Wandering Eyes

ESPN Louisville will be live at the Breeders' Cup, offering two days of shows from the shadows of the Del Mar paddock, anchored by BloodHorse Monday co-host Louie Rabaut.View the full article

After adding to an already impressive initial campaign with a victory in the Cheveley Park (G1), True Love will aim for success in North America when she makes her overseas debut in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.View the full article

Iron Orchard, trained by Danny Gargan, recently sold for $2.5 million and is undefeated going into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).View the full article

A year after Lake Victoria exceeded expectations in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore aim to do it again with Precise.View the full article

European-trained runners have won 12 of 18 runnings of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). They're favored to win another: the Oct. 31 race with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Gstaad.View the full article

Andrew Forsman is one of New Zealand’s leading trainers, and recently chalked up his 1000th career win. So where does he feel the industry is at? Where does he see improvement? And what gives him hope? Guerin Report – S2 Ep. 9 Ft. Andrew Forsman View the full article

John Thompson and Greg Tomlinson have combined for another major stakes success in Australia. The respective principals of Rich Hill Stud and Nearco Stud bred and sold She’s A Hustler (NZ) (Ace High), who continued her excellent strike rate when she claimed the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley. The daughter of Rich Hill resident Ace High has won six of her nine starts, with one of her three runner-up finishes posted in last season’s Listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m) at Morphettville. Thompson and Tomlinson previously joined forces to purchase Temolie, the dam of the Gr.1 ATC Derby (2400m) winner and multiple top-flight placegetter Aeliana. “When we invested in Vadamos, Greg wanted to buy a couple of mares to go to him and I suggested we go 50-50 in a couple, and when Proisir was coming up we bought Temolie to go to him,” Thompson said. “It’s worked out particularly well for us and those couple of mares.” She’s A Hustler was purchased out of Rich Hill’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by agent Phill Cataldo for $70,000. “She had one start in New Zealand for Roger James and Robert Wellwood at Matamata and ran second as a three-year-old and looked very smart,” Thompson said. She’s A Hustler subsequently made her way to Begg’s Cranbourne stable and is now likely to bid for further black type success in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival. The mare is a daughter of the Bernardini mare Snow Petal, who was successful on two occasions and is a granddaughter of the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). She was later a multiple stakes winner in Singapore where she earned Horse of the Year honours. “We bought Snow Petal at the Gold Coast (A$120,000) to go to Vadamos at the time, and we bred a really good horse called Freeze Frame,” Thompson said. “She ran second and should have won the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m), but he sadly died after that. “We’ve got a Proisir three-year-old filly (Frozen Fortune) who has just come back into work with Tony Pike, we’ve been avoiding all the wet tracks with her. “Hopefully, she might get through to some of the fillies’ races over Christmas.” Mick Price Breeding & Racing secured her brother at Karaka earlier this year for $100,000. “The mare recently foaled a Chaldean filly and we’ll be breeding her back to him,” Thompson said. View the full article

Owner/breeder Debby Oxley may have a mere 20 mares on the farm and a few graded stakes winners to her credit as an owner, but the impact of her breeding operation has been nothing short of potent.View the full article

BloodHorse Monday: Larry Johnson's daughters on Mindframe carrying his legacy to the Breeders' Cup Classic, Racing Post's David Jennings highlights European runners, Conrad Bandoroff on Denali's Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale consignment.View the full article

BloodHorse Interview: Robbie MedinaView the full article

