The strength of this year’s crop of 3-year-olds was underscored further over the weekend, when Curlin, Hard Spun, and Tiago all scored victories against older horses in major prep races for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park. Combined with the victory the previous weekend by Any Given Saturday against older horses in the Brooklyn Handicap, as well as strong, though losing efforts this past weekend by Street Sense and the older horse Lawyer Ron, the 1 1/4-mile Classic is shaping up as a race that could decide Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old.

Curlin and Hard Spun were the only two horses to compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown this year, and both served notice that they are back and better than ever heading into the Classic. (via Hard Spun News)