With the 2026 Breeders’ Cup less than three weeks away, the North American racing calendar has entered a relatively quiet stretch, with no remaining Challenge Series races on the schedule ahead of the World Championships on Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland.
For a fleet, 3-year-old filly sprinter who may not be ready to face their elders in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Saturday’s Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland is a rather nice option.
Not every talented racehorse winds up competing in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs. There are many reasons why. Some horses mature too soon, or too late, to compete on the first Saturday in May. Others prefer to race at a different distance or surface than the Kentucky Derby’s 1 1/4 miles on dirt.
Tam Tam proved superior to the 3-year-old grass fillies in California by capturing the Aug. 22 Del Mar Oaks Presented by Keeneland Sales. Now, she has made a compelling case for being the best 3-year-old turf filly in Kentucky, if not the country.
Every spring, sports fans and much of the general public know the Kentucky Derby is coming up on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs. In addition to the 120,000-plus attending the Derby in person, folks across the country throw Derby parties, put money in their betting accounts, learn about the horses, and tune in to the national TV broadcast to watch “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”