The bulk of the 271 horses offered on day one of the Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale at Tattersalls were sold to continue their careers abroad, including the 375,000gns August George (Night Of Thunder), who was snapped up by Qatari-based trainer Gassim Ghazali. Runner-up to subsequent Group 3 scorer Dorset (Wootton Bassett) in the Goffs Million, the Ivan Furtado-trained juvenile boasted one of the most attractive profiles on Monday and the market responded suitably with Ghazali – a regular visitor to Park Paddocks – outlasting a number of leading buyers on the 97-rated gelding. “For me, he is the best horse in the auction today – and [is] only two years old,” Ghazali said. “Expensive, but I need him. I hoped to pay between 250,000gns and 300,000gns but I did not give him a chance to go.” He added, “One hundred percent, he will go for the Qatar Derby for two-year-olds and, after that, we can aim for the Amir Sword Festival. I have had many Night Of Thunders before and have had good results with him back in Qatar. He is a son of Dubawi, who does so well in Qatar.” August George was sourced by Finbar Kent at the Goffs Orby Sale on behalf of Stephen and Wendy Burdett, who also own Furtado's yard. Monday's sale represented a massive upswing on that initial €90,000 outlay and Kent, who consigned the gelding on behalf of connections, commented, “It is a brilliant result and great for owners Stephen and Wendy Burdett. They put a lot into the game and buy 10 to 15 yearlings every year and it is nice to get one who gets a result on the track and then get a return today. It helps keep all the wheels turning.” While the clearance rate was up by 5% to 84% on the day, turnover fell by 18% to 7,559,000gns, the median by 16% to 16,000 and the average by 18% to 32,166. It may have been a muted start but some better horses are expected to liven things up on Tuesday. Coolmore Sells 22 Horses For Over 1 Million Coolmore was one of the busiest consignors on Monday and sold 22 horses for the not-so-insignificant sum of 1,153,000gns. Mount Kilimanjaro (Siyouni), who Coolmore originally sourced for €420,000 at the October Yearling Sale at Arqana in 2023, was the most expensive of the 22 horses sold by the powerful owners when knocked down to Edgar Byrne on behalf of Scandinavian-based trainer Niels Pietersen. Mount Kilimanjaro, winner of the Dee Stakes at Chester earlier in the year and second in last year's G1 Criterium International at Saint-Could, reached a rating of 110 for Aidan O'Brien. Pietersen commented, “He will go from here to Dubai for the winter and will run there for [owner] Wibecke Nagell-Erichsen. He will then go to Scandinavia for the best races and I hope he will be a head above the rest.” The trainer added, “He is a nicely-balanced horse – he is a galloping horse and they tend to race a little differently in Scandinavia than they do here. He has plenty of ability and that will take him a long way in Scandinavia. He is a striking-looking horse and the minute Wilbecke saw him she loved him.” Ciaron Maher Lands Progressive Sea The Stars Gelding It was no surprise to see a number of leading Australian-based buyers flexing their muscles on some of the top middle-distance prospects and Ciaron Maher added a potentially smart Sea The Stars gelding to his team Down Under in the shape of Shadwell's 89-rated Mukhtalif. Will Bourne, who was assisted by Billy Jackson-Stops, landed the William Haggas-trained dual winner for 325,000gns. He said, “Mukhtalif is progressive and, having inspected the horse, you can see he's a beautiful animal. We really like the fact that the stallion works in Australia. David Hayes had the Australian Cup winner Fifty Stars and Johnny McKeever bought the Metropolitan winner Just Fine out of this sale, and they're both by Sea The Stars. This horse is a progressive stayer so he profiles perfectly for us and we're happy to be taking him down there.” Bourne added, “When you look at Ciaron's results in the last two months, Royal Supremacy won a Metropolitan and our runners in the Melbourne Cup this week are from Europe, so we've just got to keep sourcing these horses out of here. We have a number that we try to hit, but buying this year has been very hard. We're probably 10 horses down on where we'd like to be – that's privately and through the sale ring. It's been extremely difficult to buy the horses that you want at the right price, which hasn't been helped by the Australian dollar. All these marginal factors, and more competition on tried horses, means it's been really hard. That can affect our bloodstock portfolio so we're keen to get a few here.” Maher also struck for the 83-rated Zain Blue (Blue Point) at 150,000gns, taking his opening day spend at Tattersalls to 475,000gns. Waller Can't Ignore Hard Evidence At 200k Another leading Australian trainer, Chris Waller, took home one of the smartest prospects offered under the hammer on Monday through 200,000gns purchase Hard Evidence, consigned