Happy Saturday & National Irish Coffee Day! āļø
We're back in action after mid-week cancellations due to cold temperatures. Today, we're excited to bring you all the major racing action from across the country. The Derby and Oaks prep trail is making a stop in Hot Springs, AR, so weāll be at Oaklawn Racecourse for a fantastic 12-race card. To keep you entertained on this first Saturday without football, we will also cover the last five races, including the Pegasus World Cup, at Gulfstream Park. Thatās rightāit's our world-famous Two'fer!
Oaklawn kicks off at 9:25 AM Pacific time and features crucial Derby Prep races, including the Southwest Stakes (details below) and the Martha Washington, an Oaks Prep race. Both of these races will award points to the top five horses, shaking up the leaderboard significantly, especially since several horses have already earned points from previous races.
The weather at Oaklawn looks beautiful, with highs in the mid-50s and mostly sunny skies, which means we can expect a fast track throughout the day. Thereās no turf track at Oaklawn, so no need to worry about that aspect.
Around noon Pacific time, the major stakes races at Gulfstream Park will begin. This day is considered the biggest of the year and definitely the highlight of the winter meet. The weather in Gulfstream will be typical for this time of year, with highs in the low 70s and mostly sunny skies. They are already racing at Gulfstream, where the track is fast and the turf is firm. Races have been kept off the turf to preserve it for today, so we should see some great action from the turf specialists in Florida.
Southwest Stakes:
The event's inaugural running was on 2 March 1968 as the Southwest Handicap. The conditions of the event were changed from a handicap to a stakes race with allowances in 1985, with the renaming of the race Southwest Stakes.
The Southwest Handicap was increased to one mile in 1983.
The distance was increased to 1 1ā16 miles in 2013.
The race is often used as a prep for the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby and is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Among the horses who have used the Southwest as a springboard to the Triple Crown series are Lil E. Tee (won the 1992 Kentucky Derby after finishing third in the 1992 Southwest), Pine Bluff (won Preakness after being second in the 1992 Southwest), and Smarty Jones (won the Southwest, Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2004).
Need help pickin' winners? We've got you covered! Our Lundin Line's - (Always Free) top picks and best bets are below in this post. We use them to help narrow the field while putting our tickets together. The first post will be here soon, so don't be late -
It's time to get #InTheMoney! š°š°š°
Oh, and don't forget to follow us @_TurtleSports and subscribe to our site so you don't miss any of the action. You'll be glad you did! Let's Ride & VĆ£o pĆ”ssaros!š¦
Oaklawn Park šš¾ // Sat., Jan. 25th, 2025
First Post @ 11:25(CT) / 9:25 (PT)
R1: 4-6-1-8
R2: 8-11-5-6
R3: 6-4-2-8
R4: 6ā-2-4-3
R5ā: 1-6-4
R6ā: 1-5-2-7
R7ā: 8-5-7-9
R8ā: 8-13-6-11
šR9ā/KO: 3-1-4
šR10ā/DP: 1-7-10-8
Bill: 1-7-2-8
Mr. Fink: 7-1-10-8
Mr. W: 1-7-3-10
R11: 2ā-3-5-8
R12: 5-3-10-14(AE)-1
āBest Bet(s)
R4: Bishops Bay (#6)
R11: El Prestigio (#2)
ātakes Races
R5: 150K King Cotton S.
6 Furlongs on Dirt for 4 Yr. Olds & Up
R6: 145K Gen. MacArthur Overnight S.
1 1/18 Miles on Dirt for 4 Yr. Olds & Up
R7: 150K Fifth Season S.
1 Mile on Dirt for 4 Yrs. Old & Up
R8: 145K Bugler Overnight S.
6 Furlongs on Dirt for Fillies & Mares, 4 Yrs. Old & Up
šR9: 300K Martha Washington S.
1 1/16 Miles on Dirt for Fillies, 3 Yr. Olds.
KY Oaks Prep: Pts = 20-10-6-4-2
šR10: 1 Mil. Southwest S. (G3)
1 1/16 Miles on Dirt for 3 Yr. Olds.
KY Derby Prep: Pts = 20-10-6-4-2
Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes / Jan. 25, 2025
š R9-R13 @ Gulfstream Park/Pegasus World Cup
R9 Post Time = 3:13 ET / 12:13 PT
R9ā: 11-1-6-4
R10ā: 3-8-10-11
R11ā: 6-7-2-9
R12ā: 7-3-5-2
šR13ā: 4-6-2-11
Bill: 2-4-6-11
Mr. Fink: 4-6-2-11
Mr. W: 6-11-4-10
ātakes Races
R9: 215K William L McKnight S. (G3)
1 1/2 Mile on Turf for 4 Yr. Olds & Up
R10: 500K TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Inv. (G2)
1 1/16 Miles on Turf for Fillies & Mares, 4 Yrs. Old & Up
R11: 215K Inside Information S. (G2)
7 Furlongs on Dirt for Fillies & Mares, 4 Yrs. Old & Up
R12: 1 Mil. Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1)
1 1/8 Miles on Turf for 4 Yr. Old & Up
šR13: 3 Mil. Pegasus World Cup (G1)
1 1/8 Miles on Dirt for 4 Yr. Olds & Up
The Pegasus World CupĀ is a high-profile Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Established in 2017, it was initially conceived as the richest horse race in the world, offering a record-breaking $12 million purse in its inaugural year. The race is contested over 1 1/8 miles on dirt and features some of the best horses aged four and older. Over time, the Pegasus World Cup has evolved, shifting to a more sustainable financial model while maintaining its prestige as a marquee event on the racing calendar. Its innovative structure, which initially required owners to buy entries, has helped attract international attention, cementing its status as a global showcase of elite talent in Thoroughbred racing.
"On a cold, wet day in 1942, weary travelers to the small Shannon Airport in southwest Ireland found their way to a restaurant and chef Joe Sheridan. To warm his guests, he served them hot coffee spiked with whiskey and topped with whipped cream. The passengers asked if the beverage was Brazilian coffee. Sheridan responded that it was Irish coffee."
From our friends at National Day Calendar
Hit us up @_TurtleSports and let us know what you think!
-TSL
/ As always, please forgive any typos and grammatical errors
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