Wandering Eyes

Wagering on U.S. races during the month of October experienced nearly a nine percent uptick and purses also saw significant growth compared to a year ago, according to information released by Equibase on Wednesday. Total wagering of $867,928,259 on races during the month represented a 8.99% increase over the same period from 2024, while available purses of over $115 million were higher by 8.13%. The figure of over $109 million for paid purses in October was also up by 7.59%. As for the total number of race days, they decreased slightly from 312 to 304 (-2.56%) and the number of U.S. races was lower from 2,569 in October 2024 to last month's tally of 2,495 (-2.88%). Average field size in October was down a touch from over a year ago when it was 7.73, and checked in at an average of 7.69 runners, a decrease of 0.53%. However, average daily wagering increased by 11.86% to $2,855,024, and the average available purse number per race day was up 10.98% to $379,899 from the figure of $342,326 in 2024. When it comes to the year-to-date figures, through October of 2024 wagering on U.S. races came in at $9.662-billion, while this year the amount is $9.547-billion (-1.19%). Those numbers include worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races. The post October Year-Over Wagering Numbers Along With Purses Look Strong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 54 yearlings have been catalogued for the Tattersalls Online Yearling Session on November 18-19. The yearlings are by such sires as Acclamation, Churchill, Showcasing, Starspangledbanner, Too Darn Hot, Zoustar, Cotai Glory, Cracksman, Dandy Man, Kameko, Phoenix Of Spain, Saxon Warrior, Ten Sovereigns and Ulysses. There are 11 half-brothers and sisters to group and listed performers and seven yearlings out of group and listed performing mares. Some of the choicest lots include a Zoustar filly out of Group 3 winner Farmah (lot 10) who is also a half-sister to the listed-placed Running Queen (Kingman); and a Sottsass half-sister (lot 21) to Group 1 winners Wigmore Hall (High Chaparral) and Ocean Road (Australia). There is also a filly by Saxon Warrior (lot 42) who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Bilhayl (Shamardal); and the Tip Two Win filly (lot 20) who is a half-sister to multiple Group 3 winner Future History (Showcasing). Wildcards are still being accepted for the Tattersalls Online November Sale. The post Over 50 Yearlings Catalogued For The Inaugural Tattersalls Online November Session appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Flavien Prat is Jockey of the Week after two wins at the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar and seven wins on the Nov. 2 card at Aqueduct.View the full article

A stellar line-up will contest the 2025 Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse Dec. 10, including five previous winners—Ryan Moore, Zac Purton, Mickael Barzalona, Joao Moreira and Christophe Lemaire.View the full article

Early in Keeneland's Book 2 opener, Anywho (Bolt d'Oro), offered as Hip 290, realized a $1.3 million final bid from the active Raging Torrent Syndicate. Consigned by Grovendale Sales, the 5-year-old mare was sold in foal to Not This Time. The multiple graded stakes placed daughter of SP Fancy and Flashy (Zensational) is a half-sister to Grade III-placed Wipe the Slate (Nyquist). Anywho was bred in Kentucky by Brookfield Stud. The post Bolt d’Oro’s Anywho Brings $1.3M at KEENOV Book 2 Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) remains hopeful that Ryan Moore will recover from his leg injury in time to compete in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday, December 10. Moore is one of 10 jockeys named in the line-up and is one of five former winners, along with Zac Purton, Mickael Barzalona, Joao Moreira and Christophe Lemaire. Moore has been off the track since late August and his participation in the event is subject to his confirmation. Andrew Harding, executive director of racing for the HKJC, said, “The Longines International Jockeys' Championship is the world's most coveted such competition and this year we have one of the strongest jockey line-ups in recent years, featuring James McDonald, Mickael Barzalona, Ryan Moore and William Buick – who currently fill top four in the Longines World's Best Jockey standings, and between them this year they have won a string of the world's leading Group 1 contests.” He added, “The line-up will be boosted, of course, by the inclusion of two-time IJC champion Ryan Moore, and we'll keep our fingers crossed that he recovers sufficiently to be able to participate.” Other participants include Hollie Doyle, who has just embarked on a two-month stint riding in Hong Kong, and the Australian-based British rider Rachel King, who has enjoyed notable success of late in Japan. The former Hong Kong-based Umberto Rispoli will represent the USA in this year's jockeys' challenge. Moore's 17-year-old son Toby has recently joined the jockey ranks in Britain and is apprenticed to Charlie Appleby. From 14 rides to date he has ridden three winners. The post Ryan Moore Among 10 Jockeys Named for HKJC International Challenge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) has appointed Craig Bandoroff and Ken Freirich to its board of directors, the organization said via a Wednesday press release. Craig Bandoroff, founder of Denali Stud in Paris, Kentucky and a former jockey, is a well-respected leader in the Thoroughbred industry. “I am very pleased to be asked to serve on the board of the PDJF,” said Bandoroff. “It is an organization that means a lot to me for some obvious reasons. These riders gave everything to our benefit and for horse racing.” Ken Freirich is a racehorse owner and international philanthropist with deep ties to the music industry. He is a strategic advisor to the CEOs of several charitable organizations. “I am honored and excited to join the PDJF Board,” Freirich stated. “It's a wonderful organization that provides important assistance to permanently disabled jockeys and their families.” The post PDJF Welcomes Bandoroff, Freirich To Board Of Directors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of nine wildcards, including group winner Half Sovereign (Ten Sovereigns), have been added to Arqana's Vente d'Elevage catalogue. They will be offered on the first evening of the sale on Saturday, December 6. Offered as lot 195 from Consign, Ltd., the G3 Prix Miesque winner is from the same family as dual Group 1 winner Jack Hobbs, as well as group scorers Pollenator (Motivator), Stellaria (Kizuna), and Golden Pond (Don't Forget Me). Arcadia Elevage consigns G3 Prix de Flore second Ginalyah (Chachnak) (lot 205). Rated 106, she is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Grey Mystere (Lethal Force), herself the dam of G1 Dewhurst Stakes winner Gewan (Night Of Thunder). Other lots include Andaman (Dubawi) (lot 220) who is a half-sister to group winners Sober (Camelot) and Devil (Siyouni) from Wertheimer & Frere; G3 Prix Imprudence second Ghoufrann (Oasis Dream) (lot 247) will be offered by trainer Hedi Ghabri; Haras des Capucines' Simple Magic (Invincible Spirit) (lot 200), in foal to Starspangledbanner, is the dam of Group 1 winner Sajir (Make Believe); and in foal to Justify is Wide West (Frankel) (lot 248) from the Norelands Stud draft. A trio of mares are in foal to Starman on Southern Hemisphere time: Decipher (Noble Mission) (lot 185) from The Castlebridge Consignment; Agoria (Zoustar) (lot 170) from Haras des Capucines; and You Send Me (Starspangledbanner) (lot 180) for Baroda Stud. The sale runs from Saturday, December 6 through Tuesday, December 9 with the first two days starting at 10 a.m. The second two days will begin one hour later at 11 a.m. The post Group Winner Half Sovereign One Of Nine New Vente d’Elevage Wildcards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) has launched its annual TRF online charity auction on eBay, which runs through Thursday, Nov. 13 and features nearly 50 racing-related items, the non-profit said in a release Wednesday. The auction directly benefits the TRF's mission to provide dignified lifetime care to retired Thoroughbred racehorses, and also benefits its 'Second Chances Program' for incarcerated individuals. This year's auction includes: Thorpedo Anna shadowboxed halter with certificate of authenticity; Autographed memorabilia from industry connections; Artwork, photography, and handcrafted items; Frank Mirahmadi race call experience at the Spa. “Our online auction is always a fun way for friends of the TRF to get involved,” said TRF Executive Director Maggie Sweet. “Every bid makes a real difference in providing dignified lifetime care to our herd.” Click here to access the auction items. The post TRF Launches Annual eBay Charity Auction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It only took Hollie Doyle four rides to get back in the Hong Kong groove as Run Run Smart got her short-term stint in the city off to the perfect start in the Class Four Japan Racing Association Trophy (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. It was a sense of deja vu for the British rider, who rode Run Run Smart – named Asktheboss at the time – to victory in a Chester novice race in June 2024 for Adrian Keatley. Paired up with him for the first time since, Doyle wasted no time in letting...View the full article

The draws are out for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup and the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot, to be held at Addington Raceway next Tuesday. And there’s plenty of good news for the favourites. Australian superstar Leap To Fame has drawn 6 in the Cup, with hometown hero Republican Party one inside him at 5 and Merlin at 3 while Victoria Cup winner Kingman has drawn 12 with Akuta at 10. In the Dominion hotshot Australian Jilliby Ballerini has drawn 2, with Muscle Mountain well placed at 7 , Oscar Bonavena at 10 and Bet N Win the outside of the second row at 18. The IRT Trotting Cup field : Rakero Rocket (1) Lakelsa (E2) (2) Merlin (3) Pinseeker (4) Republican Party (5) Leap To Fame (6) Vessem (7) Sooner The Bettor (8) Wag Star (E1) (9) Akuta (10) Here’s Herbie (E3) (11) Kingman (12) We Walk By Faith (13) American Me (14) Alta Meteor (15) Mo’unga (16) Don’t Stop Dreaming (17) Better Knuckle Up (18) The Renwick Farms Dominion Trot field : Maui (1) Jilliby Ballerini (2) Hidden Talent (3) Arcee Phoenix (4) Mystic Max (E2) (5) One Over All (6) Muscle Mountain (7) Mighty Logan (8) Mr Love (9) Oscar Bonavena (10) Love N The Port (E1) (11) Father Time (12) Parisian Artiste (13) I Dream Of Jeannie (14) Midnight Dash (15) Paris Prince (E3) (16) Gus (17) Bet N Win (18) View the full article