by Imperium Sales. A smooth winner at Bath for trainer Ed Walker and owners Valmont, the Zarak colt was knocked down to Guy Mulcaster on behalf of Waller. “He was impressive when he won and the second horse had been second before and the third horse had been third before, too, so the form is pretty strong,” Mulcaster said. “He paraded really well – he looked beautiful in the back ring and we think he has got a lot more to come. He looks like he wants to be three and he wants to be four, so we will take him along quietly and see where we end up. He is a beautiful horse. They are better horses [the progeny of Zarak] with a bit of time.” Channon Fights To Keep Star In His Stable The majority of the highly-rated horses offered on Monday were sold to continue their careers abroad, however, trainer Jack Channon rallied the troops to keep dual winner Sarab Star (Zoustar) on the roster at 200,000gns. A cosy winner of a 7f novice at Kempton in the colours of Jaber Abdullah when last seen, Sarab Star was purchased on behalf of a newly-formed partnership to stay in Channon's yard. Channon explained, “Jaber has bought a lot of new horses this year and he wanted to monetise some of his more valuable stock and this horse was one of them. I think he is too good to let go – there are very few very talented horses who come through my hands and I was not leaving without him. He will be syndicated for some existing owners in the yard. He is a very talented horse.” Buy[s] of the day There were a fair few guesses flying around at Tattersalls as to the identity of the person who signed under the guise of Paddle Champ for the Jessica Harrington-trained Nancy J at 22,000gns. The Ten Sovereigns filly showed good form for Harrington and reached a rating of 95. Best case scenario, her new connections could have a filly that could rock up to something like the Kensington Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, a meeting in which she wasn't disgraced at when running eighth – beaten just over six lengths in the Sandringham – earlier this year. At worst, she has a good enough pedigree to go straight to the covering shed. At 22,000gns, the Paddle Champ team can't go too far wrong. At the more expensive end of things, Ian Williams and Jamie Piggott appeared to get a bit of value with Aqua Bear at 85,000gns. A scopey two-year-old colt by Kodi Bear who has twice been placed in maidens and achieved a good rating of 81 for Ado McGuinness in Ireland, he should be an absolute certainty to win a maiden in England and progress from there. Aqua Bear was probably entitled to make 100,000gns or more on form and looks. He was well bought. Thought for the day A leading bloodstock agent summed up Monday's state of affairs by simply saying, 'this is what they're really worth,' and he wasn't far wrong. Yes, the yearling sales have been incredibly strong in Europe this year but Monday served as yet another reminder that it can be easier to sell the dream of an unraced horse rather than the rating. The post International Buyers Dominate On Day One Of The Autumn H-I-T Sale At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After succeeding with successful claim Johnny Podres, a son of Grazen, owner/trainer Librado Barocio has done even better with Breeders' Cup Sprint hopeful Lovesick Blues.View the full article

The first of six opportunities to bet on the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) opens Oct. 29 through Oct. 31 with Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, headlined by likely Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) favorite Ted Noffey.View the full article

Between travelers en route and those already on grounds, Distaff contenders put in their final preps in advance of the World Championships this weekend and connections provide their thoughts on how their charges are doing. Multiple Grade I winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was out on track Monday morning at Del Mar to work four furlongs in :49.80 (5/5) with Neil Poznansky up for the ride. According to his connections, it was all by design and all systems are go. “He went easy. He had an extended gallop and then he just stretched his legs a little down the lane,” said Poznansky. “It felt like an open gallop. Before he has wanted to go off a little aggressive and then he will go and spit the bit and go about his way.” “Today he was very even and [drug] me along and when he turned for home, he actually grabbed the bit again. He is very smart.” “I don't like to use the word maintenance work because everyone uses that so I am not going to use that,” said Mott. “We know the horse is talented, and we