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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
While Grade I victories and a 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' nod make for a potent double, Spendthrift Farm's Stallion Sales Manager Mark Toothaker suggests that the defining narrative for Spendthrift's new stallion duo is the surging commercial power of their sires. This year Goal Oriented becomes the fourth son of Not This Time to go to stud in Kentucky and the first to retire to Spendthrift, while Chancer McPatrick is the first son of McKinzie to join the stallion ranks. “With these stallions being by hot sires in McKinzie and Not This Time, it certainly gets breeders out here on the farm to take a look,” said Toothaker. Goal Oriented, whose retirement was announced after his decisive in last month's GI Malibu Stakes, will stand for $30,000 in 2026. Dual Grade I winner Chancer McPatrick enters stud at $25,000. GOAL ORIENTED (Not This Time — Bizzy Caroline, by Afleet Alex) Goal Oriented has only been available for breeders' inspections for two weeks, but Toothaker reported the response has already been enormous. “We've had so many inquiries about the horse that I have just told everybody to submit the best mare they can,” he shared. “At this point, we're so overwhelmed that we are just going through these things one at a time.” Goal Oriented takes in his new surroundings at Spendthrift | Sara Gordon To what does Toothaker attribute such strong demand? “Not This Time is the reason he's being received this way,” Toothaker concluded. “He is a really fast dirt horse by Not This Time.” Not This Time wrapped up 2025 as the runner-up to Into Mischief on the General Sires' list. Among the Taylor Made stallion's first sons at stud, Goal Oriented joins GI Travers Stakes hero Epicenter, whose first juveniles debut this year, as well as the turf Grade I-winning duo of Up to the Mark and Cogburn, who have their first yearlings and foals, respectively, this year. “The one thing missing on our roster was a Not This Time,” said Toothaker. “Goal Oriented was a horse that we had wanted all year long, but we were looking for him to win that Grade I. For him to round out his career running a 108 Beyer and a 4 on the Sheets, he ran the race we had been waiting for him to run. He's a very fast dirt horse, but he has a grass pedigree woven inside his female family, so I think it gives breeders great options. Bred by Runnymede Farm and CWC Investment 2, Goal Oriented is out of the Afleet Alex mare Bizzy Caroline, a dual Grade III winner on turf and a half-sister to champion turf female Lady Eli (Divine Park). Purchased as a yearling for $425,000 by Donato Lanni for a partnership led by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, the Bob Baffert trainee earned 'Rising Star' status in his Santa Anita debut last April and then added a victory at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby weekend. He was fourth in a rough-run GI Preakness Stakes before adding a pair of third-place finishes in the GI Haskell Stakes and GI Pennsylvania Derby. “He's a horse that went to battle with some of the best of his generation,” said Toothaker. “He ran an extremely game race in the Haskell and was beaten three quarters of a length by Journalism (Curlin), who needs no introduction.” In his career finale in the Malibu, Goal Oriented stopped the clock in 1:20.97, marking the fastest winning time in the Malibu since 2016 and the fastest seven furlongs run in a Grade I in 2025. Toothaker noted that Goal Oriented's imposing physical makes him a natural choice for breeders looking to add size to their mares. The dark bay stands at 16.3 “He's got plenty of stretch to him and he has a beautiful shoulder,” he said. “He's got a really good hip and he's outstanding up front, very correct. There are a lot of mares that could use a little leg around town, whether they are for commercial breeders looking to add some height for that resulting yearling they may be taking to the sale or people going to the track that need to upgrade their mare a little bit.” CHANCER MCPATRICK (McKinzie — Bernadreamy, by Bernardini) Chancer McPatrick wins the GI Champagne Stakes | Sarah Andrew The Spendthrift scouting team had their eye on Chancer McPatrick from the time he was an unraced juvenile. Bred by Rigney Racing, the bay was a $260,000 yearling before he breezed in :21 flat at the 2024 OBS April Sale. “We fell in love with this horse down at the sale and got permission to take a swing,” recalled Toothaker, “We went to $700,000 and wound up the underbidder on him.” Flanagan Racing landed the winning bid of $725,000. Trained by Chad Brown, Chancer McPatrick put in a dramatic come-from-behind debut win at Saratoga before reeling off back-to-back