The stakes action at Santa Anita Park heats up on February 15 with the $100,000 Palos Verdes Stakes (G3), a six-furlong dirt sprint for older horses.Big City Lights headlines the sixth field as he looks to defend his title in this race. A dominant force in California sprint races, the 6-year-old son of Mr. Big is riding a wave of success after consecutive victories in the Cary Grant Stakes and the California Cup Sprint.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up with the Grade 2, $500,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course on February 15. This pivotal 1 1/8-mile contest serves as the first 105-point qualifying race of the season, offering Kentucky Derby Prep Races points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale to the top five finishers.

Here’s a detailed preview of the Sunland Park Derby (G3), a key stop on the Kentucky Derby prep races, where promising 3-year-olds will compete for valuable qualifying points toward the first Saturday in May.

The 2025 racing season heats up at Santa Anita Park with the Grade 3, $100,000 San Marcos Stakes, featuring a competitive field of eight older turf runners. The 1 1/4-mile event on the downhill turf course highlights some of the top route specialists in California, headlined by “Truly Quality”, who looks to extend his winning streak after a successful

The $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park on February 8 features a competitive field of six fillies and mares set to battle over 1 1/16 miles. The race could have implications for Kentucky Derby betting as the top older female runners continue establishing themselves early in the season.