just want to keep him fit and let him do enough where he is happy and let him stretch his lungs out a little bit and have him ready for Saturday.” “I liked what I saw today. We'll see if we take him out tomorrow [Tuesday morning]. We don't want to get him too high. Sometimes, just getting him out there and moving around a little is good…same as any athlete, I guess.” One of Japan's top hopefuls for Breeders' Cup Classic glory, Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) cantered one lap around the track Monday and schooled in the paddock. He will breeze Wednesday, Oct. 29 with rider Ryusei Sakai in the saddle. “I flew into L.A. last night, and it is the first time on him since his final domestic gallop,” said Sakai. “I got a great feeling, and he is definitely in good shape. I will ride his breeze on Wednesday.” The Ladies Take California Ahead of World Championships Of the Distaff workers, Argentinian Group 1-winner Sarawak Rim (Arg) (Remote {GB}) posted her first breeze at Del Mar since arriving from Keeneland, and clocked four furlongs in :48.80 (4/5) with Geovanny Vences in the saddle for trainer Ignacio Correas. The filly joined the conditioner's barn in July and has only impressed since then. “Oh yes. [The work] was a beauty; perfectly done,” said Correas. “I don't know about anybody else, but it looked great to me.” In the Bill Mott barn, MGSW & MGISP Scylla (Tapit) breezed four panels in :46.60 (1/5) with blinkers on with Neil Poznansky in the irons. Despite the time, Mott said he was quite pleased with the move. “People might worry it's too fast for her,” he said. “It is fast, but she can do that. Neil thought she was doing it within herself. She was carrying him along; he didn't ask her. He said he took another hold on her as she turned for home. If she had gone 49, I would have been pleased.” “We had the blinkers on her today, and I think she had her game face on when she went to the track. A lot of times galloping, she will mess with us a little bit, but she knows when it's workday. She has put in works like that before so it's not totally unusual. With her, it's a sign she is doing good.” Team Japan reports that Alice Verite (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) will breeze Wednesday, Oct. 29 with her jockey Kyle Frey in the irons. She spent Monday hand walking in the parade ring. The post Breeders’ Cup Notes: Sovereignty Ready for Classic, Distaff Contenders Put in Final Preps at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 12th running of the Bing Crosby Season at Del Mar will kick off Thursday, Oct. 30 and run through Sunday, Nov. 30 with opening weekend featuring the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the track announced Monday. The 16-day program will host 20 stakes races worth more than $3-million in purses. In addition to the two-day Breeders' Cup event worth more than $34-million across 14 Grade I stakes, the seaside oval will also contest six of the 20 black-type races in the first three days of the meeting–one on Thursday, four on Friday as part of the undercard, and one on Saturday. The 2024 edition of the World Championships held 'Where the Turf Meets the Surf' set a new global wagering record of $203.7-million. After opening weekend, the Del Mar season will conclude with the return of the FanDuel Racing Turf Festival featuring seven turf stakes–six of them graded–worth $1.3-million in purses on closing weekend Nov. 28-30. Barring this coming weekend, all Fridays will offer seniors free admission, free program and a free seat, while Sundays are “Free & Fun Sundays,” offering all Diamond Club members free admission, free program and a free seat, alongside half-off Michelob ULTRA, Brandt Beef hot dogs and sodas at concession stands. “Having the Breeders' Cup return to Del Mar is an honor we don't take lightly,” said David Jerkens, senior vice president of racing. “Kicking off our fall season with the World Championships is a tremendous way to begin, and we look forward to carrying that momentum through the FanDuel Racing Turf Festival on Closing Weekend.” The remaining four weeks will offer eight-race cards on all weekdays and nine-race cards on all weekends. First post on all racing days will be 12:30 p.m. A list of special events held throughout Bing Crosby Season can be found here. The post Bing Crosby Season at Del Mar Kicks Off Thursday, Features Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