Dubawi will remain at a fee of £350,000 for the 2026 breeding season while his son Night Of Thunder, the champion sire-elect in Britain and Ireland, has had his fee raised to £200,000. The fees released for Darley's 23 stallions in Europe include four newcomers. The treble Group 1 winner Rosallion is introduced at £40,000 at Dalham Hall Stud, where he will stand alongside his relative and fellow Group 1 winner Inisherin, whose fee is £12,500. Also new to the roster is Shadow Of Light, winner of both the G1 Middle Park and G1 Dewhurst Stakes, who is based at Kildangan Stud at €17,500, while Tribalist, whose nine stakes wins include the G1 Prix du Moulin, stands on the new stallion roster at Haras de Castillon in Normandy for €6,000. Darley's flagbearer Dubawi, who will turn 24 in January, reached two new milestones this year, siring his 300th stakes winner and 200th Group winner. On Saturday, the Charlie Appleby-trained Notable Speech became his fourth winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile in five years. Along with Night Of Thunder, Dubawi's sons on the roster also include Too Darn Hot, whose fee will rise from £90,000 to £100,000, Ghaiyyath, sire of the recent G1 Victoria Derby winner Observer, who remains at €20,000, Modern Games (£27,500), Space Blues (€15,000) and Naval Crown (€9,000). Blue Point and Teofilo will remain at their 2025 fees of €100,000 and €30,000 respectively. Palace Pier, who has three first-crop Group winners to his credit among seven black-type performers, also remains steady at £32,000, while his contemporary Space Blues, sire of G1 Phoenix Stakes winner Power Blue, has been trimmed slightly at €15,000. Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions said, “It has been another outstanding year for our European roster and we couldn't be prouder of our new champion sire Night Of Thunder, and are, as ever, extremely grateful to the breeders, without whom such success would not be possible. “The 2026 roster offers breeders a range of opportunities to tap into two of the best sire-lines in the world plus a superb group of both young and proven stallions, and to have three champions to retire this year in Rosallion, Shadow Of Light and Inisherin is hugely exciting. “We look forward to discussing mating plans in the coming weeks and, of course, welcoming breeders to both Dalham Hall Stud and Kildangan Stud to see the stallions for themselves.” The full list of Darley fees is as follows: DALHAM HALL STUD Dubawi £350,000 Too Darn Hot £100,000 Rosallion (NEW) £40,000 Palace Pier £32,000 Modern Games £27,500 Farhh Private Pinatubo £17,500 Inisherin (NEW) £12,500 Harry Angel £10,000 Iffraaj Private Triple Time £10,000 Perfect Power £7,500 KILDANGAN STUD Night Of Thunder €200,000 Blue Point €100,000 Teofilo €30,000 Ghaiyyath €20,000 Shadow Of Light (NEW) €17,500 Native Trail €16,000 Space Blues €15,000 Naval Crown €9,000 Raven's Pass Private FRANCE Victor Ludorum €10,000 Tribalist (NEW) €6,000 The post Night Of Thunder Up At €200,000 As Darley Announce Fees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Superstars Joao Moreira and Christophe Lemaire will compete in December’s Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) for the first time in years, while the injured Ryan Moore remains a chance to feature for the 17th straight season as he recovers from a leg injury. Reigning IJC champion Mickael Barzalona, Kiwi gun James McDonald, William Buick, Hollie Doyle, Rachel King and Hong Kong fan favourite Umberto Rispoli were also among the newly configured line-up confirmed by the Jockey Club...View the full article

Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is much closer to the end of his career than he is the start, but Ben Hayes sees no reason why the Lindsay Park mainstay can’t land another Champions Mile at Flemington this Saturday. The eight-year-old heads to the $3 million Group 3 off a gutsy second placing in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 18, which has him primed for back-to-back Champions Mile wins. It is a return to the scene of his third-straight Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) win on September 13, which followed a Memsie Stakes (1400m) second placing, and Hayes said he could be going as well as ever. “I think, arguably, you could say he is,” Hayes, who trains in partnership with brother Will and JD, said. “He’s come back and his three runs to date have been fantastic and he’s showing no signs of training off. “He’s an eight-year-old that every trainer would love. He’s won 10 Group 1s, he’s placed in 10 and he’s also won an All Star Mile, so he’s a very special horse to Lindsay Park.” Mr Brightside’s connection with the Champions Mile stretches back to when it was known as the Cantala Stakes and was run on Derby Day. He finished fourth in that event in 2021, which was won by Superstorm, was third behind Alligator Blood and Tuvalu in the inaugural Champions Day edition in 2022 and beat home all-bar Pride Of Jenni in 2023. He defeated star milers Antino, Fangirl and Stefi Magnetica in last year’s Champions Mile, which was one of the highest-rating Group 1 races run in Australia last season. Twenty-four of Mr Brightside’s 47 starts have been at 1600m, for 13 wins, six seconds and one third, with his last placing in Hong Kong’s Champions Mile in April the only time he has missed a quinella spot in his past 13 starts at the trip. He and rider Craig Williams have the second-widest alley to deal with in Saturday’s 10-horse race, which includes his King Charles III Stakes conqueror Ceolwulf (seven), Empire Rose Stakes winner Pride Of Jenni (two), Cox Plate placegetter Treasurethe Moment (three) and Doncaster Mile heroine Stefi Magnetica (one). “It’s a hard race to win and he’s got some pretty stiff competition as well,” Hayes said. “There’s some horses there that have beaten him before and he’s also beaten them, so it’s going to be a really interesting race. “He’s good enough, I know that, he’s a special horse for us and we believe in him.” View the full article

Robbie Patterson unveiled a star three-year-old at Wednesday’s New Plymouth meeting last year, and 12 months down the track, another daughter of Derryn made a sparkling debut on his home track. That filly was Leica Lucy, who won six of her seven starts, five of those at Group level, for Patterson including the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) before joining Chris Waller’s barn in Sydney. This spring she added placings in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) to her burgeoning record. This year, it was the turn of The Dirty Dee (NZ) (Derryn), who presented beautifully for the Entain/NZB Insurance Series Fillies and Mares (1400m) and performed accordingly. Patterson had been wary of the Good 3 surface after the filly had trialled well on rain-affected ground, but punters were behind her, backing her into odds-on favouritism ahead of La Cadiere. One of the outsiders in Volente dislodged jockey Toni Davies as the gates opened but the field got away clear of that runner, The Dirty Dee showing good early speed under Craig Grylls who was content in sitting in the trail of leader La Luna. A gap opened for Grylls at the top of the straight and the filly skipped through, kicking clear of her rivals at the 200m and continuing to extend that margin to the line, the final margin 3–¼ lengths to La Cadiere. Patterson reminisced on the feats of Leica Lucy post-race, with a hope that The Dirty Dee could be on a similar trajectory this term. “She’s a Derryn, and I won this race last year with a horse called Leica Lucy in her first start and she won this race like this as well, so hopefully I’ve got another one,” he said. “They were both unassuming, lovely horses and I loved the way she presented today and her demeanour. I knew she had ability and I think Gryllsy will give us a pretty good wrap. “It’s always unknown going to the races and I’d watched Ben’s (Foote) horse (La Cadiere) and it’s shown a lot of ability as well, so you never know, but she’s obviously a lovely filly. “It’s a bit like Leica Lucy really, just get through today and then target the three-year-old fillies races with her. She’ll get a mile because she’s so relaxed, there’s good races coming up and any shower of rain would help her. “I definitely think she is (good enough for black-type).” As expected, Grylls had plenty of praise for the filly who had been ultra-professional in her first raceday appearance. “She was very impressive, she jumped well and there was good speed, so I elected to take a sit,” he said. “I was lucky that the one outside the leader was hanging a bit and I was able to get away, then I didn’t have to go for her too much. “She’s really kicked away, so she’s quite exciting at this stage. She’s having a good puff too, so whatever she’s done she’ll improve from. “She felt good on the track which is getting pretty firm now, it didn’t seem to worry her too much. A bit of give wouldn’t her hurt either. “She’s very tractable for a green horse having her first start, she did everything lovely.” Bred and raced by Eddie and Nicola Bourke and Allan Piercy, The Dirty Dee is the third winner of three horses to race out of the O’Reilly mare The Duchessa. Each trained by Patterson, The Dutch Dame was a two-race winner, while The Mistress won three from just nine starts. View the full article

