Wandering Eyes

The aptly-named Easy has been billed as one of the star attractions to Monday's Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and Brian Slattery says that the Listed-winning daughter of Kodiac boasts “international appeal” and a successful sale would put the cherry on top of what has been a dream year for his brother and trainer, Andy. The landscape of Irish racing has changed even in the past few years alone. The bigger trainers have become behemoths and it has become harder and harder for the middle to lower tier handlers to remain competitive. By attacking the yearling sales and identifying talent on a budget, the Slatterys have not just remained relevant, they have thrived in one of the most competitive jurisdictions there is. This year's tally of 28 Flat wins on the turf is the best-ever for the stable. So, too, is the €541,500 amassed in prize-money. What's even more impressive is that the jumps arm of the County Tipperary yard has been humming along sweeter still; there are 17 wins on the board with the National Hunt season only in its infancy. Again, that's a personal best for Andy. There are not many stables that can boast such numbers over both codes and, in many ways, it all comes to a crescendo on Monday. Brian Slattery said, “We do an awful lot of breeze-up horses as well as racing them on the track but we are sellers. In order to survive in Ireland, you need to be selling and, I suppose, for the money we spend at the yearling sales, we've had a phenomenal year. Jamie Osborne's horse, Heart Of Honor (Honor A.P.), is probably the flag-bearer for the breeze-up operation, Meadowview Stables, but thankfully we've managed to have a good time of it on the track as well. We genuinely get as much of a kick out of a horse we sold winning a big race as we do when we win one ourselves.” He added, “We sold a very good horse to Hong Kong, Fiach McHugh (Belardo), whose name was changed to Red Lion. He ended up winning a Group 1 down there. Then there is Almendares (Havana Grey), who we also raced and sold to America. He's going for a Grade I in the new year so that's extremely exciting. I suppose this is a different type of excitement with Easy and, to be a part of the whole Sceptre Sessions is special, really.” Easy | Racingfotos.com Easy will be offered for sale as part of the Sceptre Sessions in foal to Mehmas. A Listed winner when successful for the Slatterys at Cork last season, she reached a career-high rating of 102 for that outfit. Not only did she win her Stakes race last season, but she came close to bagging a Group 3 victory earlier this year, only finding Copacabana Sands too good in the Barberstown Castle Stakes at Leopardstown. Slattery said, “To be selling Easy on behalf of Team Valor and Gary Barber, sure it doesn't get much better than this. Listen, we always knew how good Easy is and, if we can end the story on a good note for our owners, it would be brilliant. She started out with us and, although she had a little bit of a hiatus after she won her maiden, we enjoyed some brilliant days with her and I think she showed people what she could do when she won her Listed race at Cork. I still believe that we never actually saw the best of Easy on the track. The ability that she had was frightening but, she's such a big filly and she put so much into her work, she used to go weak. That's one of the main reasons we didn't see the best of her. She always had a lot of brilliance and you don't name a horse Easy for no reason.” The Mehmas cross with Kodiac has produced a massive 74% winners-to-runners strike-rate. The headline acts within that impressive statistic are Group 1-winning sprinter Believing, Group 2 scorer West Acre and Group performer Diego Ventura. Slattery is in little doubt that his mare, who hails from the family of Cassandra Go, boasts international appeal. He concluded, “It's the old cliche, but she's a queen. She's absolutely gorgeous. She's selling in foal to Mehmas and it's a very good cross. What Tally-Ho has done with those stallions, particularly in the past few years, is amazing. There are a lot of top stallions in Easy's page and, I know I am biased, but she would be an addition to any breeding operation in the world. She has international appeal and we've literally had people from all over the world looking at her today. For a period of about three hours, she wasn't in her box. She was seriously busy showing. The footfall is amazing and, like I said, it's fairly special to be a part of it all. We just want to end the story on a good note and, please God, we can make that happen on Monday.” The post ‘Easy Has International Appeal And We Can’t Wait For The Sceptre Sessions’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Jockey Club has donated HK$70.2 million to the victims of the Tai Po fire after a subdued afternoon of racing at Sha Tin on Sunday. A minute’s silence was observed before Sunday’s closed-door meeting, which was restricted to owners, stewards, voting members and their invited guests, and there was none of the colour and buzz of a normal Sha Tin meeting. “I want to express my deep condolences to all of those who have been affected by this tragic fire,” said Jockey Club chief executive Winfried...View the full article

Dazzling Fit enhanced his Classic Series claims with a herculean performance and Colourful King came from the clouds in a sensational display as David Eustace celebrated a double at Sha Tin on Sunday. Despite facing tough draws in their respective races, Colourful King exploded from last to smash his rivals in the Class Two 1,000m Turf Handicap before Dazzling Fit sealed Eustace’s brace with a gutsy victory in the Class Three 1,600m Turf Handicap. “You’re hopeful when you go to the races with a...View the full article