David Duggan, the former Chief Operating Officer of Golden Gate Fields, has been appointed Executive Vice President, 1/ST RACING, according to 1/ST. Duggan has assumed day-to-day responsibility for the leadership of Gulfstream Park's racing operations and management. According to the company, Billy Badgett has shifted his focus away from day-to-day operations and management toward shaping the strategic future of Florida racing as Executive Director of Florida Operations for 1/ST. “I'm very excited and very thankful to Aidan Butler and the company for giving me this opportunity,” said Duggan. “It's a bit like taking over the Los Angeles Dodgers from Tommy Lasorda, because Billy Badgett has put together the most incredible team. They really are amazing–obviously, (Vice President of Administration) Sheri Holmes, who has been there for a long time, and we've got a great commentator in Pete Aiello. Overall, they're an extememely strong team who will make things a lot easier for me, and I will have Billy Badgett to call upon when I begin to run aground, should the case arise. It would be pretty hard to mess it up. It's a broad spectrum–a great blend of youth and experience. The racing office led by the two Mikes, Costanzo and Lakow, have a really good grasp of everything, and that makes my job a lot easier.” The post Duggan Appointed Executive V.P., 1/ST Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Karl Burke expects to have a clearer idea of the severity of Clifford Lee's injuries later this week after the jockey was hospitalised following a motorbike accident in Scotland. Lee has enjoyed a breakthrough season on the Flat, highlighted by a first Group 1 success aboard Venetian Sun in the Prix Morny, as well as several other big-race wins aboard the likes of Royal Champion, Al Qareem and Convergent. The rider is currently serving a suspension and was in Scotland with family when he took a fall from a cross-country motorbike. Having suffered a neck injury in the accident, he is now said to be in intensive care. “It's a bit of a sickener to finish what has been a very good year like this, especially for Cliff, obviously,” said Burke. “All I know is that he can move his arms and legs, but the last I heard he was in an induced coma. I think they're planning to bring him out of that gently over the next 48 hours. He got up after he came off the bike apparently and was walking but was obviously in pain. They took him to hospital and they've got him sedated now. “Apparently he had a GoPro on. His girlfriend has seen the recording and he was going less than 10 miles per hour, but the front wheel went into a dry riverbed or a dry stream and the whole thing twisted the wrong way and sent him flying over the handlebars. If he'd been going fast, he probably would have been fired out, rather than falling off head first. “It's a nasty one and he's not out of the woods by a long way yet.” The post Clifford Lee Hospitalised with Neck Injury Following Motorbike Accident appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Justify was off to a fast start at stud, leading in several black-type categories as well as in winners and wins with his first crop of runners. But it was in year two when the cream really started to rise to the top. That year, in 2023, he sired two Breeders' Cup winners, Hard to Justify in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Just F Y I in the Juvenile Fillies. The latter brings a talented resume and a special pedigree to this year's Fasig-Tipton November sale when she sells as hip 109 on Monday, Nov. 3. “We've been blessed to sell some tremendous offerings and her resume really ranks right up there with some of the best horses that have walked through this sales ring,” said Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning. “She is by Justify, who is off to an amazing start as a stallion. Her accomplishments as a two-year-old resulted in her being the champion two-year-old filly, she won the Breeders' Cup very impressively, was just dominant in her two-year-old campaign, and it's really rare to have an opportunity to sell a filly like this.” “She was the first Justify that I had in the barn and it didn't take long to start to like her,” said her trainer, Bill Mott. “She was a big, tall, rangy filly. She stood with a lot of leg underneath her. She had a lot of scope, however, she was well-balanced. She looked like a horse that would probably be better as a three-year-old-jst her body type and the way she was made. But she came around very early. You know, you wouldn't have looked at her in the very beginning and think that she was going to break her maiden at six-and-a-half furlongs and be as early as she was. But she came right around. It didn't take long to get her to the races.” Just F Y I made her first start at Saratoga, winning a six-and-a-half furlong maiden by a head. Mott was impressed enough to wheel her right back in the GI Frizette Stakes on Oct. 7, which she won by 3 3/4 lengths. Justify's Daughter Ready to Light Up Night of the Stars">Justify, and she's in foal to Into Mischief," says Fasig's Boyd Browning. "The opportunity to buy a young champion mare in foal to the leading sire in America doesn't come along very often.""