scores in the GI Hopeful Stakes and GI Champagne Stakes. “It's extremely difficult for a two-year-old to be able to put those two top races together,” said Toothaker. “Jackie's Warrior, another one of our stallions here, was able to do that.” Practical Joke is the third horse to have completed the prestigious double since 2013. At three, Chancer McPatrick's highlights included a runner-up effort in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby, a win in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga, and a third-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. “He ran a great race to close out his career, finishing behind Nysos (Nyquist) and Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) on a track that was impossible to close against,” Toothaker said. “He was able to make up ground to finish third that day, running a 5 1/2 on the Sheets. He was a horse that showed toughness and grit.” Chancer McPatrick is out of the winning Bernardini mare Bernadreamy, a daughter of GI Alcibiades Stakes victress and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Dream Empress (Bernstein). While Chancer McPatrick was McKinzie's first 'Rising Star' and his first Grade I winner, the Gainesway sire has since added two more Grade I winners in Baeza and Scottish Lassie and his fee has increased to $75,000 from the $30,000 price point Chancer McPatrick was bred on in his first year at stud. Toothaker said that breeders have responded to Chancer McPatrick's $25,0000 debut fee paired with his striking build. “I'd put him up against anybody physically,” he shared. “He's a touch below 16.1 and has got an unbelievable hip. He's not an overly huge horse, so I think he fits a lot of mares. His book filled up extremely fast.” The post A Pair of Grade I-Winning Rising Stars New at Spendthrift appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Six Speed, racing for new American owners, won the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3), surprising his jockey and trainer and moving one step closer to returning to the Bluegrass for the Kentucky Derby (G1).View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The New York Racing Association is preparing to pass the torch to a newly reconstructed Belmont Park and goodbye to Aqueduct, ending more than a century of racing in Ozone Park.View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sent a letter to stakeholders at the Eclipse Awards asking them to bar jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr. and his brother, Jose, from future consideration for the awards after the discovery of a social media video that appears to show the brothers collecting cash in a ring at a cockfight in Puerto Rico. It is unclear when the event took place. The 18-second video was posted on X in November, 2025 on the account of @Josmaestre131, with a caption in Spanish reading, “the horseracing cockfighters.” Two roosters appear in the center of the ring in glass cages. In a follow-up letter to the TDN, the organization writes, “PETA points out that Ortiz Jr.—who led North American jockeys in both wins and earnings in 2025—and his brother José, who ranked third in both categories, should face investigation and potential prosecution for working the ring in the bloody spectacles, where people gamble on a bloodsport in which terrified roosters have razor-sharp blades strapped to their feet and are forced to fight to the death.” Cockfighting is illegal in the U.S. and all of its territories, including Puerto Rico. It was officially criminalized with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, and remains illegal despite local efforts by some in Puerto Rico to preserve it as a cultural tradition, prompting legal battles between the island and the U.S. federal government. The Supreme Court has since upheld the ban. While Puerto Rico formerly had local laws on the books allowing it under certain conditions, such as no interstate transport, the federal ban made all aspects of cockfighting–including training and attending–a federal crime. It is unclear if the video was taken before or after the law was passed. Steve Rushing, the agent for the brothers, responded to the TDN via text to say that he would have no comment on the matter at this time. When asked, Rushing did not confirm or deny that the video shows Ortiz and his brother participating in the event. PETA did not respond to a query as to what they had done to verify the authenticity of the video or that it, in fact, depicted the brothers. The Eclipse Awards are governed by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the National Turfwriters and Broadcasters Association (NTWAB), and the Daily Racing Form. The NTRA said that they had received the letter and had forwarded it to the Eclipse Steering