The world's top-rated horse, Calandagan, was all out to defeat Japan's best, Masquerade Ball, by a head at the end of the 1 1/2 miles of the Japan Cup (G1) Nov. 30 at Tokyo Racecourse.View the full article

Libertad produced the biggest performance of his career and one of the most dramatic finishes of The Pinnacles when the 5-year-old entire lunged late to deny Overpass the Winterbottom Stakes.View the full article

Hong Lok Golf could be heading for Group One targets after getting back on track with a game performance to win the Class Two 1,600m Turf Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday. Chris So Wai-yin’s galloper won six of his seven starts in a breakout first campaign, but had kicked off this season with a pair of defeats, most recently by two and a half lengths in disappointing fashion. Sent off the $4.6 joint favourite under Harry Bentley, there were some anxious moments for his backers when he turned into...View the full article

TOKYO, JAPAN — It turns out that it takes the world's best horse to win what what will surely be judged for the second time in three years to have been the world's best race. For 20 years the Europeans have come and failed to conquer but Calandagan (Gleneagles), already at the summit of the world rankings for 2025 and with Mount Fuji as the backdrop for his most towering challenge to date, lowered the record of the great Almond Eye when outbattling race favourite Masquerade Ball (Duramente) to win the 45th running of the Japan Cup. They say that two out of three ain't bad and, in a pinch-me year for trainer Francis Graffard and the team at the Aga Khan Studs, they have combined to have two of the top three horses in the world rankings. This week the name of the Arc winner Daryz (Sea The Stars) has been mentioned more than once in press conferences by racing manager Nemone Routh and then by Princess Zahra Aga Khan after Sunday's victory, but this particular day was owned by Calandagan, a reformed character from his juvenile season whose only tearaway characteristics now are in streaking home to glory. Mickael Barzalona, too, was a flamboyant youngster, notably when standing in his irons to salute the crowd at Epsom before he was even over the line in the Derby, but the jockey's transition into a calm and collected professional is now complete, along with that of his horse. In a dramatic start to the race which saw Yuga Kawada ejected from the stumbling Admire Terra on leaving the stalls, Barzalona had Calandagan switched off towards the rear of the remaining 16 runners, travelling smoothly, eyes presumably fixed on the imaginary target on Christophe Lemaire's back aboard Masquerade Ball. Moving up on the outside of the favourite mid-stretch, Barzalona temporarily had Lemaire pinned for room as Shin Emperor weakened in his run, but the looming pair shifted out just enough for both to pass last year's runner-up with ease. From there the battle commenced, with Calandagan and Masquerade Ball locked together to the line. Only the grey Admire Terra could pass them, and he was unencumbered by the weight of a rider. “We were a little bit caught for speed in the early part of the race but Mickael caught a good lead behind Christophe Lemaire,” said Graffard. “He travelled the whole way behind the right horse in the race so that gave me a lot of confidence, and then we then never had any trouble in running especially into the last bend, and the horse after that has been really brave.” The trainer still has some important work to be done in Hong Kong in a fortnight's time, but with the year he's had already – winning Classics, a Breeders' Cup and three Group 1 races with Calandagan alone prior to today – it could have been imagined that the pressure may be off a little when it came to this challenge at the end of a long season for the four-year-old. One look at Graffard's face before the race told another story, however, especially with a recently earned title to uphold. “I was really stressed today. I knew I was bringing the best horse in the world and I was re-exposing him in a race that is almost impossible to win,” he said. Almost, but not quite. And in achieving the near-impossible Calandagan collected the equivalent of $3.3m in prize-money, with a further $3m bonus as the winner of a selection of Group 1 races in Europe this year. Just one would have done but he had three to choose from. “I said to myself it wasn't really fair on the horse to ask that of him and I really felt that pressure today. I thought to myself it would be awful to have take him back home to his box where there would be a plaque saying best horse in the world and for his year to end in disappointment,” he continued. “We were asking him to do something quite incredible after he had already proved he was the best, so I felt an enormous weight on my shoulders. I love taking on the big challenges but this morning I was really wondering why were putting ourselves through it.” For Princess Zahra, there must also be pressure in striving to uphold the standards which have been set down over the last century by three generations of her forebears. The Aga Khan Studs, founded by her great grandfather Aga Khan III, have become a byword for excellence in Thoroughbred breeding. Her father's long tenure ended only with his passing in February. Racing in Japan has existed for almost the same amount of time that the Aga Khan Studs have been in existence, and the leaders in this nation have steadily amassed a national broodmare band whose offspring have