> “She was good enough and quick enough to win at a sprint distance, breaking her maiden,” said Mott. “But the flat mile in the Frizette and the two-turn mile-and-a sixteenth in the Breeders' Cup was right up her alley. I mean that was her. She had enough speed to win a one-turn race and had enough durability to win a two-turn race.” Her owner, George Krikorian, had reason to be proud on Breeders' Cup Day, having bred the filly from his own multiple-stakes-placed Star Act (Street Cry {Ire}), a daughter of multiple Grade I winner Starrer (Dynaformer), herself a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Stellar Jayne, from a family studded with black type. “It all starts with Starrer,” said Krikorian, “who is a multiple Grade I winner. She's the first stakes horse that I ever purchased, and she was found by Donato Lanni, and she was the first stakes horse he ever found for anybody. So that was pretty special. I have probably raced horses 20 times in the Breeders' Cup and it's the first time we won. It's pretty special.” Said Browning, “You know, I think one of the cool things about Just F Y I is how George has helped develop the family. Her second Dam is Starrer, a Grade I winner that George raced very, very successfully. She's obviously been successful as a broodmare also, producing the dam of Just F Y I who was a stakes performer herself. So it's neat to see somebody who's been involved in the business for many, many years who tries to breed and race at the highest level and achieve success, and George has certainly done that with Starrer and now with Just F Y I.” John Sikura will offer the champion filly through his Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa consignment. “Just F Y I, that's a pedigree that George Krikorian has cultivated for more than 20, 25 years,” he said. “He's had great success to breed a Breeders' Cup-winning champion from his own pedigrees. One that you've developed is enormously satisfying. She was undefeated, she's a millionaire, she won the Frizette, she won the Breeders' Cup. She has a classic page; she is by a Triple Crown winner in Justify, and she's in foal to America's leading sire Into Mischief. She's so unique; she has all the qualities, all the attributes that someone would look for in a very special, classic broodmare-big, long, pretty, stands over ground, really, really has it all. She's just a complete, impeccable package.” Sikura stressed the depth of her page. “At every dam, you have Grade I-winning champions,” he said. “Very few pedigrees seem to reproduce at the highest level of every generation. This is certainly a unique and special pedigree, and as evidenced by the performance of Just F Y I and all of Starrer's esteemed siblings.” At three, Just F Y I was second in both the GI Ashland and GI Kentucky Oaks. Given a break for the summer and fall, she returned at four this year, but was retired when felled by a fever in the spring, and bred to Into Mischief. Sums up Browning, “She's four years old. She's a champion. She's by Justify. She's in foal to Into Mischief. You're talking about the perfect opportunity for a leading buyer or breeder who wants to have an addition to their broodmare band at the very highest level or if you want to start a top-level broodmare band, she's the perfect type. The opportunity to buy a young, champion mare in foal to Into Mischief doesn't come along very often.” Sikura agrees. “Some horses are just born with extraordinary talent,” he said. “The first time she ran, she won, and she got better each start, and to win the Breeders' Cup in her third start, coming off a Grade I win at Belmont, that's very impressive. She's an undefeated two-year-old, hugely accomplished champion. Shortly and succinctly, you could say she was perfection then, and certainly a wonderful, wonderful race filly.” The post Just F Y I: Justify’s Daughter Ready to Light Up Night of the Stars appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Vinery Sales will offer Grade I mares Dorth Vader (Girvin), Free Like a Girl (El Deal), and Sacred Wish (Not This Time) at the Fasig-Tipton November sale with a portion of the proceeds from each sale benefitting a specific charity, it was announced via press release Monday. Vinery Sales's Matt Bowling said the connections