December 27, 2025

From the bright lights of major tracks to regional showdowns, Saturday’s racing menu serves up a feast of competitive action. Here’s your guide to the standout races across the nation.

East Coast Powerhouses

Aqueduct: The Big Apple Beckons

The New York circuit delivers quality all afternoon, headlined by the Queens County Stakes (Race 8, 2:40 PM ET). Full Screen tops a competitive field of six in this $150,000 test at nine furlongs. Trained by Brad Cox and piloted by Manuel Franco, he faces stiff competition from Cooke Creek and Bourbon Day.

Earlier on the card, Race 2’s Allowance Optional Claiming features Acoustic Ave as the morning-line favorite, while the day wraps with a deep claiming finale where nine-year-old Last Man Standing seeks to defy the odds at 7-1.

Gulfstream Park: Winter Championship Meet

South Florida’s championship venue showcases the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes (Race 10, 4:48 PM ET). The seven-furlong dirt dash for $150,000 features a pair of 109-rated speedsters in White Abarrio and Knightsbridge, both morning-line co-favorites.

The undercard includes the Abundantia Stakes (Race 9) for fillies and mares sprinting on turf, with Love Appeals drawing post six and showing the top rating.

Laurel Park: Maryland’s Stakes Saturday

Two $100,000 stakes highlight the card. The Gin Talking Stakes (Race 7, 3:01 PM ET) for two-year-old fillies finds Just Philtored as the lukewarm favorite, while the Heft Stakes (Race 8) for juvenile males features Probably Dreaming shipping in from a strong debut.

Southern Charm

Fair Grounds: Louisiana Stakes Action

New Orleans hosts a pair of $100,000 events. The Woodchopper Stakes (Race 5, 2:45 PM CT) for three-year-olds on turf features Montador at the top of the ratings, while the Pago Hop Stakes (Race 9) showcases three-year-old fillies with Bracelet drawing the rail.

The exotic players will love Race 7’s turf allowance, where 14 horses (including alternates) create handicapping chaos.

Midwest Matinees

Oaklawn Park: Hot Springs Heats Up

The Arkansas oval delivers the Year’s End Stakes (Race 8, 3:52 PM CT) for two-year-old fillies. Counting Stars brings the top rating in this $150,000 affair, but faces seven rivals including the dangerous Copper Wind and Paving.

Multiple maiden special weights for juveniles pepper the undercard, offering opportunities for future stars to emerge.

Turfway Park: Synthetic Spotlight

The Kentucky all-weather oval features the Last Hurrah Stakes (Race 8, 9:25 PM ET) for three-year-olds. Energize tops the ratings in this $125,000 test, with Final Gambit and Anegada providing formidable opposition.

Race 5’s maiden special weight for fillies and mares carries a hefty $100,000 purse, while Race 7’s allowance optional claiming for two-year-olds offers $102,000 in prize money.

West Coast Action

Tampa Bay Downs: Florida’s Gulf Coast Gem

The Tampa card concludes with a turf maiden special weight for two-year-old fillies (Race 9, 4:40 PM ET) at 8.5 furlongs. Irish-bred Perm shows the top rating, but this $55,000 event looks wide open.

Earlier, Race 5’s starter handicap on turf for fillies and mares brings 14 potential starters (including alternates) to the gate, with Crafty Collector carrying high hopes.

Turf Paradise: Desert Racing

The Phoenix-area track offers claiming action throughout the afternoon, with Race 8’s $8,500 claiming test at six furlongs (5:10 PM MT) featuring 12 horses and plenty of value opportunities.

Picks of the Day

Best Bet: Full Screen in Aqueduct’s Race 8 – The Brad Cox trainee has proven class and draws a perfect stalking trip scenario.

Longshot Special: Western Run in Fair Grounds Race 7 (10-1 morning line) – The sharp trainer puts this one in a spot to fire at a price.

Multi-Race Sequence: Gulfstream Races 9-10-11 offer exotic players a chance to connect through two stakes races and into the finale.

Late Pick 4: Turfway Races 7-8-9-10 blend a stakes race with competitive overnight events for the night owl handicappers.

Whether you’re watching the simulcast at your local track or streaming from home, Saturday’s nationwide menu offers something for every racing fan. From graded stakes to competitive claimers, the action runs coast to coast and dawn to midnight.

Good luck, and may the racing gods smile upon your tickets!