berths over the weekend at Santa Anita with Imagination winning the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes Presented by Estrella Jalisco and Nevada Beach prevailing in the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes.

The top five jockeys in the standings held their positions over the weekend, with Flavien Prat still on top after surpassing $30 million in 2025 earnings. Irad Ortiz Jr., however, continues to close the gap, leading all riders in both wins and earnings across North America last week. On the training side, there were no changes in the top 10.

• Last week’s top trainer by earnings — Mike Maker: 12 wins, $758,587
• Last week’s top jockey by earnings — Irad Ortiz Jr: 13 wins, $998,497
• Last week’s top Equibase Speed Figure — Rebel’s Romance (123)

North American leaders lists for horses, jockeys, trainers and owners are available on equibase.com and you can filter the data to view by a wide variety of categories including age, sex, surface and race type.