of the three racemares will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the respective sales each to a different charity. The selected organizations set to receive the donations have names or missions that resonate with the owners or the names of the fillies. All three horses are being offered as racing/broodmare prospects and are consigned by Vinery Sales, agent. Dorth Vader, winner of the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes at Saratoga this past June, has amassed over $1-million in her career. Including that elite-level win, she has four black-type victories to her name between the Juvenile Fillies Sprint Stakes, Sandpiper Stakes, and the GII Davona Dale Stakes. She's also placed in the GI Acorn Stakes in 2023 and was most recently seen running second to Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga by a nose. A portion of Dorth Vader's sale proceeds will be going to the Starlight Children's Foundation, which collaborates with LucasFilm and Disney to offer Star Wars-themed programs to sick children during their hospital stays. Free Like a Girl, a 19-time stakes winner and the 2022 & 2024 Louisiana Horse of the Year, has tallied nine graded black-type contests through her four-year career. She's hit the board in the GIII Iowa Oaks; GIII Charles Town Oaks; GIII Remington Park Oaks; the GI Apple Blossom Handicap in 2024 and 2025; the GI Fasig-Tipton La Troienne Stakes in 2024; and the 2025 GIII Bayakoa and GII Azeri Stakes. With her career earnings sitting north of $2.5-million, she was most recently seen running second in the Magnolia Stakes Oct. 11 at Delta Downs. A portion of the proceeds generated by the sale of Free Like a Girl will be donated to St. Jude's Children Hospital in gratitude for the care they provided to trainer Deville Pomier's niece during an illness. Sacred Wish is the 2024 GI Matriarch Stakes victress at Del Mar, and some of her career highlights include a runner-up effort in the 2023 GII Gulfstream Park Oaks in her third start; running second in that year's GI CCA Oaks and GIII Pebbles Stakes; and hitting the board last season in the GIII WinStar Matchmaker, GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf, and GIII Goldikova Stakes before her aforementioned Grade I win. This year, she started her 2025 with a runner-up effort in the GII TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational and has since run second again in the GIII WinStar Matchmaker Stakes July 19. Her career earnings sit at over $1.1-million. Jake Ballis of Black Type Thoroughbreds will be supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a contribution coming directly from the sale of Sacred Wish. The Make-A-Wish Foundation helps fulfill the wishes of seriously ill children. “Evan Ferraro from Fasig-Tipton and I worked together on the idea,” said Bowling. “All three mares have incredible connections and unique names and stories, so we thought it would be good to do something along these lines. When I pitched the ideas to the teams of each horse, they were all excited to be a part of it and give back to some awesome charities.” The catalogue for the 2025 Fasig-Tipton November Sale may be found here. The post Vinery Sales to Offer Trio of Grade I Mares to Benefit Charity at Fasig-Tipton November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first of six opportunities to bet on Kentucky Derby 152 opens Wednesday, Oct. 29 through Friday, Oct. 31 with Pool 1 of the Future Wager and MGISW Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) headlines the 40 betting choices with 'All Other Colts and Geldings Foaled in 2023' the ever-popular favorite, Churchill Downs announced Monday. Wagering will open Wednesday at noon EDT and will close prior to Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at approximately 6:00pm EDT. Ted Noffey is one of eight likely entrants for the contest and equally likely the horse to beat after dominating performances in the GI Breeders' Futurity and GI Hopeful Stakes put him at the head of his class. Pool 1 includes eight horses in the care of six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert: Blacksmith (60-1); Boyd (50-1); Brant (15-1); Desert Gate (75-1); Kristofferson (80-1); Litmus Test (80-1); Plutarch (90-1); and Provenance (80-1). The list is as follows: Blackout Time (Not This Time) (Kenny McPeek, 20-1) Blacksmith (Liam's Map) (Baffert, 60-1) Boyd (Violence) (Baffert, 50-1) Brant (Gun Runner) (Baffert, 15-1) Civil Liberty (Independence Hall) (Chief Stipe O'Neill, 50-1) Comport (Collected) (Eddie Kenneally, 50-1) Confessional (Essential Quality) (Brad Cox, 40-1) Courting (Curlin) (Todd