Down the Stretch for March 9, 2026

Canadians winning in the U.S. this week include Melanie Giddings and Marty Drexler at Gulfstream, John Bianco doubling down at Aqueduct and the team of Julie Mathes and Bruno Schickedanz scoring at Charles Town. We’ve got Kentucky Derby preps at Tampa Bay and Santa Anita with 50 Derby points to the winners. Woodbine and the NYRA have forged the Empire Trillium series and Woodbine’s Tim Lawson reveals how lucrative this will be for local horse people. Amy MacDonald will be driving in her first parimutuel race in the International Womens’ Day race at Mohawk and she tells Down The Stretch what her strategy will be from post 10. New Jersey saluted the ladies by having Rideau Carlton’s Melissa Keith call the entire Saturday night card at the Meadowlands. And Romero Maragh tells Down The Stretch why he’s bringing his tack to Canada.