Committee, but that they would have further immediate comment. The NTWAB said that they did not receive the letter directly from PETA, but that they had received a copy from the NTRA midday on Friday. Asked if the Horse Racing Safety and Integrity Authority had any jurisdiction in the matter, HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus said that because Puerto Rico does not send out its simulcast signal, it is outside of HISA's authority. “HISA regulations only cover jockey conduct on a covered racetrack or in relation to a covered horse,” Lazarus said via text. “Neither of those scenarios are at play here.” The PETA letter reads: Board Members: We are writing to urge you to make Irad Ortiz, Jr., and José Ortiz ineligible for future Eclipse award nominations. While Irad Ortiz, Jr., may lead North American jockeys in both wins and earnings, with José close behind, they are trailing as representatives of the racing industry. Video posted on X in November 2025 shows the brothers at a cockfight in Puerto Rico. The video reveals that they aren't simply observers of this vicious spectacle—they are in the ring taking cash from the betting crowd. As Irad Ortiz and José Ortiz surely know, cockfighting is illegal in all U.S. states and territories, including Puerto Rico. They could be investigated and possibly prosecuted for their involvement. In addition to the legal ramifications, it's stunning that past Eclipse Award winners participated in any way in the bloody, fight-to-the-death obscenity that is cockfighting. Their actions are without question detrimental to racing. The public already sees whipping, illegal drug use, breakdowns, and the slaughter of Thoroughbreds as abusive. In addition to dealing with these life and death issues, the racing industry must not tolerate cruelty to any species by racing licensees. Thank you. Respectfully, Kathy Guillermo Senior Vice President Equine Matters PETA” This story will be updated as further information becomes available. The post PETA Urges Eclipse Awards To Ban Ortiz Brothers In Wake of Cockfighting Video appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
DEL RAY BEACH, FL–Newly-minted Eclipse Juvenile champion Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) drew a small crowd when registering a workmanlike four-furlong move at Palm Beach Downs Friday morning. Campaigned by Spendthrift Farm, the undefeated colt worked in tandem with the farm's Authentic Chance (Authentic). The pair completed the task in :50.81, with the roan finishing slightly ahead of his workmate. The work was the first half-mile move for the TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard since his victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile victory at Del Mar in November. He previously worked three furlongs in :37.01 at Palm Beach Downs on Jan. 16. “We wanted to see him wanting to do it and we wanted to see him doing it easily and controlled and that's what we saw,” said Spendthrift Farm's General Manager Ned Toffey. “It looks like he's moving forward and he's on track. What we saw was very positive today.” He continued, “The rider was sitting motionless and had a lot of horse and probably could have done more, but we weren't looking for that. We were looking for something controlled and within himself and that's what we saw. He was striding out nicely and looking and looked like he could do more.” Asked what the most likely route to the Triple Crown would be, Toffey said the tentative plan would be to start with Gulfstream's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 28 before the GI Curlin Florida Derby on Mar. 28. “That's the plan but it's horse racing,” said Toffey. “Planning too far ahead, you may have to change your plans. But that's the plan right now.” Case in point, GI Spinaway and GI Alcibiades winner Tommy Jo (Into Mischief), who had been targeting the GIII Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 31 will miss the seven-furlong race after being forced to the sidelines. “We were hoping to go to the Forward Gal with her, but she ran into a couple of issues so she is going to get some time off,” he told TDN. “Hopefully, 'll see her return in the latter part of this year.” Named TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard after her win in a six-furlong Saratoga allowance last July, Tommy Jo won the Spinaway by 6 1/2 lengths over Percy's Bar (Upstart) before gaining the victory from that rival via DQ in the Alcibiades. In her latest start, she finished fifth behind Super Corredora (Gun Runner) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Oct. 31. The post Juvenile Champ Ted Noffey Works, Tommy Jo Sidelined appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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