become the envy of the old world order. This emergence of Japan as one of the global leaders in bloodstock has of course not been lost on Princess Zahra, who on Saturday inspected the impressive line-up of sires at Hokkaido's Shadai Stallion Station. It surely won't be long before one or two of them are visited by mares from the Aga Khan Studs. “It has been a very good year thanks to the people sitting next to me and to the rest of the team,” she said, positioned between Graffard and Barzalona after a lengthy presentation ceremony during which she looked almost embarrassed to receive gift after prize after medal and then, best of all, the Japan Cup itself. “It's the best year we've had in a very long time. Of course I miss my father very much. He was very involved, but in terms of the operation, I think we continue to do what we do and with our new training policies, thanks to Francis and the collaboration with Mickael, we've had a very good year.” She continued, “Calandagan has shown himself to be an improving horse throughout the year and I think both Francis and Mickael have learned how to read the horse and to bring him to the best place on the right day at the right time. “Calandagan, as Francis said from the beginning of the year, was the horse for this race and he had planned this for a very long time. I wasn't sure in March that we were going to get here.” Of her visit to Shadai with her team of Pat Downes, Nemone Routh and Pierre Gasnier, she added, “As a breeding operation it is fascinating to see the bloodlines that exist in this country that are actually remote from the European bloodlines that we have today. It is very interesting to me to see what Japan has produced in terms of stallions, in terms of bloodlines, and I think it is going to be fascinating to see what those bloodlines produce in the future.” The development of those bloodlines has indeed been seen to increasingly devastating effect around the world. At home, the development of the sport of racing is equally impressive. Under a spotless blue sky 77,029 fans crammed into the vast Tokyo grandstand, lining the parade ring ten deep at least and creating a wall of sound as the race reached its climax that is surely unmatched at any racecourse. It was clear that for many professionals involved in the Japan Cup that there was a sense of pride that the race had this year attracted the top-rated Calandagan. The local racing fans may have preferred their favoured Tenno Sho winner Masquerade Ball to prevail – and he only went down by a head at the line, with the last two Derby winners Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) and Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) filling the minor places – but they know a good horse when they see one. Calandagan was duly afforded the hero's welcome that he deserved as he was brought back out to the track for the presentation ceremony. “He's a real champion, as everybody saw today,” Graffard said. “Mickael has so much faith in this horse and he's never let him down.” Calandagan, only the second French-trained horse to win the Japan Cup since Le Glorieux in 1987, was serenaded after his triumph by the on-course band playing Land of Hope and Glory. At first it seemed an incongruous anthem but, for his own Last Night of the Proms, a quest that began in hope and some trepidation for Calandagan's connections had indeed ended in unforgettable glory. The post ‘A Real Champion’: Calandagan Wows Japan With Record-Breaking Cup Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

TOKYO, JAPAN — In a special ceremony at Tokyo racecourse prior to the 45th running of the Japan Cup, history was made when brothers Teruya and Katsumi Yoshida became the first Japanese members of the Jockey Club. The major owner-breeders and owners respectively of Shadai Farm and Northern Farm, Teruya, 78, and Katsumi, 77, were presented with lapel badges by senior steward Baroness Dido Harding to mark their honorary membership. Baroness Harding was joined in Tokyo by Jockey Club CEO Jim Mullen, assistant racing and international director Matthew Woolston, and the Jockey Club's international ambassador Brian Finch. In his introduction to the ceremony, Woolston said, “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome Mr Teruya Yoshida and Mr Katsumi Yoshida as honorary members of the Jockey Club. “We thank you for your contribution to horseracing and for the cooperation between the Japanese and British horseracing industries.” Addressing the Yoshida brothers, Baroness Harding said, “The English Jockey Club is 275 years old and we began to bring rules and order to British racing and were the governing body and the operator for 250 years. Twenty-five years ago we handed that over to an independent organisation but our purpose is the same, which is to preserve the long-term sustainability of horseracing in Britain and around the world.” Of the 180 members of the Jockey Club, 23 honorary members are based outside Britain. They include Princess Zahra Aga Khan, owner-breeder of Japan Cup runner Calandagan, Sheikh Mohammed, John Magnier, Bill Farish and Gaynor Rupert. She continued, “I am so honoured and delighted that the two of you have agreed to become the first Asian members of the Jockey Club. You have done amazing things, not just for Japanese racing, but for the world. “Horseracing in Britain benefits from a strong racing community in Japan, in France, in Ireland and in America. The sport is stronger when we are all strong, so the global impact that the Yoshidas have had is something that we wanted to recognise.” Katsumi and Teruya Yoshida with Baroness Harding | Emma Berry