Horse Racing

In one of the last big weekends of graded-stakes racing for the season, Woodbine Race Track in Toronto will host a pair of international Grade 1 stakes on the turf. First up is the Pattison Canadian International, for horses aged three and older going 1 1/2 miles on the sweeping EP Taylor turf course. Eleven have drawn into the race, which offers a total purse of $800,000.

The final 'Win and You're In' qualifying race for the 2018 Breeders' Cup World Championships takes place on Wednesday at Keeneland Race Course with the running of the (G2) Jessamine Stakes. Fourteen two-year-old fillies have been entered to race 1 1/16 miles on the Keeneland turf course, chasing a total purse of $200,000. The winner will earn a starting spot in the gate for the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Pure speed will be on display Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita Race Track with the running of the (G1) Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes. A flat-out six furlong dash for the cash on the Santa Anita dirt, the race offers a total purse of $300,000 and a spot for the winner in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs on November 3.

One of two major races in the United States this Saturday for two-year-old colts, the (G1) Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park offers both points toward qualifying for the 2019 Kentucky Derby, as well as a spot for the winner in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The Champagne is run at one mile on the Belmont dirt, and offers a total purse of $500,000.

On the final weekend of qualifying for the 2018 Breeders' Cup World Championships, more than a dozen 'Win and You're In' races are taking place in the US, including at Santa Anita out in sunny California. On Saturday the track will host the Speakeasy Stakes, which will send the winner to the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint, the newest race in the Breeders' Cup lineup.

The (G1) Claiborne Breeders' Futurity on Saturday at Keeneland serves a dual purpose. A 1 1/16 mile race for two-year-old colts, the top four finishers will gain points toward qualifying for the 2019 Kentucky Derby. At the same time, the winner will get an automatic berth in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. They'll also be racing for a share of the $500,000 purse.

Capping off an excellent day of racing and betting at Keeneland Race Course, Saturday's Shadwell Turf Mile has long been regarded as one of the major turf races in North America, and over the years has sent multiple contenders - and winners - to the Breeders' Cup Mile. This year is no different, and the winner will gain an automatic entry to the 2018 Breeders' Cup.

The first of three Grade 1 stakes to be run at Keeneland Race Course on Saturday, the $400,000 First Lady Stakes has drawn an excellent field of 10 fillies and mares to run a flat mile on the Keeneland turf course. The winner grabs an automatic spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on November 3 at Churchill Downs.

On one of the biggest days of their October meet, Keeneland Race Course on Saturday plays host to three 'Win and You're In' races for qualification to the Breeders' Cup World Championships on November 2 and 3. Included in that is the (G2) Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, which will send the winner directly to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.