BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI HOBBS, NM–DECEMBER 10, 2024–A total of 12 stakes will be contested on Zia Park’s all-Quarter Horse program on Sunday. Post time for the first race is set for 11:05 a.m. (MST). Following is a preview of the six open stakes, listed in the order they will be run.

James Isaac Hobbs Stakes (G2) Double Bar S Ranch’s Cuz Lightyear heads a ...



LOS ALAMITOS–DECEMBER 8, 2024–To be held for the 52nd time in its history, the Grade 1, $600,000 Champion of Champions at 440 yards will bring together the best lineup of Quarter Horses to face off in 2024. The field will feature champions, superstars and impressive Grade 1 winners, all looking for a win in the most prestigious race for older horses in the nation.

Jess Good Wine, the Remington Park Horse of the Meet, who is unbeaten this year with a stellar record of four wins from as many starts. His stakes wins have included the Grade 1 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship and the Grade 1 All American Gold Cup. No horse has ...



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BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI PHOENIX, AZ–DECEMBER 7, 2024–Twenty-seven 3-year-olds, led by local stakes winners Hes My Sweetheart and Wicked Cowgirl Smart, are entered in Tuesday's 400-yard AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby trials. The 10 fastest qualifiers from Tuesday's three heats will meet in the December 31, $30,000-added AQRA Turf ...



LOS ALAMITOS–DECEMBER 6, 2024–Oh Jerry, See Through It, and Tizlightning are some of the best horses to ever race at 1,000 yards at Los Alamitos. Each of them won a rich final at 1,000 yards at least once, with Tizlightning being the only one to sweep the Summer and Winter finals in the same year at Los Alamitos.

James Crotts’ Project Leader has already added his name among the all-time greats at 1,000 yards at the Orange County oval. He’ll now look to join Tizlightning as the only ones to sweep the track’s two richest distance races when he heads the field to the $50,000 Winter Championship at Los Alamitos in race ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI PHOENIX, AZ–DECEMBER 6, 2024–Apollitical Iceman, graded stakes placed son of world champion Apollitical Jess racing for Rancho La Aventura LLC, is one of 10 2-year-olds entered back in Monday's 350-yard, $30,000-added AQRA Turf Paradise Open Futurity at Turf Paradise. The second-fastest qualifier from four trials run November 18, Apollitical Iceman made his local debut with a three-quarter length victory in the second heat. The gray gelding has earned $89,981 from eight starts, and his record includes a second-place finish, four lengths behind winner ...



LOS ALAMITOS, CA–NOVEMBER 30, 2024–Dunn Ranch and Weetona Stanley’s Stanley Cartel will look to start a new winning streak when he heads the second of four trials to the Grade 2, $157,400 Southern California Derby on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Twenty-eight sophomores will race in the 400-yard trials with the horses with the 10 fastest times advancing to the final on the meet’s closing night on Sunday, December 22.

The trials will be contested as ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI OPELOUSAS, LA–NOVEMBER 29, 2024–Sheza Bye Bye, a stakes-winning daughter of Hezadashinbye racing for Israel Flores, is one of a dozen state-bred sophomores entered in Saturday's LQHBA Breeders' Derby (RG3) trials at Evangeline Downs. The 10 fastest qualifiers from the two 400-yard heats will meet in the December 21, $100,000-added final. Sheza Bye Bye will be making her first official start since ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI OPELOUSAS, LA–NOVEMBER 27, 2024–Five graded stakes winners––San Lorenzo Jezz, Hes Bold As Corona, RF Fast Dash N Train, Gold Gun Z, and San Lorenzo Firulais––are among the 113 state-bred juveniles entered in Friday's 400-yard LQHBA Million Futurity (RG1) trials at Evangeline Downs. First post time for Friday's program is set for 4:35 p.m. (CST). The 10 fastest qualifiers from ...



LOS ALAMITOS, CA–NOVEMBER 22, 2024–Led by the stablemates and Grade 1 futurity winning fillies American Dreamin and Up To Party, a total of 102 juveniles representing 74 different ownerships and 21 different trainers will come together for a tremendous night of trials to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity here on Sunday night. The 12 trials that will be contested on Sunday night represent the most trials for a futurity here this year. First post is 5:00 p.m.                              

The all-Quarter Horse racing card will feature three Pick Four wagering opportunities. ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

HOBBS, NM–NOVEMBER 21, 2024–This year’s two-day New Mexico Classics festival at Zia Park gets underway with seven Quarter Horse stakes on Sunday. Following is a preview of all seven stakes, listed in the order they will be run:

NEW MEXICO CLASSICS JUVENILE STAKES-R Purse, $60,000–350 yards–2-year-olds

Pavel, a gelded son of the Corona stallion Czar Cartel MV owned ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

OPELOUSAS, LA–NOVEMBER 18, 2024–B Second Cowboy and Action Required are two of the 30 sophomores entered in Saturday's 400-yard Evangeline Downs Derby trials at Evangeline Downs Racetrack.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $50,000-added Evangeline Downs Derby final on December 21.

A homebred son of Flying Cowboy 123 owned and trained by Jose R. ...