Teruya Yoshida, owner-breeder of the Japan Cup favourite Masquerade Ball, said, “This is a great honour to receive this, not only for us, but for Japanese racing. Racing started 100 years ago in Japan and we have put a lot of effort into improving our horse quality.” That last statement has been backed up by the increasingly impressive results of Japanese runners internationally over a number of years, and 2025 alone has witnessed victories for Forever Young in the Saudi Cup and Breeders' Cup Classic, and for Danon Decile in the Dubai Sheema Classic, while Satono Reve was a close second in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. The post ‘Great Honour’ as Teruya and Katsumi Yoshida Become Jockey Club Members appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A dawdling pace in the $301,500 Hollywood Derby (G1T) Nov. 29 at Del Mar turned the race into a test of late acceleration, and Salamis passed with flying colors.View the full article

A dawdling pace in the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1T) Nov. 29 at Del Mar turned the race into a test of late acceleration, and Salamis passed with flying colors.View the full article

Bella Ballerina, a half sister to 2023 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Pretty Mischievous, is on the Oaks trail herself after a win in the $397,375 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs Nov. 29.View the full article

Cannoneer (c, 2, Into Mischief–Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon) became the 58th 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' for his all-conquering sire with a tour-de-force victory at second asking for trainer Brad Cox in the nightcap of the Stars of Tomorrow II card at Churchill Downs. Off as the 8-5 favorite, the $1.75-million Keeneland September graduate was sent to the front from his outside draw, but had to deal with the riderless Circle Me (Kantharos), who lost jockey Samuel Camacho, Jr. at the start. Completely undeterred beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr., Cannoneer led through fractions of :22.44 and :45.34. He took off impressively off the far turn and rolled home with powerful strides to win for fun by 7 1/4 lengths while stopping the timer for seven furlongs in a razor sharp 1:21.63. Cannoneer, a half-brother to Girvin (Tale of Ekati), GISW, $1,624,392; Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), GSW & MGISP-USA, G1SP-KSA, $3,647,970; Pirate's Punch (Shanghai Bobby), GSW, $395,650; and Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John), GSW, $497,660, tired to third behind SW & GSP Comport (Collected) as the heavy favorite after setting the pace in his unveiling going 5 1/2 furlongs beneath the Twin Spires June 1. Cannoneer's bluehen dam Catch the Moon, a $240,000 purchase by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings at the 2015 Keeneland November sale, was bred to Not This Time for 2026. 12th-Churchill Downs, $120,450, Msw, 11-29, 2yo, 7f, 1:21.63, ft, 7 1/4 lengths. CANNONEER, c, 2, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon 2nd Dam: Catch My Fancy, by Yes It's True 3rd Dam: Walk Away Rene, by Gold Alert Sales history: $1,750,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $81,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-St. Elias Stable & Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Cannoneer, hijo de Into Mischief, nieto de Malibu Moon, ejemplar que costó 1.750.000$ en subasta, reaparece ganando luego de 182 días sin correr, de nuevo en Churchill Downs. Montó Irad Ortiz Jr. para Brad Cox, sociedad de St. Elias Stable y @StonestreetFarm pic.twitter.com/vO3mpGe8Xd — Carlitos Solorzano (@carlosimbatible) November 29, 2025 The post Stars of Tomorrow II Card Concludes with ‘Rising Star’ Performance from Cannoneer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Seabiscuit is considered one of horse racing's greatest longshot stories, so fittingly the $200,000 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar Nov. 29 was won by the race's longest shot: Call Sign Seven at 68-1.View the full article

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Florida Sire Stakes series wrapped up Nov. 29 at Gulfstream Park with a pair of homebreds taking top honors in the two $300,000 stakes for Florida-bred 2-year-olds.View the full article

Joining Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Ted Noffey, Further Ado gives Spendthrift Farm two aces heading toward the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1). Further Ado captured the Nov. 29 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill DownsView the full article

Juddmonte homebred SALAMIS (c, 4, Speightstown–Antonoe, by First Defence) largely avoided traffic issues in what ended up a sit-sprint renewal of the GI Hollywood Derby, and, with clear sailing through the final furlong, was along in the final strides to give his late sire his second new graded winner on the program. The half-brother to GI Matriarch Stakes hopeful Segesta (Ghostzapper) was taken back to the latter third of the field by Umberto Rispoli, with odds-on Test Score (Oscar Performance) riding the rails to his inside and Salamis had cover on the back of Tom's Magic behind a dawdling half-mile in :49.92. With no traffic to his outside, Salamis continued to follow the move of Tom's Magic around the turn, while Test Score was ridden more for luck, sweating on an inside run beneath Juan Hernandez. Rispoli steered Salamis off Tom's Magic's heels with three-sixteenths of a mile to race and accelerated sharply to be along in the nick of time. Test Score was blocked for a run entering the final furlong and kicked hard once clear, but all too late. Salamis is the 71st graded winner and 27th top-level scorer for Speightstown. #4 SALAMIS ($8.20) prevailed in the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) at @DelMarRacing! The @JuddmonteFarms homebred by Speightstown had @umbyrispoli aboard for Chad Brown! pic.twitter.com/n4cogvSVhj — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 29, 2025 Saturday, Del Mar HOLLYWOOD DERBY-GI, $301,500, Del Mar, 11-29, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:50.74, fm. 1–SALAMIS, 122, c, 3, by Speightstown 1st Dam: Antonoe (GISW-USA, GSW-Fr, $565,377), by First Defence 2nd Dam: Ixora, by Dynaformer 3rd Dam: Imroz, by Nureyev 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Umberto Rispoli. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-0-2, $353,363. *1/2 to Segesta (Ghostzapper), MGSW & MGISP, $1,010,275. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Tom's Magic, 122, c, 3, Justify–Dixie Chicken, by Rahy. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($200,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-CJ Thoroughbreds and Mo Speed Racing; B-Sean & Dorothy Fitzhenry (ON); T-Michael Stidham. $60,000. 3–Test Score, 122, c, 3, Lookin At Lucky–Joy of Learning, by Kitten's Joy. O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-H. Graham Motion. $36,000. Margins: NK, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.10, 4.80, 0.80. Also Ran: Tempus Volat, Kokosan, Friendly Confines, Maaz (Fr), Copp. Scratched: Noble Confessor. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Salamis A Second Fresh Graded Winner For Speightstown In Hollywood Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Heads In Beds at Del Mar. Hello Youmzain Filly Wins At Del Mar Heads In Beds (Hello Youmzain) broke her maiden at Del Mar for Phil D'Amato on November 28 (video). Owned by Bridlewood Farm, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables and Michael Dubb, the three-year-old filly was bred by Mette Campbell Andenaes. Mandore International Agency bought the winner on behalf of Madaket Stables for €150,000 from the Arqana October Yearling Sale in 2023. Heads In Beds is a half-sister to listed winner Monette (Cockney Rebel), who was second in the GIII Matron Stakes, and to the stakes-placed filly Lacuna (Shalaa). Her dam, the multiple stakes-placed Eleona (Areion), has a yearling filly by Intello who was sold to Daniel Cole for €25,000 at the 2025 edition of that sale. The extended family features German multiple group winner Earl Of Fire (Areion). Haras d'Etreham's Hello Youmzain has 89 winners from 180 runners worldwide. Heads In Beds is his third winner from four runners (75%) in the U.S. DeVaux Firster Triumphs At Fair Grounds First-timer Pretty Ribbon (Bated Breath) spun a winning tale on debut for Cherie DeVaux at Fair Grounds on November 29 (video). The daughter of Bated Breath, bred by Papillon Stables, races for John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services. A half-sister to GIII Athenia Stakes heroine Love And Thunder (Siyouni), Pretty Ribbon is the seventh foal, seventh runner and sixth winner for Pretty Paper (Medaglia d'Oro). The unraced dam also has a yearling colt by Night Of Thunder who cost $270,000 as a Keeneland September yearling when picked up by MC Bloodstock, and a weanling filly by Sioux Nation. Second dam Take The Ribbon (Chester House) won the GIII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile and was second in the GI Garden City Breeders' Cup Stakes. Juddmonte's Bated Breath is responsible for 23 winners from 35 runners (66%) in the U.S. His best there is GI Matriarch Stakes heroine Viadera among his 11 American stakes winners. Repeat Winners Grade I winner Lush Lips (Ten Sovereigns) returned a winner of the GII Mrs. Revere Stakes on Friday night after topping the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale when selling for $3.7 million to Dixiana Farm earlier this month (video). The Brendan Walsh trainee had triumphed in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes in October. Klaravich Stables' Oversubscribed (Too Darn Hot) added the Forever Together Stakes to her haul at Aqueduct in late November (video). The Chad Brown trainee first joined the Making Waves echelon with a victory in the Listed Wild Applause Stakes in 2024. Vina Arana (Make Believe) won for the second time in seven starts with an 1 1/2-length victory at Churchill Downs on Saturday, November 22 (video). The Sterling Stables and MHM Stables runner, who was third in the 2024 G3 Mutamakina Stakes, is trained by Jack Sisterson. Gary Barber and Team Valor's Bessie Abott (Kuroshio) won her second race in a row at Woodbine on November 29 for trainer Mark Casse (video). Second in the GIII Wonder Again Stakes in June, the three-year-old filly was bred by Dr Noel Cogan and Patrick Williams. The post Making Waves: Del Mar Feast For French Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan, post time: 15:40, JAPAN CUP-G1, ¥960,400,000, 3yo/up, 2400mT Field: Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Croix Du Nord (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}), Deep Monster (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Sunrise Earth (Jpn) (Rey De Oro {Jpn}), Ho O Biscuits (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Jpn}), Seiun Hades (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}), Struve (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), Admire Terra (Jpn) (Rey De Oro {Jpn}), Yoho Lake (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Brede Weg (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), Masquerade Ball (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Shin Emperor (Jpn) (Siyouni {Fr}), Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}). TDN Analysis: Although Calandagan is the highest-rated horse in the world at the moment, conquering the Japan Cup will not be a breeze. A trio of Japanese Derby winners also line up in 2025 victor Croix Du Nord, Danon Decile (2024) and Tastiera (2023). Also, joint-second in the 2024 Japan Cup were the scratched Durezza and Shin Emperor, and the latter has returned to go one better on Sunday. Click here for the complete field. The post Black-Type Analysis: Can Shin Emperor Finally Get His Group 1 Ring? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin homebred BELLA BALLERINA (f, 2, Street Sense–Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit), whose lone previous trip to the post resulted in a 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard-worthy debut sprinting over six furlongs at Keeneland Oct. 5, successfully stretched out to two turns Saturday afternoon, hitting the front at midstretch before holding off a late lunge from fellow 'Rising Star' Atropa (Into Mischief) in the GII Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs. The winner earns 10 points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Bet down from a morning line of 10-1 to be just over 4-1 at the off–in large measure owing to the scratching of 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Explora (Blame)–Bella Ballerina caught a flyer from the outside stall and was soon in front, but that was short-lived as the undefeated New York-bred Letmecounttheways (Yaupon) speared through and went winging on the front end through unsustainable fractions of :23.45 and :46.31. With the pacesetter odds-on to feel the pinch as push came to shove, Bella Ballerina found herself in the right spot to have first crack, and they hit the lead as Letmecounttheways predictably hoisted the white flag. Atropa, a 10-length maiden winner first-time long in her most recent start, began to make inroads as did local maiden winner Just Singing (Justify). The half-sister to champion and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) began to tire with a sixteenth of a mile to race, shortening stride noticeably, and despite swapping over to her left lead late, managed to scrape home in the nick of time. Essential Coffee (Nyquist) stumbled at the break from gate two, tossing jockey Corey Lanerie. Neither horse nor jockey was injured. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan Walsh Bella Ballerina holds on to win the G2 Golden Rod and earns 10 points towards the Kentucky Oaks! @brenpwalsh trains and @tyler_gaff was aboard. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ZT8yZ4yASo — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 29, 2025 The post Street Sense’s Bella Ballerina Heads ‘Rising Star’ 1-2 In Golden Rod appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

She shipped in all the way from New York, but it ended up worth her while as Just Aloof (Justify–Aloof (Ire), by Galileo {Ire}) strode home best of all to claim the GIII Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar. A winner at first-asking last out Oct. 16 during the Belmont Big A meeting, she topped a stablemate exacta that day and left the gates here as the 3-1 favorite. Not quite able to make the pace, she stalked from second through a quarter in :22.63 and a half in :47.21 before taking commanding coming off the turn. She refused to come back to the field once she struck the front. Latte Luv (Constitution) ran on well to get second and there was a dead-heat for third. O/B-Whisper Hill Farm; T-Chad Brown. JUST ALOOF ($8.00) soared home and won the $100,000 Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3) at @DelMarRacing for trainer Chad Brown. The daughter of Justify (@coolmoreamerica) was ridden by @HIBerrios. pic.twitter.com/gVTLblFOHj — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 29, 2025 The post Justify’s Just Aloof Straight and Strong in Jimmy Durante appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Further Ado (Gun Runner), a jaw-dropping, 20-length maiden winner in his two-turn debut at Keeneland Oct. 10, took care of business as the 3-5 favorite in Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs. Universe (Global Campaign) was second; Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule) was third. Placed in a tracking fourth through fractions of :23.35 and :46.76, Further Ado made a three-wide bid approaching the quarter pole, and, after a long drive, fought his way past Solider N Diplomat in deep stretch to collect 10 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby. He had 1 3/4 lengths over the rallying Universe at the wire. The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.33. A $275,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Further Ado was hammered down to the Spendthrift braintrust for $550,000 after breezing a quarter-mile in :21 1/5 at this year's OBS April Sale. O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-John C. Oxley (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Further Ado picks up 10 Kentucky Derby points in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at @ChurchillDowns! @iradortiz was aboard for trainer @bradcoxracing and @spendthriftfarm! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/SDJKbZ5jiJ — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 29, 2025 Saturday, Churchill Downs KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB S.