Champion trainer Chris Waller will have a rare runner in the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Thursday when he saddles second-favourite The Pearls (NZ) (Proisir) in the fillies feature. The daughter of Proisir brings strong Sydney form to Flemington after a game effort when third in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) behind Attica and Shangri La Boy, having previously been runner-up in the Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m). The Pearls will clash with hot favourite Getta Good Feeling, who took out the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) last Saturday in emphatic fashion. Waller said the VRC Oaks is a race that hasn’t been targeted by the stable previously and hence The Pearls would be his first runner. “It’s very early but this filly, she’s pretty tough,” he said. “Had she disappointed us in the Gloaming, she would’ve spelled. “Had she disappointed us in the Spring Champion, she would’ve spelled, had she disappointed us when she travelled down (to Melbourne), she would’ve spelled. “She hasn’t. She’s never let us down and she’s enjoying it. “When she parades on Thursday you’ll see a big strong filly.” “She’s a pretty smart horse. We thought six months ago she’d be a Flight Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) filly, we always thought highly of her but she took a long time to get to that next level.” Bred by the Dennis Brothers of Ravelston Stud, The Pearls was a $460,000 Karaka yearling purchase by The China Horse Club from the draft of Janine Dunlop’s Phoenix Park. The Pearls took five starts to break her maiden but Waller is confident she is seasoned for The Oaks tilt having taken on the colts at her most recent outings. “Her form should stand up, racing against the boys, it’s another level,” Waller said. By Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir, The Pearls is out of stakes winning mare The Pearler, a nine-times winner out to 2000m and also dam of Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) placegetter The Lustre. Other staying winners on the filly’s page include The Wink, Marine Boy, The Twinkle and the Fantasy. This is also the family of The Phantom Chance, who won the 1992 G1 NZ Derby (2400m) and 1993 G1 Cox Plate (2040m). View the full article

Tony Pike couldn’t have wished for a smoother lead-up with Cream Tart (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) ahead of the filly’s sternest challenge at Riccarton. The Cambridge trainer can’t fault the daughter of Hello Youmzain’s condition or form going into Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “This is the race we targeted and her preparation couldn’t have worked out better, I think she’s peaking at the right time,” Pike said. She is one of a trio of runners the stable will line-up on the opening day of the New Zealand Cup carnival with Churchillian to contest the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Slipper Island in the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m). Cannon Hill also confirmed his passage south with his open handicap victory on Tuesday while Happy Youmzain remains in the mix for Saturday week’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). “Cannon Hill will definitely be going down for the TAB Mile (Gr.3, 1600m), it was a good effort at Ellerslie,” Pike said. “He got a lovely trip but obviously it was pretty tight in the last 300m of the race and he had to barge his way out and got up right on the line. “That set him up nicely for a mile on the big track at Riccarton.” Happy Youmzain finished sixth in an age group event over 1400m on Melbourne Cup Day from an outside gate. “It was a bit unfortunate from the draw, and he was dragged to the outside and got a bit lost and unbalanced, but the last 200m of his race was really good,” Pike said. “We’ll gallop him next Tuesday morning, possibly with the application of blinkers, and if we’re happy then he’s a genuine chance to go down.” Meanwhile, there is a sense of timing about Cream Tart who was untroubled to win last time out at Trentham and Craig Grylls will retain the ride. “She hasn’t taken on the big guns yet, but it’s been a nice progression for her and she was pretty dominant at Wellington,” Pike said. “It was one of the weaker three-year-old races, but her work on Tuesday was outstanding and barrier one on Saturday will be a big advantage. “She should get a lovely trip behind the speed, she’s got a nice, economical action so I don’t think track conditions will be too much of a concern either.” Sam Collett will be aboard Churchillian in the Breeders’ Stakes after she guided the mare to an impressive last-start victory at Taupo. “She is going super and won a very strong race and trialled up well at Pukekohe, so she goes into the race well-weighted (55kg),” Pike said. “The way she is going, I think she will be very hard to beat.” Pegasus Stakes contender Slipper Island didn’t have a lot of luck when a resuming fifth at Trentham and will be partnered by Victorian-based apprentice Logan Bates, son of leading southern rider Kylie Williams. “He loves the straight way of going in the sprint races and as long as there is plenty of speed on, he will be competitive,” Pike said. “Due to the lack of strength in the race, he has ended up topweight (59kg) off a rating of 87 so he is probably going to be better placed in the Stewards (Listed, 1200m) on Saturday week.” View the full article

Group One performer Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj) will be seeking a breakthrough stakes victory at Pukekohe on Saturday when she contests the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m). The six-year-old daughter of Iffraaj was in fine form earlier this year when runner-up in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day before returning to the Auckland track on Champion’s Day in March to fill the same position in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). She returned this spring with a first-up seventh placing in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m), and trainer Lance Noble has been pleased with the way she has trained on ahead of her second-up test this weekend. “Her first start was at Rotorua on a wet track, which didn’t really suit her,” he said. “Provence is in there (on Saturday), but it is not an overly big field. She runs well at Pukekohe and I am happy with where she is at.” All going to plan after Saturday, Jaarffi is set to return to Pukekohe in a fortnight to contest the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), a race she finished fifth in last year. She will be joined at Pukekohe on Saturday by stablemate First Dance, who will contest the Majestic Horse Floats 1300, while last start winner Mollify requires a couple of scratchings to make the field for the Devan Plastics Mile (1600m). “First Dance drew pretty wide in a pretty tough race at Ellerslie yesterday, so we scratched her,” Noble said. “There are a couple of nice horses in this race, but it is probably not as strong as yesterday’s race. We are pretty hopeful with her. “Mollify won her last start at Te Aroha. She needs a couple of scratchings, so hopefully she gets in, otherwise she can go to Te Aroha next week.” Earlier in the week, three-year-old Hello Youmzain filly Hey Dana is set to make her debut in the Rosebank Business Association Maiden 3YO (1200m) at Avondale on Thursday. “She is probably going to need the run for experience,” Noble said. “She is quite a big filly, so whatever she does tomorrow she will improve on. Going forward, she is probably going to be an autumn horse.” Meanwhile, Noble was pleased with the way Habana and Daring Dame have come through their runs at Ellerslie on Tuesday. “I was pretty happy with Habana from where he was with 62 kilos on,” Noble said. “He ran home quite nicely (to finish ninth over 1500m). “There is a nice race for him back at Ellerslie on the 29th, a set weights and penalties race, which he will get a lot better weight conditions. “Daring Dame was solid (third). We will just find a rating race for her over 2000m. She has been very consistent, so hopefully we can get up over ground and she can keep going forward.” Noble, the private trainer for Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, was pleased to see his employer’s silks to the fore at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, courtesy of the Bjorn Baker-trained Dance To The Boom who won the Gr.3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m). “It was huge,” Noble said. “I think it is the first time Brendan and Jo haven’t been to the Melbourne Cup in a few years, so Murphy’s Law they weren’t there to see Dance Of The Boom win, but they were obviously very excited about it. It was great for the stud.” View the full article

$3.7-Million Lush Lips Tops Book 1 by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, & Alan Carasso LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale blitzed through its opening session Tuesday with 17 offerings–including a pair of weanlings–selling for $1 million or more and figures up dramatically from the auction's Book 1 session in 2024. “It was a really strong day,” said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. “The broodmare market was very, very strong. We had 15 who brought $1 million or more, seven of those brought $2 million or more. The weanling market was incredibly strong. We sold a $2.2-million weanling–it's the highest price since a decade ago. I think it showed an overall confidence and continuation of excitement about our sport and about our industry.” In all, 122 horses sold during Tuesday's single Book 1 session for a gross of $72,737,000. The average of $596,205 was up 36.70% from a year ago, while the median rose 20.71% to $422,500. A year ago, 143 sold for $62,370,000 for an average of $436,154 and a median of $350,000. “The amount of enthusiasm we saw from the buyers, both domestic and international, was very, very broad.” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “I think a lot of people were a little frustrated trying to buy horses. Over 50% of the horses that sold today sold for 50% or more above their reserve. So it shows the market was strong. People set their reserves, but the market brought them well beyond that. That's really encouraging. It's a great balance in the market.” Bill Shively's Dixiana Farm made the highest purchase of the day, going to $3.7 million to acquire the 3-year-old racing/broodmare prospect Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. The Grade I-winning filly was one of three on the day to sell for $3 million or over and one of eight to sell for $2 million or more. The Book 1 section also featured a very competitive weanling market. For the session, 54 weanlings sold for an average of $364,019 and a median of $275,000. During last year's Book 1 section, 46 weanlings sold for an average of $281,087 and a median of $250,000. And that's a Wrap on an incredible Book 1 of Keeneland November! pic.twitter.com/9vP1XrN69n — Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) November 5, 2025 The strength of the weanling market was a carry-on effect from the record-setting yearling sales of the summer and fall, according to Lacy. “A lot of people who sold yearlings, whether pinhookers or breeders, they are looking to restock for next year's sales,” Lacy said. “So, they have a level of return that was probably a little unexpected. Now they have an issue that they've got to spend it. It has a multiplier effect that you've got to invest or that becomes a tax liability. So there is a lot of reinvestment in the industry.” Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Amr Zedan, went to $2.2 million to acquire a colt by Gun Runner. It was the fourth highest priced weanling to ever sell at the November sale and the highest-priced weanling to sell in North America in a decade. That kind of result highlighted the juxtaposition between supply and demand in the market. “There is a supply and demand issue,” Lacy said. “So demand is outstripping supply by a great deal. When you get quality stock coming through that fits the criteria, passes the vet, has the athleticism and the physical and the pedigree that people are looking for, they are willing to spend a premium. When you see Mr. Zedan buying the Gun Runner colt, buyers know that that colt won't be available next year. So when these quality individuals come up, you have to buy them.” The $2.2-million weanling was consigned by Denali Stud, which sold three of the day's seven-figure offerings. “The trade is very strong,” said Denali's Conrad Bandoroff. “The weanling market is scalding hot. The demand is voracious and I think that has carried over from the yearling market. “A lot of weanling buyers are being very aggressive trying to buy horses. You are also seeing some coming into the weanling market that maybe didn't get enough yearlings bought and they are going to buy some weanlings to race.” The Keeneland November sale continues through Tuesday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. The Future Is Now For Dixiana Bill Shively stated in no uncertain terms that the future of his Dixiana Farms is 'grass mares from Europe that can really run.' With that in mind, the Lexington operation signed for a pair of horses with foreign country codes, including a session-topping $3.7 million for recent GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup victress Lush Lips (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) (hip 129) at Keeneland November on Monday. $3.7 million #KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Grade I winner LUSH LIPS (Ten Sovereigns) sells for $3.7 million to Dixiana Farm from the @TaylorMadeSales consignment. Read more: https://t.co/T40HCFVp4o pic.twitter.com/IfAdX1TZrY — TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025 Bred in England by The Pocock Family, Lush Lips was sourced from the draft of Stringston Farm agent and was purchased for £82,000 ($103,340) by Avenue Bloodstock/Medallion Racing/Donnacha O'Brien at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale in 2023. Second from two Irish starts and a Kentucky Downs maiden while under the care of the junior O'Brien to begin her career, Lush Lips joined the barn of Brendan Walsh and made an immediate impression, graduating by seven lengths in a two-turn race over the Gulfstream synthetic last November. Never out of the top two in her six tries for the Irishman, the bay filly became a black-type winner in the Tepin Stakes at Churchill's September meet and was runner-up in the GI Del Mar Oaks before hitting the line hard to win the QE II in Shiveley's backyard. “I think she has a good career ahead of her,” Shiveley commented. “We sponsor the QE II, so we got to see her win the Grade I here. Brendan trains for us already, so we'll be keeping her with Brendan.” Shively admits that he expected to have to part with about $3 million, but refused to bow down as the price climbed. “She was special for us,” he said. “She's one that travels the ground so light, she doesn't hurt herself, I think she can have a long career. Very smooth with her action. You saw the QE II, she really accelerated at the end, which is what you need in a grass horse. She's all class.” Dixiana also gave $500,000 for the 6-year-old La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) (hip 117). Campaigned in this country by Randy Sarf's LSU Stables and trained most recently by Miguel Clement, La Mehana posted a career-best when romping clear through the yielding ground to take the GII Glens Falls Stakes by 8 3/4 lengths this past August. @EquinealTDN Vahva….Vah….Voom About 24 hours after going to $2.5 million to acquire GISW Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo) during Monday's Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Killora Stud's Hannah Jennings and bloodstock agent Brittany Linton, bidding on behalf of Jenny and Randy Boyd's Boyd Racing, went to $3.1 million to purchase Grade I winner Vahva (Gun Runner) (hip 187) during Book 1 at Keeneland November. The 5-year-old, who ran home strongly to finish runner-up in the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar last weekend, was consigned by Lane's End, agent. “She was everything we could have wanted in a broodmare prospect,” said Jennings. “Jenny and Randy Boyd are getting into the game and they want to have a broodmare band at the top level and she fit the bill.” #KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 187 – Grade I winner VAHVA (Gun Runner) sells for $3.1 million to Killora/Linton, agent for Boyd Racing. She was consigned by @LanesEndFarms. Read more: https://t.co/uDw0XizGSz pic.twitter.com/mQdufjhRQz — TDN (@theTDN) November 5, 2025 Bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds and purchased for $280,000 at this auction house's September Yearling Sale just over four years ago, Vahva was briefly on the Kentucky Oaks trail in 2023, but when she proved that distance was not going to be her forte, she excelled at sprint trips. A two-time graded winner at three, including Keeneland's GII Lexus Raven Run Stakes at what would become her sweet spot at seven-eighths of a mile, Vahva returned to the Lexington oval to just miss in the 2024 GI Madison Stakes before reversing form with Alva Starr (Lord Nelson) in the GI Derby City Distaff Stakes. Unplaced in the Filly & Mare Sprint last November, she successfully defended her title in the GII Chicago Stakes at Churchill and was runner up in Keeneland's GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes ahead of her Breeders' Cup effort. Vahva was raced by the Belladonna Racing Partnership, Edward J. Hudson, Jr., Lynne Hudson, West Point Thoroughbreds, W.S. Farish, Twin Brook Stables, LBD Racing LLC, Runnels Racing and Manganaro Bloodstock. “Super proud of everyone that's been part of this, from Barry Eisaman who broke her to every single exercise rider and jockey that rode her, her groom and all of our assistants,” said Vahva's trainer Cherie DeVaux. “She's been such a joy to work with. She's just one that you love to train. She goes out there every time and does her job. It's going to leave a big hole for us.” Jennings indicated that Vahva would head to Killora Stud in nearby Paris, Kentucky, and that a decision on whether the mare stays in training in 2026 would be forthcoming. “We will leave the option open,” Jennings said. “She vets well and she's sound, so we will leave that option open. But she's done enough. She's won her Grade I. We are just really excited to have her.” Should she be retired, Jennings said there would be a variety of stallions that could suit the mare, but was focused on a certain white-hot sire. “We will bring a few up to him. Not This Time comes up first thing to me,” she said. “I think physically she would suit him really well being so strong. We will see what he says.” Jennings paid tribute to the way DeVaux developed Vahva over the last three seasons. “Incredible. To campaign a horse for that long at the top of the game from ages two to five,” she said, “She ran some really fast numbers her whole career. She did a great job with the filly. And I know she's really special to her being one of her first really big horses. Hopefully she will come visit.” @EquinealTDN DeVaux Reflects Fondly On Vahva Vahva was the second Grade I winner and first on the dirt trained by DeVaux, who emotionally watched the 5-year-old go through the ring on Monday. “I'm very excited she gets to stay here, I would have been excited regardless,” she said. “I know she's going to have a great home and future no matter what. This is where it all started and she got to come full circle and come back here. I'm so proud of her.” :heart:still have tears in my eyes:heart: thanks for the ride big girl https://t.co/NPXavP0NiA — Cherie DeVaux (@reredevaux) November 5, 2025 After winning her maiden at career start three in convincing fashion, it was only logical to try to step Vahva up in trip. She was the 11-10 favorite in the 2022 Untapable Stakes, but she could do no better than a distant third to Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), who would go on to win an Eclipse Award in 2023 after taking the GI Kentucky Oaks. DeVaux said that Vahva was instrumental in helping launch her career. “When it was apparent that [routing] was not going to be in her future, we kept her sprinting and she's been one of the high-level sprinters since we made that decision,” DeVaux said. “When you're trying to get your career going, you want to show you can be well-rounded. She helped to do that.” While Vahva wasn't quite the same racemare that she was in 2024, DeVaux lauded her for her perseverance and was pleased Vahva got to go out on a positive note, if the Filly & Mare Sprint was indeed the finish line. “We didn't get the year started off the way we wanted to, but she finished off the year and gave us a really big thrill, closing down the stretch at Del Mar,” she said. “We're just proud and we're so excited to have had her.” @EquinealTDN $3M Buy Kilwin Keeps It Kicking Late at Keeneland Despite the activity in the pavilion starting to abate late in Tuesday's session, Rick Howard was prepared to go the distance to secure Grade I-winning Kilwin (Twirling Candy), who brought $3 million as hip 223. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the 3-year-old filly entered the arena armed with the right credentials, including a top-shelf victory in last summer's GI Test Stakes in Saratoga. The filly was campaigned BBN Racing and trained by Rusty Arnold. “The Test was really an impressive performance,” said Howard, who recently sold his Manitou Farm in Lexington. #KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 223 – Grade I winner KILWIN (Twirling Candy) sells for $3 million to Rick Howard from the Royal Oak Farm consignment, agent for @BBNRacingTeam. Read more: https://t.co/oVAkFY72kI pic.twitter.com/O3x1dccFAa — TDN (@theTDN) November 5, 2025 According to Howard, Kilwin will remain with Arnold and be campaigned in partnership with BBN Racing in 2026. “I'm excited to go in together and keep her,” he said. Explaining the decision to put the filly through the ring, Braxton Lynch, BBN Founding Partner and Racing Manager, explained, “The market was so hot in September that we thought this was the right time to sell and it all worked out.” She continued, “Keeneland has always been so good to us. Our horses train right here [from the Rice Road training center] so it was a natural fit.” Out of Blame's Spanish Star, the filly is a half-sister to GSW One Timer (Trappe Shot) in addition to Iowa Oaks scorer Just Basking (Arrogate), who ran third in the GI Alabama Stakes. Kilwin's 11-year-old dam–out of GSW and GISP La Gran Bailadora (Afleet Alex)–is a half-sister to GI Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston (Awesome Again). Tuesday's purchase connects a few dots between BBN Racing and Howard, who had previously connected through Mackinac, also by Twirling Candy. Bred by Manitou Farm, Mackinac was a $240,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by BBN Racing that won a Kentucky Downs allowance in late August. “I have another Twirling Candy filly that I bred that is with BBN Racing and Rusty,” said Howard. “So it's all in the family.” Kilwin, the third highest priced horse sold in Book 1, also represented the sole purchase for Howard at Keeneland on Tuesday. “We sold three babies this year,” he said when asked about his current bloodstock holdings. “I have five mares and a couple of race horses. It's just a small operation.”–CBoss In the Midst of Dispersal, Woodford Thoroughbreds Enjoys Racing, Sales Success John Sykes is in the midst of a complete dispersal of his Woodford Thoroughbreds, but the operation is not going out quietly. On Friday, the Woodford-bred Super Corredora (Gun Runner) went from maiden winner to victress of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filles and two days later, her dam Super Simple (Super Saver) was supplemented to the Keeneland November sale. The 9-year-old mare, in foal to Gunite, was the last horse through the ring Tuesday at Keeneland as hip 225 and attracted a final bid of $2.3 million from Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Equine. “Mr. Sykes will be absolutely delighted,” Woodford advisor Lincoln Collins said of Tuesday's result. #KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 225 – Super Simple (Super Saver), the dam of GI @BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies winner SUPER CORREDORA, sells for $2.3 million to @MoreSummerWind from the @DenaliStud consignment. She is in foal to Gunite. pic.twitter.com/TdbzWAcsGS — TDN (@theTDN) November 5, 2025 Collins purchased Super Simple on behalf of Woodford for $300,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale and she was bred to Gun Runner the following spring. “When we bought her, she was the most obvious mare I've ever seen to breed to Gun Runner,” Collins said. “She cost quite a lot at that time, but she made a little matter of $2 million more today.” The Woodford dispersal is being carried out in stages. A group of yearlings was offered at last month's Fasig-Tipton October sale and mares and weanlings will be offered at the Keeneland January sale. Super Corredora's win at the Breeders' Cup last week caused Sykes to call an audible. “He made the decision a couple of days ago that he would like to put her in this sale because of the immediate update,” Collins said. “It's been a thrilling–but somewhat nerve wracking few days. All credit to Town and Country who prepped her for the sale and Denali who sold her. She came here looking like she had prepped when she was out in a field on Friday.” Collins added, “Breeding the winner of a Breeders' Cup race was a feather in his cap, a sort of crowning achievement at the end of the thing. He's been in the business a while. He is dispersing his stock. The rest of the mares and the foals, including this mare's current weanling, will sell in January. There is a lot of quality stock. ” Of Tuesday's sale result, Collins concluded, “You dream and the dream came true. Thank you very much to Jane Lyon and the whole team.” @JessMartiniTDN Buchu Heads to Payson After Bringing $2.3M at KeeNov Payson Stud may not step up to the plate at the sales all that often, but when it does, it certainly makes it count. Highlighting the point Tuesday, Christian Erickson, acting on behalf of Payson, dug in to buy MGSW Buchu (Justify) for $2.3 million in Keeneland's Book 1 session. Consigned by Denali Stud, the 4-year-old mare followed on the heels of another filly by Justify (MGSP Totally Justified), out of Outstanding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was purchased by the nursery for $775,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Monday. Hip 169, multiple graded stakes winner BUCHU in foal to Not This Time delivers $2.3 million in the ring at #KeeNov! Consigned by @DenaliStud, bought by Payson Stud/River Oak, agent pic.twitter.com/WZI6el91Ft — Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) November 4, 2025 “She's beautiful, just beautiful,” extolled Erickson. “Keeneland always brings top-notch horses, and she's a top-notch horse. Honestly, I'm really glad to get her.” Offered as Hip 169, Buchu, who sold in foal to Not This Time, is out of another Galileo mare, Flowering Peach (Ire), who herself is out of a sister (MGSW Naples Bay) to MGISW and sire Medaglia d'Oro. “I work with Nathan McCauley and we're pretty disciplined about replacing older mares with younger mares,” said Erickson, explaining Payson's bloodstock ideology. “You know, it's just new beginnings with stronger horses. We just keep getting better. We have a really, really nice group of mares.” According to Erickson, Payson Stud currently has seven broodmares in addition to two fillies on the racetrack. Erickson emphasized that the plan is to retain a small but select band going forward. “We have to make money,” he explained. “We want to have fun, but we have to make money. So that's basically it with this horse. Quality over quantity most definitely…I just want Book 1 quality.” Buchu was bred by Richard Rigney's Rigney Racing, and although she was offered at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, she returned unsold at $275,000. Undeterred, Rigney campaigned the filly and was rewarded with a pair of graded stakes wins at Keeneland and earnings of $615,670. “That was a tremendous result,” said Denali Stud's VP Conrad Bandoroff. “It was a full-circle moment. She was born and raised at the farm. After she didn't sell, Mr. Rigney raced her and she won two Grade IIs at Keeneland. Bringing her back to Keeneland to the November Sale, it is very gratifying.” He added, “She attracted a ton of interest for a lot of top judges. [The final price] was north of our expectations. When you have an offering like her that has all those quality attributes, you can achieve these kind of results. She has all the ingredients to be a foundation mare for someone. “With a young, quality offering that has pedigree and the physical performance to go with it, this is what can happen.” In regard to the highly sought-after sire Justify, Bandoroff added, “Justify is a tremendous stallion. He gets the turf and dirt. I think he's going to go on to be a very significant influence on the breed.” Denali Stud enjoyed a banner day Tuesday, also selling the day's top weanling, a colt by Gun Runner, who brought $2.2 million. In total, the operation sold eight head for gross revenue of $9,225,000. Buchu was the highest-priced sale for Denali in Book 1.–CBoss $2.2-Million Gun Runner Weanling for Zedan Amr Zedan has made a habit of buying big-ticket horses at the yearling and 2-year-old sales in recent years, but the Saudi businessman moved into the weanling market with a flourish Tuesday at Keeneland when purchasing a colt by Gun Runner (hip 146) for $2.2 million. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni signed the ticket on the weanling, who was consigned by Denali Stud on behalf of co-breeders Three Chimneys Farm and Brookdale Racing. It was the fourth most expensive weanling to ever sell at the Keeneland November sale and the most expensive weanling colt sold in North America in the last 10 years. “[Zedan] wants to win the Derby,” Lanni said after signing the ticket on the colt. “So this is that type of horse. He's by Gun Runner. He looks like he will run all day.” #KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 146, a Gun Runner weanling colt out of GIW NICKNAME, sells for $2.2 million to @DonatoLanni, agent for @ZedanRacing from the @DenaliStud consignment. pic.twitter.com/rtEPOEjCoo — TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025 The weanling is out of Grade I winner Nickname (Scat Daddy) and is a half-brother to group winner Ides of March (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Purchased by Kerri Radcliffe for $3 million as a 4-year-old at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November sale, Nickname RNA'd for $1.45 million while in foal to Uncle Mo at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton November sale. “He's the kind of horse that in September would probably have brought double that,” Lanni said. “It's a lot of money–don't get me wrong–but he's a special-looking horse. You just don't see these kind of horses in November. I am happy that we saw him and he was offered to sell. I thought we needed to buy him.” Lanni admitted the team didn't come into the November sale planning to shop for weanlings for Zedan. “We didn't come here looking for weanlings,” Lanni said. “But he was offered to sell and you have to be open minded at every sale when you see one that fits the profile. So we adjusted. We have never really bought a weanling for Zedan. We usually buy yearlings or 2-year-olds, but this guy showed up and I thought we needed to add him to his band.” Conrad Bandoroff of Denali Stud succinctly summarized the result. “It was absolutely bonkers,” Bandoroff said. “We brought that colt to November with the intent of trying to attract end-user interest. The plan worked out beautifully. But never in our wildest dreams did we ever think that we'd achieve a result like that. We were hoping we could come here and get yearling money and we got that and then some.” @JessMartiniTDN Pope Extends to $2M for Justify's Justique Coolmore sire Justify continued to light up the board on Tuesday when MSW and MGSP Justique (hip 107) drew a cool $2 million from Whisper Hill's Mandy Pope during Book 1 of the Keeneland November Sale. Consigned by Lane's End, the 5-year-old mare is out of Grazie Mille (Bernardini), also responsible for GI Hollywood Derby winner Mo Town (Uncle Mo). #KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 107 – MGSP Justique (Justify), a half-sister to GIW MO TOWN, sells for $2 million to @whisper_hill from the @LanesEndFarms consignment. Read more: https://t.co/td4YQUjIG6 pic.twitter.com/a6PGsYHKZL — TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025 “Obviously, a lovely pedigree and she ran in multiple graded stakes–Grade IIs, Grade IIIs, although not in a Grade I. She would have been three times as much [if she had won a Grade I],” said Pope. “[We are] just trying to get into some different families and getting some nice race mares.” Bred by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock, the dark bay was purchased by Mayberry Farm on behalf of Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable for $725,000 at the Keeneland September Sale in 2021. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Justique earned $378,415 through four seasons on the racetrack. “She'll go to Gainesway, they'll let her down, get her turned out, and then breed her next year,” said Pope. Justique was the sole purchase for Whisper Hill on Tuesday. “We've just had great success here,” she added. “Shopping at Keeneland there is such a variety: dirt, turf, international, American…and at all different levels that you could possibly want. There are a lot of options.”–CBoss Mt. Brilliant Gives Plenty of 'Green' For Justify Mare On behalf of Greg Goodman's Mt. Brilliant Farm, bloodstock agent Marette Farrell went to $1.5 million for hip 93, Greenfinch (Justify), from the Taylor Made consignment during Monday's Book 1 at Keeneland November. Bred in Kentucky by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt, but trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore conglomerate, the 4-year-old broke her maiden in the last of three starts as a juvenile going seven furlongs over the Dundalk all-weather. She made four subsequent appearances in Ireland at three, finishing third in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial ahead of a victory in the Listed Cairn Rouge Stakes. Fourth in the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies' Marathon Stakes last September, she was bred to Gun Runner on a Feb. 16 cover. #KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: The stakes-winning Greenfinch (Justify), in foal to Gun Runner, brought $1.5 million from Marette Farrell on behalf of Mt. Brilliant Farm. Read more: https://t.co/vP4yb3cDct https://t.co/b8XwhW7IKL — TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025 “Mr. Goodman's M.O. over the years that I've worked for him is to buy into generational families,” said Farrell. “This is a mare that can hopefully spawn some generations for Mt. Brilliant Farm, keep a few fillies and be a generational mare down the way.” Absent her racetrack exploits, Greenfinch was already a fairly valuable asset on pedigree alone. Bred on the very successful cross of Justify over Galileo (Ire), the bay is a daughter of Misty For Me (Ire), winner of the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at two in 2010 and victorious in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas the following spring. She is a half-sister to five other winners, including champion U S Navy Flag (War Front), MG1SW Roly Poly (War Front) and Grade III winner and producer Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). “Lovely mare, we loved what Justify brought to the pedigree,” Farrell continued. “I obviously know the family coming from Ireland. Roly Poly was phenomenal, Misty For Me, it's an incredible family. We're excited about the foal she's going to produce next year and just thrilled for Mr. Goodman that he kind of got what he wanted. “The [Mt. Brilliant] boys were here working hard the whole sale. Cooper, the farm manager, really liked her and I'm hoping she'll be lucky for them.” Farrell indicated that the winning bid was their last. “That was it, we valued her between $1 million and $1.5 million, so we were done,” she said. Other members of the Mt. Brilliant broodmare band include MGSW Beyond Blame (Blame), the dam of GISP Loggins (Ghostzapper); Debonnaire (GB) (Anabaa), the dam of MG1SW Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}); Ithinkisawapudycat (Bluegrass Cat), whose daughter Sweet Loretta (Tapit) won the GI Spinaway Stakes; and Private Gift (Unbridled), the dam of GSW Private Mission (Into Mischief). Mt. Brilliant's international holdings include the 3-year-old filly Social Graces (Aus) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a half-sister to the legendary Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) who was acquired by Greg Goodman's operation for A$1 million ($665,416) as a yearling out of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale. @EquinealTDN 'Awesome, Beautiful' $1.25-Million Curlin Filly to Ward Trainer Wesley Ward, busy buying weanlings from Fasig-Tipton Monday to Keeneland Tuesday, made his biggest splash of the week so far when going to $1.25 million to acquire a filly by Curlin (hip 82) from the Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa consignment during Book 1 of the Keeneland November sale. “I went out to Hill 'n' Dale and saw this filly prior to the Breeders' Cup and she was awesome, beautiful,” Ward said. “When we saw her, we fell in love with her.” #KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 82, a weanling Curlin filly that's a half-sister to KOPION, AMIS GIZMO, AMI'S FLATTER, etc., sells for $1.25 million to Wesley Ward from the @HillnDaleFarm consignment. Read more: https://t.co/UkhYlRt8BU pic.twitter.com/WshrVx6NmQ — TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025 The weanling was bred by the Dalos family's Tall Oaks Farm and The Curlin Syndicate. She is out of Galloping Ami (Victory Gallop) and is a half-sister to Canadian champion Amis Gizmo (Giant Gizmo) and to Grade I winner Kopion (Omaha Beach). Ward purchased the filly on behalf of an undisclosed client, who he said was new to the business. “It's for a client who wishes to stay anonymous,” Ward said. “But he's a great guy. We bought some horses for him in September and he is really excited about the business. He's never had a racehorse before.” Also Tuesday at Keeneland, Ward purchased a filly by Justify (hip 76) for $725,000 and, with Louis Dubois as agent, a filly by Practical Joke (hip 33) for $425,000. Of the new client, Ward added, “He was thinking about buying some broodmares and I said, 'I think you've bought a couple already.'” Monday at Fasig-Tipton, Ward purchased a colt by Uncle Mo (hip 80) and a colt by Cody's Wish (hip 81), both for $500,000. “These are all going to race,” Ward said. “They are not going to be pinhooks. We are going to raise them from this point forward like racehorses out in fields.” @JessMartiniTDN Dalos Celebrates Seven-Figure Result With nearly five decades in the racing and breeding industry, Ivan Dalos has enjoyed more than one seven-figure sale, but the $1.25-million Curlin filly was a first for Dalos's daughter Colleen Dalos. “This is a family business,” Colleen said. “My father has been doing it for quite some time. He's had two [million-dollar sales], but since I have taken over, I have not. So this was my first one. My goal [today] was a million, so I can't tell you how elated I am.” Hip 82 | Keeneland The weanling is out of a foundational family for Tall Oaks Farm. Dalos raced the filly's third dam Sybelle Ami (Alwasmi) and bred and campaigned granddam Secret Ami (Secret Claim) and dam Galloping Ami (Victory Gallop). Galloping Ami's son Amis Gizmo (Giant Gizmo) carried the family's colors to victory in the 2016 GIII Ontario Derby and earned the Sovereign Award as Canada's top 3-year-old colt that year. “We breed to race, but we also breed to sell,” Dalos said. “When you have such a fantastic horse like this that you think you can make a good sale, it's hard to justify keeping them. She's a special filly from one of our flagship broodmares. I was hoping for the million dollars and that was well over it. And we always just want them to go to a great home. So I am thrilled that she will go to Wesley Ward.” The result continued a strong week for John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale, which was the leading consignor by gross at Monday's Fasig-Tipton sale with 13 sold for $17,375,000. @JessMartiniTDN Heider Family Lands Into Mischief Filly for $1.2M Early at KEENOV It didn't take long after the start of Keeneland's November Sale that one of the day's offerings, SW Almostgone Rocket (Into Mischief), registered the initial seven-figure sale of the day. David Lanigan, bidding on behalf of the Heider Family Stable, went to $1.2 million. The filly, the sole purchase for the Heiders in Book 1, was consigned by Elite. “She's just a very good looking mare,” said Lanigan of hip 26. “She was a very fast race filly, and she was a filly that Mr. [Scott] Heider liked a lot. She was good-looking filly, she showed herself very well and handled herself with a lot of class. Hopefully, she will be a nice mare to add to the broodmare band.” Early fireworks in the ring as hip 26, Almostgone Rocket by Into Mischief delivers $1.2 million! Consigned by @EliteRaceSales, purchased by @uscgatsby pic.twitter.com/FQUZ8fyvI1 — Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) November 4, 2025 Bred by Malibu Farm, the 4-year-old filly, a $250,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, is out of MSW Bound (Jump Start). Unraced at two, the bay won the Jersey Girl Stakes at three. “We've got a lot of grass mares and she's an out and out dirt filly and she was very fast on the dirt and that was something that we're trying to expand upon; to find a few more dirt fillies like that to breed over here. This mare will probably go to Mill Ridge.”