As the year draws to a close, thoroughbred racing enthusiasts have their eyes on key action at Santa Anita Park and Parx Racing. The Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel Stakes headlines the card at Santa Anita, drawing top fillies and mares to the turf, while Parx offers a compelling stakes race in Race 9 featuring standout contenders like Foxy Junior and Alani. Podcasts and previews add depth to the day's excitement, spotlighting carries and international insights.
Santa Anita’s Robert J. Frankel Stakes Draws Elite Turf Field
Santa Anita Park sets the stage for the Grade 3, $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes on Wednesday, scheduled as the seventh race with a 6:00 PM ET post. This 1 1/8-mile turf contest for fillies and mares features a powerhouse lineup, including Befford, fresh off a dominant rally from post 11 to win by over four lengths in a similar Del Mar event last out under Juan Hernandez. Stark Contrast, the 8-to-5 morning line favorite trained by Michael McCarthy, returns after outrunning 58-to-1 odds in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, missing by just three-quarters of a length with Kazushi Kimura aboard.
Other notables include Iris Shot, second in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes for Phil D'Amato and Flavien Prat; Unrivaled Time, victor of that same stakes at 5-to-1 for Leonard Powell; and longshots like Bgante and Carol Bueno, both exiting the Cecil B. DeMille. Handicappers eye pace dynamics and Today's Racing Digest forecasts, with Befford's closing kick and Stark Contrast's tracking style poised to shine under today's conditions, promising a tactical battle on the Santa Anita turf.
Parx Racing Race 9 Stakes Heats Up with Foxy Junior as Favorite
Parx Racing's ninth race, a stakes for 3-year-old fillies and mares at seven furlongs on dirt, boasts a $80,740 purse and a competitive field led by 3-to-2 morning line favorite Foxy Junior. This multiple stakes winner, carrying 126 pounds under Jomar Torres for trainer T. Bernard Houghton, brings a 75% place rate and fast-lead style into the fray, having dominated recent Parx dirt sprints.
Challengers abound with Alani at 3-to-1, a leader with 43% wins and strong recent Parx form under Andy Hernandez for Michael M. Moore; Boutwell Time at 4-to-1, another front-runner with closing upside; and mid-pack stalker Caitlin The Great at 14-to-1. Promising, Eclair Blanc, and Jess's Moment add depth, with Frankie Pennington aboard the 7-to-1 Promising for John C. Servis. Expect a hot pace as leaders vie for control in this wide-open stakes affair.
Jason Beem Podcast Spotlights Tampa Bay Downs Carryover
The latest Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast dives into Wednesday's action, opening with a Pick 5 carryover at Tampa Bay Downs that could ignite betting interest. Joined by Kellie Reilly for the International Radar segment, Beem breaks down global racing trends, while wrapping with year-end reflections on standout performances and future prospects, offering fans a comprehensive audio guide to the day's wagers and narratives.