-GII, $400,000, Churchill Downs, 11-29, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.33, ft. 1–FURTHER ADO, 122, c, 2, by Gun Runner 1st Dam: Sky Dreamer (GSP-USA, MSP-Can, $176,065), by Sky Mesa 2nd Dam: To Dream About, by Monarchos 3rd Dam: Beautiful Pleasure, by Maudlin 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($275,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-John C. Oxley (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $242,470. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $320,703. *1/2 to Kimbear (Temple City), MGSW-UAE, GSP-USA, $807,269. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Universe, 122, c, 2, Global Campaign–Equalityforall, by Quality Road. ($75,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-4 G Racing LLC, Gregg Day, Steven Crain and Magdalena Racing; B-Becky Pietras (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $78,700. 3–Soldier N Diplomat, 122, c, 2, Army Mule–Diplomatic Miss, by Violence. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($950,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). O-St. Elias Stable; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $39,350. Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.71, 12.39, 7.37. Also Ran: Very Connected, Cherokee Nation, Dr. Kapur, Spice Runner. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post ‘Rising Star’ Further Ado Delivers as 3-5 Favorite in Kentucky Jockey Club appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Taylor Made's Not This Time, who currently leads all North American-based sires by black-type winners for 2025, further padded that number when Albaugh Family Stables homebred On Time Girl (f, 2, Not This Time–Girl Daddy, by Uncle Mo) captured Churchill's Fern Creek Stakes for juvenile fillies Saturday afternoon, bringing her sire's stakes winner count to 26 for the year. The bay 2-year-old, a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', left the gate sharpest of all, almost immediately putting a length on the field, but Keeneland maiden winner Solemn Vow (Constitution) to her inside wanted to make an early race of it and On Time Girl let her go as Irad Ortiz, Jr. grabbed a hold. On Time Girl stayed on her rival's flank through :23.04 and :46.08 fractions, but took command in an instant off the turn when Ortiz niggled the reins. She responded even more with a couple of right-handed taps and kicked clear with aplomb to win by 3 1/2 lengths over Paige Turner (Army Mule), who had been stalking from third throughout after employing a similar tactic in her blowout maiden win last month over this surface. Previously undefeated A Fine Chardonnay (Maclean's Music), who handed On Time Girl her only career defeat, closed for third. The final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:15.83. On Time Girl won on debut going six panels at Ellis Park in August, then came back a month later to take an allowance at the same distance by four lengths at Churchill. That second eye-catching run earned her 'Rising Star' status and she went into Keeneland's Dean Dorton Myrtlewood Stakes Oct. 24 favored by just a penny over A Fine Chardonnay. The latter edged past her late that day, but wasn't able to catch On Time Girl Saturday. The Albaugh family bought On Time Girl's dam, Girl Daddy, for $500,000 at the Keeneland September sale in 2019 and campaigned her to a GIII Pocahontas Stakes win at a mile at Churchill before she finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies to close out her brief career. On Time Girl is the mare's first foal to make it to the races. She has a weanling full-sister to the Fern Creek winner and was bred back to Flightline for 2026. On Time Girl takes the Fern Creek at @churchilldowns for trainer @bradcoxracing with @iradortiz aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/FNx2xTNE2S — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 29, 2025 FERN CREEK S., $225,000, Churchill Downs, 11-29, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:15.83, ft. 1–ON TIME GIRL, 122, f, 2, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Girl Daddy (GSW & GISP, $321,240), by Uncle Mo 2nd Dam: Cara Marie, by Unbridled's Song 3rd Dam: Miss Kilroy, by A.P. Indy ($375,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Albaugh Family Stables LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $134,160. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $315,525. 2–Paige Turner, 122, f, 2, Army Mule–Sophia Mia, by Pioneerof the Nile. ($350,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-David Ingordo, West Point Thoroughbreds and Danbro Farms, LLC; B-TMSI, Bell Tower Thoroughbreds, Omar Aldabbagh, Frank Taylor, et al (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. $43,600. 3–A Fine Chardonnay, 122, f, 2, Maclean's Music–Andele, by Bernardini. ($20,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT; $85,000 2yo '25 EASMAY). O-Double 22 Stables, LLC; B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes. $21,800. Margins: 3HF, 3HF, 1HF. Odds: 3.11, 1.83, 3.07. Also Ran: Solemn Vow, Go to Girl, Woodstock, Mackinac, I B Flyin, River Rise. Scratched: Have Faith. