The top horse racing stakes this week happens on Sunday, October 25 when fillies and mares run over Santa Anita’s grass in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes. Belmont Park has their annual New York stakes event on Saturday while on Sunday, Big Sandy runs the Grade 3 Athenia. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds for the Top Stakes Races of the Week for Saturday, Oct. 24 – Sunday, Oct 25. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.

Horse Racing Odds & Picks for Top Stakes Races Oct. 24-25

Saturday, Oct. 24 Races

Belmont Park

• Ticonderoga Stakes – 1 1/16 miles turf – $150,000
• Mohawk Stakes – 1 1/16 miles turf – $150,000
• Empire Distaff Stakes – 1 1/16 miles dirt – $175,000
• Empire Classic Stakes – 1 1/8 miles dirt – $175,000

6-year-old mare Fifty Five has won the Ticonderoga Stakes for three years in a row. The 6-year-old mare remains active, which means she figures to show up in the starting gate. She also figure to offer underlay odds. So, try to beat her if you see something that peaks your interest. 

Gucci Factor won this race last year. The 7-year-old gelding could enter the starting gate versus H. James Bond trained Rinaldi. The 4-year-old Posse sired gelding beat Dot Matrix in his last, the West Point Stakes at Saratoga in early join. Rinaldi could be tough to beat on Saturday. 

Top New York bred 6-year-old mare Ratajkowski could enter the starting gate in the 2020 Empire Distaff Stakes to defend her 2019 title. Trained by Graham Motion, Rtajkowski won the Critical Eye at Belmont Park last June. She loves Big Sandy. So, if she does run, take her seriously. 

In the Empire Classic Stakes on Saturday, most wagers could flow to 6-year-old Mr. Buff. The 2019 winner failed against top Breeders’ Cup Classic contender Improbable in the Grade 1 Whitney in his last. Mr. Buff is more effective versus lower stakes level horses like what he ran against in last year’s Empire Classic Stakes. If Mr. Buff does run, he’s likely to face Chestertown, and City Man, the top two finishers in the Albany Stakes.  

Santa Anita Park

• Grade 3 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes – 5 ½ furlongs turf – $100,000

Last year’s Senator Ken Maddy Stakes winner, Just Grazed me, ran on October 10. Unless trainer Phillip D’Amato bring her back after two weeks, she’s not likely to defend her title. No worries. There are plenty of fast sprinters that will show up in the starting gate to contest this Grade 3 stakes race at Santa Anita on October 24.

Sunday, Oct. 25 Races

Belmont Park

• Grade 3 Athenia – 1 1/16 miles turf – $100,000

Trainer Christophe Clement plans on saddling two in the Grade 3 Athenia on Sunday. Both Feel Glorious and Call Me Love are capable of winning the Athenia with a top effort. No Mo Lady and Chaleur are a couple of other contenders.  

Santa Anita Park

• Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes – 1 mile turf – $200,000

Neil Drysdale trained 5-year-old mare Toinette figures to give it another go on Sunday. Last year’s Goldikova winner hasn’t raced since this past July. Drysdale trained Da Hoss to win the 1998 BC Mile after not racing for almost two years, though. Neil often gets horses ready off long layoffs. If Toinette enters the starting gate, be sure she’s ready to defend her title.