–CBoss Hinkle Strikes Early For White Sands The website for the Hinkle family's Hinkle Farms sums up their philosophy in a few words: 'we treat our horses like horses.' That approach paid dividends as recently as this year's Keeneland September Sale, when the boutique operation sold 16 head for $7.155 million, including a $2-million daughter of Not This Time out of the multiple stakes-placed Stave (Ghostzapper) and a colt by Life Is Good from Stave's half-sister Indian Bay (Indian Charlie). Four others from the Hinkle draft fetched better than $500,000. Hinkle reinvested some of their profits from a few months ago during the opening half-hour of Book 1 of the Keeneland November Sale Tuesday afternoon, going to $975,000 for White Sands (Into Mischief) (hip 21). The 3-year-old filly was consigned to the sale by Taylor Made, agent, and was offered in foal to boom sire Not This Time. Trained by Wesley Ward for Mrs. John Magnier and Mrs. Paul Shanahan, White Sands won her maiden by a distance at first asking and followed up with a 13 3/4-length thrashing of the boys in the 2024 Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes. Third when pitched in against males once again in the GIII Best Pal Stakes, she was bred to Taylor Made's leading stallion on a Mar. 3 cover. “She was obviously very fast, she's by Into Mischief and in foal to Not This Time and Into Mischief looks like he's going to be a really wonderful broodmare sire,” the farm's Tom Hinkle said. “You don't need to say anything more about Not This Time.” He continued: “She's well made, she had speed, was a good 2-year-old filly and she's in foal to one of the best stallions in the world. The market is really tough right now, it's very strong and that was probably a little bit more than I wanted to pay, but hopefully she'll be a nice mare and will produce some nice foals. I would think there are a lot of stallions we could breed her back to.” Accomplished horses bred by Hinkle Farms include 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Deterministic (Liam's Map), a $625,000 Keeneland September graduate who made the Fourstardave Stakes the first Grade I win of his career; More Than Looks (More Than Ready), victorious in the 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Mile; Shivaji (First Samurai), a Group 3-winning and Group 1-placed turf sprinter in Japan and his stakes-winning and multiple Grade I-placed full-sister Tarabi. Success breeds success, and Hinkle Farm remains committed to bringing their product to the buying public. “We've been fortunate to have some good yearling sales and we believe in putting back into the business,” Tom Hinkle said. “Our approach is that when we have a mare that becomes a good producer, to keep those kind and try to build for the future.” @EquinealTDN Deja Vu All Over Again For Into Mischief Colt Twelve months after his full-brother made $900,000 from Glen Hill Farm, a colt by Into Mischief out of the Grade III-winning Eres Tu (Malibu Moon) was hammered down for $950,000 to Gilded Age Stables during Monday's first day of trade at the Keeneland November Sale. #KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 70 – A weanling Into Mischief colt out of ERESTU sells for $950,000 to Gilded Age Stables from the @TaylorMadeSales consignment. pic.twitter.com/GeF0rLjNOG — TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025 The Apr. 8 foal was bred in Kentucky by Ed Seltzer, whose daughter Krista signed for second dam It's True Love (Yes It's True) for $72,000 as a yearling at the 2004 Keeneland September Sale. It's True Love, who took the Winter Melody Stakes during her racing days, bred four winners from five to race, including Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes winner Eres Tu and SW & MGSP Pangburn (Congrats), the dam of SW & GISP 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Caddo River (Hard Spun). “He was a nice baby and everyone really liked his physical,” said Alex Payne of Taylor Made Sales, which consigned the colt as hip 70. “He came out and he showed well and a lot of people landed on him. His full-brother did extremely well as a weanling last year and he came in here and trumped that result. “He had a great, long, clean neck and a great shoulder and a big, square hip when he walked,” Payne continued. “He was correct and showed himself the whole week. For how many times that horse got shown, he absolutely walked great every single time.” Asked to compare this year's foal with last year's, Payne said: “The other one was stronger and had more substance and was kind of a more powerful horse. This one was a little more leggy, racier and just a little bit cleaner, but both very nice horses. They both showed up and showed themselves and sold well.” @EquinealTDN Godolphin in the Weanling Game with $500k Justify Colt Anthony Stroud, bidding on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin, got the Keeneland November sale off to a quick start Tuesday when acquiring a colt by Justify–hip 1–for $500,000 from the Glennwood Farm consignment. “No, we don't buy a lot of weanlings, but we do buy some from time to time,” Stroud said after signing the ticket on the bay colt. The weanling, bred by John D. Gunther, Eurowest Bloodstock Services, and Justify Syndicate, is out of stakes-placed Take These Chains (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The mare is a daughter of graded stakes winner Take the Ribbon (Chester House). “He is by Justify, who has done so well, and out of a Fastnet Rock mare,” Stroud said of the colt's appeal. “The cross goes very well. And he's from an excellent farm that has produced a lot of very good racehorses. He will stay here in the short term and then he will go back to Europe.” Stroud was also in action during Monday's Fasig-Tipton November sale, acquiring Grade I winner Power Squeeze (Union Rags) (hip 133) for $2.5 million on behalf of Godolphin. “She will stay in the U.S. and I think she's going to Into Mischief,” Stroud said of the 4-year-old broodmare prospect. @JessMartiniTDN 'More Than a Score': Fair Pays for Erik Johnson Erik Johnson asked Claiborne Farm's Walker Hancock to shop for a mare for him at the Keeneland January sale earlier this year and Hancock thought he had found a good buy when Johnson acquired Remarqued (Arch), in foal to Nyquist, for $225,000. The purchase only looked better and better as the mare's 2-year-old daughter Cy Fair (Not This Time) swept through a campaign which culminated with a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Friday at Del Mar. And it looked like a positive steal when the mare, and her Nyquist weanling filly, went through the sales ring at the Keeneland November sale Tuesday. The weanling (hip 182) sold for $750,000 to Marc Gunderson's MWG, LLC, and she was followed into the ring by her dam (hip 183), who sold for $1.2 million to bloodstock agent Steve Young. #KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 183 – Remarqued (Arch), the dam of GI @BreedersCup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner CY FAIR, sells for $1.2 million to Steve Young, agent from the @claibornefarm consignment. She is in foal to Nyquist. pic.twitter.com/qiK2HdT96F — TDN (@theTDN) November 5, 2025 “[Johnson] just said that he wanted to buy some mares in January and if I liked anything to let him know,” Hancock recalled. “She was one that certainly piqued my interest. She had some foals out there that I thought could maybe give her some nice updates–not knowing it would be this kind of an update. That was just the cherry on top.” Of the mare's price tag just 10 months ago, Hancock said, “I thought he kind of stole her in January, to be honest. In foal to Nyquist, who was doing well at the time and was standing for $175,000, and by Arch, who is a great broodmare sire. And she was so young and super consistent. She has a great personality and she's a great mare to be around. I was thrilled that he got her. I wish he would have let me in on her.” Remarqued had originally been intended as a long-term investment for Johnson's ERJ Racing broodmare band. Then Cy Fair won her debut at Saratoga impressively in July with a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' effort. After a runner-up effort in the Bolton Landing Stakes, she returned to winning ways in the Algonquin Stakes at Woodbine in October and was victorious on the biggest stage on championship weekend in Del Mar. “I think with the recent developments, the thought was, 'Let's put her in and if Cy Fair wins, we may have a score. And sure enough, that's more than a score.” @JessMartiniTDN The post Domestic Buyers Fuel Powerful Keeneland November Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup is now less than a week away. And as excitement builds to the second Tuesday of November at Addington Raceway the TAB/Trackside has produced a video that highlights just how special the race, and the day, are. Enjoy. View the full article