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Not This Time ‘Rising Star’ On Time Girl Romps in Churchill’s Fern Creek appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Liberty National (c, 2, Maxfield–Virtuoso, by Awesome Again) became the fourth 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' for his freshman sire (by Street Sense) with an impressive performance at second asking around two turns at Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon. The 4-1 chance was bumped by a rival at the start and found a fantastic spot in a ground-saving sixth beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr. through a half mile in :48.57. Locked and loaded on the far turn, he was tipped out at the quarter pole and took off impressively down the lane to graduate with honors by 4 1/4 lengths. Stirring Words (Constitution) was second. Liberty National was a well-beaten sixth going seven furlongs at Keeneland in his debut for trainer Ken McPeek Oct. 16 behind fellow 'Rising Star' Dr. Kapur (McKinzie), who lines up in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. later today. Liberty National, a $525,000 Keeneland September yearling, is the 19th winner for Maxfield. His unraced dam, a full-sister to GISW Paynter, produced a colt by McKinzie this year and was bred back to Maxfield. This is also the female family of legendary two-time GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and leading sire Tiznow. 7th-Churchill Downs, $123,035, Msw, 11-29, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.41, ft, 4 1/4 lengths. LIBERTY NATIONAL, c, 2, by Maxfield 1st Dam: Virtuoso, by Awesome Again 2nd Dam: Tizso, by Cee's Tizzy 3rd Dam: Cee's Song, by Seattle Song Sales history: $525,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $70,675. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Brookdale Racing, Inc. & Fern Circle Stables; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Liberty National stretches out and breaks his maiden at second asking in R7 at @churchilldowns for trainer @kennymcpeek with @b_hernandezjr aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/JULpPBaVLA — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 29, 2025 The post Liberty National a New ‘Rising Star’ for Maxfield appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Minella Racing's Minella Academy (Sea The Moon) was knocked down for £370,000 during the Goffs Coral Gold Cup Sale at Newbury on Saturday. Sold as lot 6 to Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins, the three-year-old won his hurdle debut at Cork by eight lengths earlier this month. His granddam, Last Second (Alzao), won the G2 Sun Chariot Stakes, G2 Nassau Stakes and G3 Park Stakes and was second in the G1 Coronation Stakes. At stud, she left 10 winners from 15 foals, among them multiple top-level winner and French Classic winner and sire Aussie Rules. Also breaking the £200,000 mark was Red Acres Max (Maxios) (lot 2) from Moate Stable. Tom Malone shelled out £240,000 for the four-year-old gelding. A debut point-to-point winner at Dromahane, Red Acres Max counts NH stakes winners Ballyburn (Flemensfirth), Noble Endeavor (Flemensfirth) and Churchfield Sunset (Wings Of Eagles) under his great granddam. In 2025, 17 sold from 18 lots offered (94%) for a gross of £1,944,000 (+29%). The average rose 6% to £114,353 and the median was £80,000 (-6%). Overall, seven lots met or exceeded the six-figure mark. Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said, “Today marked the third edition of this sale which is held in partnership with Newbury Racecourse and it was great to achieve a 94% clearance rate, a rise in the sale average and another big price at the venue with Minella Academy selling for £370,000. He is the third horse to sell for £300,000 at this venue following the top price of £320,000 last year and Un Temps Pour Tout who set the record back in 2013 when selling for £450,000. “We have been very busy over the last three days with all the major owners and trainers viewing the horses and we would like to extend our thanks to the PTP handlers who have supported this sale once again. We would also like to extend our thanks to the Newbury Executive for their continued support of this sale, and of course to our purchasers who we wish the very best of luck. We now turn our attention to the Goffs December NH Sale which will offer a superb catalogue of NH foals & breeding stock on 8 – 10 December.” The post Minella Academy Brings £370k From Kirk And Mullins At Goffs Coral Gold Cup Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Greg Foley, a fixture on the Churchill Downs backside for better than 40 years, was represented by his 500th winner beneath the Twin Spires when No Time Left (Not This Time) broke her maiden at third asking at odds of 8-1 Saturday afternoon. A career-long inhabitant of Barn 11 at the Louisville oval, Foley is now tied for eighth on the track's all-time wins list with Bernie Flint. “Churchill Downs has always been home,” said Foley, whose first win at the track came on Apr. 27, 1981 with Sky Light Princess. “To win 500 races here is really special. It's a credit to all the horses, owners and people around me who've made it possible.” Foley has sent out nearly 10,000 starters to date for 1,577 winners and has amassed stable earnings of over $42 million. His best runners include MGSW Sconsin (Include) and GI Kentucky Derby runners Major Fed (Ghostzapper) and O Besos (Orb). He recently won the first Grade I of his career when Troubleshooting (Not This Time) took out the Frankin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs. He joins an elite list of trainers near the top of the leaderboard, which is headed by Steve Asmussen's 992 wins. He is followed by Dale Romans (827), Bill Mott (795), Kenny McPeek (592), Tom Amoss (585), Mike Maker (564) and D. Wayne Lukas (562). Foley and Flint are tied in eighth with 500 wins apiece, just ahead of Brad Cox with 497. “I don't think I'll ever get as many wins as Steve (Asmussen),” Foley joked. “Maybe I can get to Lukas. There are some really good trainers on this list.” The post Foley Sends Out 500th Churchill Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article