Belmont Park runs a couple of graded stakes on Monday, October 12. After the stakes on Monday, horseplayers must wait until Saturday to watch and wager on other graded stakes action. Check out information on this week’s top graded stakes races and Horse Racing Odds for the Top Stakes Races of the Week for Monday, Oct. 12 – Sunday, Oct. 18. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.!
Top Horse Racing Stakes Races for the Week – October 12th Edition
- When: Monday, Oct. 12 – Sunday, Oct. 18
Monday, Oct. 12 Horse Races
Belmont Park
- Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes – 1 mile turf – $150,000
- Grade 2 Knickerbocker – 1 mile turf – $150,000
No matter who else shows up for the Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes on Monday, expect Cristophe Clement trained Decorated Invader to offer even money odds or worse. Invader finished fifth in the Saratoga Derby in his last. Before that, he had won three in a row.
Trainer Chad Brown figures to have a couple of horses in the Grade 2 Knickerbocker. Both Almanaar and Olympico look strong. Corelli, En Wye Cee, and Breaking the Rules are also contenders.
Saturday, Oct. 17 Horse Races
Santa Anita Park
- Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes – 1 mile turf – $100,000
Some of the better 3-year-old fillies in the nation will take to the Great Race Place’s lawn on Saturday for the 1 mile Autumn Miss Stakes. The best 3-year-old fillies ran in this past weekend’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup. That doesn’t mean horse racing handicappers shouldn’t take a look at the Autumn Miss, what’s sure to be one of the most competitive stakes races on Saturday.
Keeneland Racecourse
- Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes – 7 furlongs dirt – $200,000
Pay attention to which horse wins the Grade 2 Raven Run on Saturday. It’s the final sprint prep for both the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Sunday, Oct. 18 Horse Races
Santa Anita Park
- Grade 2 Twilight Derby – 1 1/8 miles turf – $200,000
Top 3-year-old turf runners hit the grass at Santa Anita for the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on Sunday. Past winners include Sharp Samurai, Mo Forza, River Boyne, and Om. Definitely check out one of Santa Anita’s best grass races for 3-year-olds!
Keeneland Racecourse
- Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes – 1 ½ miles turf – $125,000
Top Breeders’ Cup Distaff contender Vexatious began her career on the turf. She won the 2018 running of the Dowager Stakes. Last year, Gentle Ruler took top prize. Ruler is in great form, having won her last couple of races. There’s a good chance she shows up in the starting gate on Sunday to defend her Dowager title.
Woodbine Racetrack
- Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes – 6 furlongs turf – $250,000
Some of the best sprinting turfers in North America, maybe, the world, could show up and run in the Nearctic Stakes on Sunday. City Boy, Hembree, and Field of Courage, the last 3 winners are all active. City Boy most definitely figures to enter the starting gate.
- Grade 1 Northern Dancer – 1 ½ miles turf – $300,000
The Northern Dancer is a big time prep for the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 7. That’s why Godolphin runner Old Persian, who took top honors last year, figures to go off the favorite to repeat his 2019 Northern Dancer run.
- Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes – 1 ¼ miles turf – $600,000
There’s a good chance Woodbine Mile winner Starship Jubilee runs in the E.P. Taylor Stakes. The multiple grade one winner won this race last year. This year, Jubilee has 5 wins and a fourth place finish from 6 races. Take her seriously if she goes.
