Dec. 2 (UPI) brought a whirlwind of racing action over the long Thanksgiving weekend. Trainer Bob Baffert made a triumphant return to Churchill Downs after a three-year absence, with a winning 2-year-old colt stealing the show. This colt not only won the Wednesday allowance race but also emerged as the top individual choice in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Along the way, there were remarkable performances among both 2-year-olds and older horses, adding to the excitement of the racing season.

"Racing's Thanksgiving Extravaganza: Thrills and Triumphs"

The Road to the Roses

Baffert's forces returned to Churchill Downs with a bang. Barnes, an Into Mischief colt owned by Baffert loyalist Amr Zedan, showed great promise in his first start. Despite racing greenly in the lane, he managed to wear down pacesetting Innovator and win by a nose. Baffert was overjoyed, saying, "To be back here is just enjoyable. To win it was like the cherry on top." This victory also propelled Barnes to the No. 1 individual choice in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager at a generous 13-1, while "All Other 3-Year-Olds" remained the favorite at 9-5.At Churchill Downs, some of the more precocious Kentucky Derby prospects took the stage. First Resort, a Godolphin homebred trained by Eoin Harty, stalked the pace, took the lead easily, and won by 2 1/2 lengths. In other races, Clock Tower won Sunday's $100,000 Grade III Cecil B. DeMille on the Del Mar turf as the odds-on favorite, Rated by Merit remained undefeated and swept the Florida Stallion Stakes races with a 6-length romp, Notorious Gangster won Saturday's $250,000 (Canadian) Coronation Futurity on the Woodbine all-weather by 2 lengths, and Keep It Easy drew off easily to win by 5 1/4 lengths in the $225,000 Ed Brown Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs. Smash It took Tuesday's $100,000 Zia Park Juvenile by 3 lengths, Crab Daddy rallied up the rail to win Wednesday's $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery by 3 3/4 lengths, and Mi Bago romped in Friday's $115,000 Pulpit Stakes on the Gulfstream Park turf.

Juvenile Fillies

Good Cheer lived up to her odds-on favorite status in Saturday's $400,000 Grade II Golden Rod at Churchill Downs. The Medaglia d'Oro filly, a Godolphin homebred trained by Brad Cox, tracked the pace into the lane, surged, and won by 2 1/2 lengths over Quietside. She remains undefeated after four starts, with the last three under the Twin Spires. Cox was impressed, stating, "Her record really speaks for itself and the style in which she's won all of those races has been very impressive. I think we haven't seen her best yet."Other notable performances included Reliable Source winning Tuesday's $100,000 Zia Park Princess by 8 lengths, Impulse Buy taking Saturday's $225,000 Fern Creek at Churchill Downs by 2 1/2 lengths, My Denysse upsetting Saturday's $300,000 My Dear Girl Division of the Florida Sire States at Gulfstream Park, Aristella getting home first in Saturday's $250,000 (Canadian) Princess Elizabeth on the Woodbine all-weather, and Civetta winning Thursday's $115,000 Wait a While on the Gulfstream Park turf. Will Then also came from next-last to win Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Jimmy Durante on the Del Mar turf by 2 1/4 lengths over Casalu.

Around the world, around the clock

In Japan, Lemon Pop ended his career with a victory in Sunday's Grade 1 Champions Cup at Kyoto Racecourse. The son of Lemon Drop Kid, who has dominated dirt racing in Japan, led throughout and just held off Wilson Tesoro by a neck. Dura Erede was third, making the outcome a carbon copy of the 2023 edition. Lemon Pop is a shoo-in to be named Japan's top dirt horse for the second year in a row.All eyes turn to Hong Kong for next Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races. The festivities start with an international jockey challenge at Happy Valley Racecourse, followed by a high-powered international lineup challenging the tough locals at Sha Tin.Back in the States, Rattle N Roll raced off the pace in Friday's $600,000 Grade II Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs, advanced into the stretch, and chased down Most Wanted to win by 3/4 length. The 5-year-old son of Connect ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.60 with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons for trainer Kenny McPeek. Rattle N Roll, a multiple-graded stakes winner earlier in his career, was out of action for a year before returning with a third-place finish in the Grade II Lukas Classic in September. Dimatic won Monday's $300,000 Zia Park Derby and Scotland won Sunday's $250,000 Cherokee Mile at Churchill Downs.

Distaff

Loved jumped out to a big lead in the stretch in Thursday's $400,000 Grade III Falls City at Churchill Downs, with the favorite, Tarifa, chasing her home and finishing second. Pretty Ana took Saturday's $200,000 Comely for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct and Valence won Tuesday's $300,000 Zia Park Oaks by 4 lengths.

Turf

A big weekend on the Del Mar grass saw Truly Quality winning Friday's $200,000 Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup by 1/2 length, Formidable Man taking Saturday's $300,000 Grade I Hollywood Derby and Mi Hermano Ramon victorious in Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Seabiscuit Handicap.

Filly & Mare Turf

Sacred Wish took a short lead in the final sixteenth of Sunday's $300,000 Grade I Matriarch at Del Mar and held on to win by a neck over the favorite, Gina Romantica. Sacred Wish, a 4-year-old Not This Time filly, scored her first graded stakes win. Duvet Day won Thursday's $300,000 Grade III Cardinal at Churchill Downs and Kehoe Beach took Friday's $300,000 Grade II Mrs. Revere for 3-year-old fillies under the Twin Spires.

Sprint

Miles Ahead scored by a head in Thursday's $225,000 Thanksgiving Classic at Fair Grounds, Giant Mischief won by a head in Friday's $150,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct, Jaxon Traveler got a 4 3/4-length victory in Tuesday's $100,000 Zia Park Sprint, and Valentine Candy won Monday's $300,000 Steel Valley Sprint for 3-year-olds at Mahoning Valley.

Filly & Mare Sprint

Benedetta rallied to the lead in the lane in Monday's $200,000 Cheryl S. White Memorial for 3-year-old fillies at Mahoning Valley and won going away by 1 length.