Delaware Park hosts graded stakes as global racing weekend unfolds

Delaware Park takes center stage in weekend horse racing with a pair of graded stakes for fillies and mares, while Santa Anita and Monmouth Park add to the mix. On the global scene, Japan continues its long run of springtime Grade 1 events with the Takarazuka Kinen and Chantilly hosts the Prix de Diane Longines, or French Oaks. The Royal meeting at Ascot in England begins Tuesday.

Luv Your Neighbor and Pashmina top the morning line for Saturday’s $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park. Luv Your Neighbor, an Ontario-bred Constitution filly, finished second in her last start, the Grade II Eight Belles at Churchill Downs on Oaks day. Pashmina, also by Constitution, reported 11th in the Kentucky Oaks after finishing second in the Grade III Gazelle at Aqueduct. Nine are entered for the 1 1/16-mile race.

Mizumi, a Justify filly making just her second start, is the 4-5 morning line favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita. Trained by Bob Baffert, Mizumi was dismissed at odds of more than 5-1 in her May 2 debut but won fairly easily by 1 1/2 lengths over Saucier. Leading the opposition is Marjoram, a Quality Road filly from the Michael McCarthy barn who is 2-for-2 with a win in the Senorita Stakes last time out. Juan Hernandez, who rode both in their last race, sticks with Mizumi and Baffert.

Ten are set to contest Sunday’s $100,000 Grade III San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita, a 1 3/4-mile marathon that traditionally marks the end of the spring meeting. Eight-year-old Gold Phoenix is among the contenders.

Bellezza is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in a field of six for Saturday’s $250,000 Grade III Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park. The Irish-bred Siyouni mare, trained by Miguel Clement, finished sixth in the Grade III Orchid at Gulfstream Park in March in her last start.

Whiskey Decision and South African import Gimme a Nother top a field of eight for Saturday’s $150,000 Grade III Eatontown Stakes at Monmouth Park. Gimme a Nother makes her first start since winning the Grade II John C. Mabee at Del Mar last September.

Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Daytona Stakes on the Santa Anita hillside course has an overflow field and many contenders.

Last year’s winner, Bishops Bay, is back seeking a repeat as the favorite in Saturday’s $150,000 Grade III Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. The 6-year-old son of Uncle Mo won the Grade II Cigar Mile in December, finished fourth in the Group 1 Saudi Cup on Valentine’s Day and most recently was second in the Grade III Westchester.

Sunday’s Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan drew some heavyweight contenders seeking hefty purse money and “Win and You’re In” entry to the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Grade I Cox Plate in Australia. Croix du Nord, a 4-year-old by Kitasan Black, concluded 2025 with a fourth-place finish in the Japan Cup, won by international Horse of the Year Calandagan. He enters the Takarazuka Kinen off wins in his first two starts of 2026, the Grade 1 Osaka Hai on April 5 and the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) on May 3. Last year’s winner, Meisho Tabaru, finished second to Croix du Nord in the Osaka Hai. The 2024 Japanese Derby winner, Danon Decile, finished third in the Osaka Hai and also returns. Others of note include Museum Mile and top mare Regaleira, who won and finished fourth, respectively, in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen on Dec. 28.

Undefeated Irish raider Diamond Necklace headlines Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly. The St Mark’s Basilica filly, trained by Aidan O’Brien with Ryan Moore set to ride, was 3-for-3 last year with the finale coming in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Oct. 5 at Longchamp. She returned from hibernation to win her only previous start of 2026, the Group 1 Poule d’Essai Des Pouliches, or French 1,000 Guineas, over the same course May 10, by 3 lengths. O’Brien also has Moments of Joy, a Justify filly who might be seen as a rabbit for Diamond Necklace. Ed Walker brings Felicitas, who finished second in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York in her last. Green Spirit, trained by Christopher Head for Wertheimer & Frere, has 4 1/2 lengths to find against Diamond Necklace off her third-place finish in the Guineas.

Ka Ying Rising remains the world’s top-rated horse based on action from Jan. 1 through Sunday, pegged at 130 on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings update released this week. He is followed by fellow Hong Kong denizen Romantic Warrior, Daryz and Bow Echo, both at 126. Knotted at 125 are Met Mile winner Nysos, Lockinge Stakes winner Notable Speech and Brigadier Gerard Stakes winner Ombudsman. Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo debuts on the list rated 120, good for a four-way tie for 20th position. Calandagan, last year’s champion, is rated 121 after winning the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March, and then finishing a very distant fourth in the Group 6 Coronation Cup over unsuitable going Saturday.