They're 3 years old Sunday, ready to launch Kentucky Derby bids

They're 3 years old Sunday, ready to launch Kentucky Derby bids. January 1 is the official birthday of all Northern Hemisphere Thoroughbreds. Any foal of 2020 becomes eligible for the 2023 Classics. Japan has some prospective stars for that year. Dura Erede won a tight battle to the finish in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes.

There's a field of eight for Sunday's $250,000 Smarty Jones for newly turned 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park. Most enter two-by-two, but Steve Asmussen, Kenny McPeek, Brad Cox and John Haran saddle the solo performers. A dozen birthday boys will try 1 mile in Sunday’s $150,00 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park, and Fliparino, Mr Bob and Count de Monet are the morning-line picks.

Defining Purpose is the 7-5 morning-line pick in a field of nine entered for Saturday’s $150,000 Year”s End Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Whatchamacall, Sassy and Bold, and Secret Statement are the other favorites for the $125,00 Gowell Stake at Turfway Park on Saturday. Pure Pauline is a 4th-place finisher in the Grade II Golden Rod at Churchill Downs.

O'Connor is the morning-line favorite for Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Harlan's Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Law Professor is 5-2 favorite on the early morning line for the $ 150,00 Queen's County Stake at Aqueduct.

Maryquitecontrary is 4-for-5 in her short career, all sprinting at Gulfstream Park. Colorful Mischief is the morning-line favorite, but she's had two sub-par runs in Kentucky. Battle Bling didn't fire in the last start, the Grade III Go For Wand Stakes on Dec. 3, before that she had won three straight races.

Colonel Liam is the reigning champion in the Grade I Pegasus World Turf Invitational. The 5-year-old son of Liam’s Map is 3-for-3 over the Gulfstream turf, counting a DQ boost to victory in his career debut. Ready to Purrform, Open Road, Straight Answer and Un Ojo are among the contenders in Saturday's $100,000 Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Queen Goddess and England’s Rose are morning-line picks in Saturday”s $100,000 Grade III Robert J. Frankel Stakes at Santa Anita. Scotish Star, Bay Storm and Stolen Holiday are making their first snowbird appearance in the $125,00 Grade 3 Suwanee River Stake at Gulfstream Park. Free Like a Girl will be the morning line favorite in $ 100, 000 Pago Hop Staks for 3-year-old fillies at Fair Grounds.

Eleven horses are set to open Saturday's Santa Anita program in the $250,000 Grade II Joe Hernandez Stakes. Super Ocho is back on the grass after finishing sixth in Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland. Whatmakessammyrun has won over this unique course and should be running late.

Twelve horses are set to go in Saturday's $125,000 Grade III Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Pappacap is an interesting possibility. Sibelius is the morning-line favorite after a narrow loss in the Bet On Sunshine Stake at Churchill Downs. Greeley and Ben and Three Two Zone are the lukewarm favorites on the Friday's Gravesend Stages at Aqueduct. Eight horses signed up for Sunday's Holiday Cheer Staks at Turfway Park all-weather course. Visitant has won seven of nine starts at the northern Kentucky oval. Outadore, the son of Ghostzapper, celebrates his seventh birthday on race day.

Frank's Rockette is the morning-line favorite for Saturday's $125,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Samurai Charm is a morning line favorite after a successful sojurn in New Mexico.

Dura Erede won the Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse on Wednesday. It was his first JRA Grade 1 win. On Thursday, the action switched to the dirt and to Oi Race Course for the Grade1 Tokyo Daishoten. Ushba Tesoro won by 1.3 lengths. Japan Dirt Derby winner Notturno finished second. Meisho Hario and Sunrise Hope are 3 years old and ready to launch Kentucky Derby bids.