Kilwin (f, 3, Twirling Candy–Spanish Star, by Blame), winner of this summer's GI Test S. at Saratoga, brought $3 million from Rick Howard at the Keeneland November sale Tuesday. The $225,000 Keeneland September yearling was campaigned by BBN Racing LLC and trained by Rusty Arnold. Hip 223 was consigned as a Racing/Broodmare Prospect by Royal Oak Farm (Damian & Braxton Lynch), agent for BBN Racing. The post Test Winner Kilwin Brings $3 Million at Keeneland November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Vahva (m, 5, Gun Runner–Holiday Soiree, by Harlan's Holiday), winner of the 2024 GI Derby City Distaff S. and runner-up in last weekend's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, brought $3.1 million from Killora/Linton, agent for Boyd Racing at Keeneland November Tuesday. The $280,000 Keeneland September graduate was campaigned in partnership by Belladonna Racing LLC, Lynne Hudson, Edward J. Hudson, Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, Twin Brook Stables, W.S. Farish, LBD Stable LLC, Runnels Racing and Manganaro Bloodstock and trained by Cherie DeVaux. She was consigned as a Racing or Broodmare Prospect, by Lane's End, agent, as Hip 187. #FasigNovember Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 187 – Grade I winner VAHVA (Gun Runner) sells for $3.1 million to Killora/Linton, agent for Boyd Racing. She was consigned by @LanesEndFarms. pic.twitter.com/jmm6fGzGfp — TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025 The post Vahva Brings $3.1 Million from Boyd Racing at Keeneland November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mill Ridge Farm will host a stallion open house daily this week from Wednesday to Friday, highlighted by Oscar Performance, who has been established among the nation's leading sires; Casa Creed, whose first foals will be born in the spring; and Aloha West, whose first runners will debut in 2026. Both Casa Creed and Aloha West are part of the 'Ride Together' incentive, qualifying the registered breeder for a free season to that stallion if the offspring wins a straight maiden as a 2-year-old. Mill Ridge is located at 2800 Bowman Mill Road near Lexington, where the gates will be open from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. through Friday. In addition, farm staff will serve rum cake to all visitors. For more information, contact Kim Poulin at kpoulin@millridge.com. The post Mill Ridge to Host Open House Through Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Steely Man scored the second victory and the biggest cheque of his career when he took out the $75,000 NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series 1600 (1600m) at Ellerslie on Tuesday. Owned by harness racing trainer John Dickie, the five-year-old races in his familiar silks and is trained by his partner Lynda German, who was rapt to see her grey gelding first past the post at the Melbourne Cup Day meeting. The son of Embellish showed plenty of promise last season when placing in his first three starts before his breakthrough win over a mile at Ellerslie in December. He went on to run fifth in both the $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) before heading for a spell. He returned to finish unplaced in his first two starts this preparation over 1300m and 1400m and German made some slight changes to his work and gear before heading to Ellerslie this week where he was competing over his preferred mile distance. Steely Man settled towards the rear of the field for jockey Matt Cartwright, who was content to sit off the pace. He had the majority of the 17-strong field before him when turning for home, but Cartwright was able to weave a passage through the pack to find clear running room towards the centre of the track and Steely Man showed a blistering turn of foot over the final 100m to run over the top of his rivals to score by a long neck over Skymax. “I was absolutely over the moon,” German said. “I made a few changes by adding the blinkers and a barrier blanket and I changed his work just a little bit and I was really happy with him going into it. “He had raced against some of those horses before and I think that extra 200m was the difference as well, it was more to his liking.” German is now looking forward to stepping him up in grade later this month. “As long as he pulls up well, which he seems to this morning, he seems happy enough, there is a rating 75 mile at Pukekohe on the 22nd (of October),” she said. “That seems like the most logical plan.” German is hoping she can bring the luck of the Irish with her to Avondale on Thursday where she will line-up Four Leaf Clover in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1600m). The four-year-old daughter of Darci Brahma is raced by brother-and-sister duo Clodagh and Tommy Coughlan, with the mare coming into German’s care when the former moved to Auckland to work for New Zealand Bloodstock. “Clodagh and I are great friends,” German said. “We were both friends with Richard Bright, who passed away, and we formed a relationship when she moved up to Karaka from Cambridge. “She started coming out and helping us because she works for NZB and didn’t have any contact with the horses. “She bought this filly as a weanling and she was with Barry Donoghue, who did all the early work with her. Now that Clodagh has moved up to Karaka, she wanted to be more hands on with her. She comes to the track every day, so she is a big part of her preparation.” Four Leaf Clover has had two unplaced starts to date and German said they have been battling foot issues with the mare, but she believes they are now on top of them and she expects to see an improved performance over a mile on Thursday. “She is a lovely little filly that has had to take quite a bit of time because she hasn’t got the best legs, she has got quite an offset knee,” German said. “She has never had any leg issues whatsoever, but we have had a few foot issues with her. We raced her at Taupo and she missed a trial because she had a foot abscess, so Taupo was more like a trial, and she blew out accordingly. “It is a tough little field, those Pearl Series are always quite tough races, but I am happy with her going into it.” View the full article

6. SOLITUDE DUDE, GP, 11/1, 6 1/2 furlongs. (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 86 (c, 2, by Yaupon–After the Party, by Into Mischief) O-Chris Fountoukis. B-Martha Buckner and Matthew Ernst (Ky). T-Saffie Joseph, Jr.. J-Micah Husbands. Debuting as third betting choice (another Saffie Joseph first-timer was favored), he drubbed the competition by 9 1/2 lengths after setting the fractions. Joseph signed the $300k ticket in June at OBS for the son of first-crop sire Yaupon. The jury is still out on Yaupon's stamina genes, and Solitude Dude's dam was also a sprint type, but from the looks of this a one-turn mile would definitely be within his scope. 5. BLACKSMITH, SA, 10/25, 6 1/2 furlongs. (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 91 (2nd) (c, 2, by Liam's Map–Sweet Achiever, by Curlin) O-Wathnan Racing. B-Hill 'n Dale Equine Holdings and St. Elias Stables (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Juan Hernandez. The Baffert first-timer was hard-ridden 3/8ths out trying to keep up with sharp winner Acknowledgemeplz (see below), but was finding his best late as if extra distance would help. And his pedigree seconds that thought. His unraced Curlin dam is a full-sister to fast Baffert-trained Cezanne but traces back to blue hen mare Better Than Honour (Jazil, Rags to Riches, Man of Iron, etc.), a stamina influence if there ever was one. The $525k yearling races for Qatar-based Wathnan Racing, which is trying to plant a flag in the U.S.–and its new association with Baffert won't hurt that cause. 4. NUANCED, KEE, 10/23, 1 1-16 miles. (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 91 (g, 3, by Complexity–Haven, by Take Charge Indy) O-Klaravich Stables. B-Larmon and Christina Cowles (Ky). T-Chad Brown. J-Tyler Gaffalione. Claim slips for $50,000 were dropped for five of the 10 starters in this race, but guess who wasn't claimed? The 12 1/2-length winner! A $340k yearling purchase by Seth Klarman, Nuanced wasn't highly regarded at Churchill in his first start, and ran like it, finishing 11th of 12 in a maiden special weight. But blinkers, experience and two turns did the trick, and at 5/1 odds he looked like 1/5. 3. EL PRESTIGIO, KEE, 10/22, 6 furlongs. (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 93 (c, 3, by Practical Joke–Bartlett Narrows, by Flatter) O-Benjamin Gase. B-Edwin Anthony. T-Steve Asmussen. J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. A six-race maiden who hadn't run since Oaklawn in January, he at least had racked up four seconds and a peak Beyer Speed Figure of 81. But he took some action at 7/2 odds against a decent maiden field, and stepped up his game considerably. His younger half-brother Comport was a GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner. 2. ACKNOWLEDGEMEPLZ, SA, 10/25, 6 1/2 furlongs. (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 93 (r, 2, by Bucchero–Starship Fantasy, by Yes It's True) O-Purple Rein Racing and Mark Davis. B-Helen and Joseph Barbazon. T-Chief Stipe O'Neill. J-Antonio Fresu. Success vs. 2-year-old dirt maidens in SoCal almost always requires beating an expensive Baffert runner (or two), and this fast-breaking underdog $75k purchase gave future graded winner Desert Code a gallant battle in their debuts back in June. Four-and-a-half months and a dozen breezes later, Acknowledgemeplz was readily acknowledged by bettors as 8/5 second choice to even-money Baffert firster Blacksmith (above) and was up to the task, again breaking like a shot and opening up into the stretch to win by daylight. 1. LIFE AND TIMES, BAQ, 11/1, 1 mile. (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 94 (g, 4, by Justify–Silky Serenade, by Unbridled's Song) O-Michael Tabor. B-Chelston (Ky). T-Todd Pletcher. J-Jose Lezcano. Overlay alert, far too late: 11/1 odds on a Pletcher-trained first-timer by Justify, owned by Tabor and a half-brother to a Grade I winner. Odds-on favorite Time to Win didn't help himself with a slow start, but given how Life and Times dashed to a 5 3/4-length score for a 94 Beyer, it likely wouldn't have mattered. The 4-year-old didn't breeze until June last year, had a setback in the fall that cost him six months then went another three months between breezes this summer. Tabor loves a good wager, but given this price and with Coolmore focused on Breeders' Cup Saturday, you have to wonder if he got very involved. The post Six Fastest Maidens, Presented By Taylor Made: Oct. 21-Nov. 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article