Pletcher, 90-1) Desert Gate (Omaha Beach) (Baffert, 75-1) Kapur (McKinzie) (Saffie Joseph Jr., 90-1) Englishman (Maxfield) (Cherie DeVaux, 20-1) Ewing (Knicks Go) (Mark Casse, 30-1) Further Ado (Gun Runner) (Brad Cox, 15-1) Gallivant (Into Mischief) (Ben Colebrook, 60-1) Golden Tornado (McKinzie) (Danny Gargan, 90-1) Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) (Riley Mott, 40-1) Infiltrate (Oscar Performance) (Brendan Walsh, 90-1) Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) (Jeff Mullins, 50-1) It's Our Time (Not This Time) (Tom Amoss, 80-1) Kristofferson (Nyquist) (Baffert, 80-1) Litmus Test (Nyquist) (Baffert, 80-1) Local Knowledge (Yaupon) (Todd Pletcher, 75-1) A. P. (American Pharoah) (Vladimir Cerin, 75-1) Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map) (Chad Summers, 30-1) Oscar's Hope (Twirling Candy) (Tom Amoss, 90-1) Outfielder (Speightstown) (Welsey Ward, 80-1) Paladin (Gun Runner) (Chad Brown, 75-1) Plutarch (Into Mischief) (Baffert, 90-1) Provenance (Into Mischief) (Baffert, 80-1) Rancho Santa Fe (Tapit) (Brad Cox, 75-1) Renegade (Into Mischief) (Todd Pletcher, 75-1) Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule) (Steve Asmussen, 75-1) Spice Runner (Gun Runner) (Steve Asmussen, 90-1) Stradale (Yaupon) (Steve Asmussen, 90-1) Talkin (Good Magic) (Danny Gargan, 80-1) Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) (Todd Pletcher, 10-1) Universe (Global Campaign) (Kenny McPeek, 80-1) White Tiger (Constitution) (Brad Cox, 90-1) All Fillies Foaled in 2023 (75-1) All Other Colts and Geldings Foaled in 2023 (4-5 There will be six Future Wager pools for Kentucky Derby 152. Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 and the Sire Future Wager will run Thursday, Nov. 27 to Sunday, Nov. 30. Following the New Year, the final four pools will take place as follows: Pool 3 (Jan. 16-18); Pool 4 (Feb. 13-15); Pool 5 (Mar. 13-15) and Pool 6 (Apr. 2-4). The lone Longines Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will run concurrently with Pool 5 in March. Pool 1 offers $2 win and exacta wagering. Fans can place wagers at simulcast outlets across the country and at ADWs. More information, past performances, and real-time odds on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be available here before the pool opens Wednesday. There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. If Churchill Downs officials determine during the duration of any pool that one of the wagering interests experiences an injury, illness or other circumstance that would prevent the horse from participating in the Kentucky Derby, betting on the individual horse will be suspended immediately. The post ‘All Others’ 4-5 Favorite, Ted Noffey 10-1 in Pool 1 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Backside Learning Center (BLC) will host its largest annual fundraiser, 'Benefits for the Backside: A Day at the Races', Friday, Nov. 21 in the First Turn Club at Churchill Downs, the non-profit announced via press release. Set to begin at noon, guests will enjoy a day at the races with front row views from the clubhouse turn while celebrating and supporting backstretch workers and their families. An auction will be available both in-person and online, and a raffle will be held for a chance to win a Derby or Oaks box for six (6). The in-person live auction includes unique items and experiences, namely a premium weekend for four (4) at Del Mar; a morning on the backside and breakfast at Wagner's with trainer Bill Mott; and a morning on the backside during Derby 152 with Brian Hernandez Jr. and Caton Bredar, among other prizes. The silent auction, now open for bidding, and raffle tickets for purchase may be found here. Both events are scheduled to end at 3:45pm EDT the day of the vent. Prizes here include the all-inclusive Kentucky Derby 152 and Kentucky Oaks box for six; pickleball lessons with Alex Crum; and a weekend at Parker's Landing in bourbon country. “This event is a great opportunity to support those who play such a vital role in our community, not to mention the success of the horseracing industry,” said executive director Sherry Stanley. “The Backside is such a vibrant and diverse community right in the heart of the city that most people don't even know exists. We serve the hundreds of workers and their children who are members of our community and who will be our next generation of leaders.” The post ‘Benefit for the Backside: A Day at the Races’ Annual Fundraiser Set for November 21 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-Kyoto, ¥14,250,000 ($93,167), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m, 1:51.9, my. DANON BOURBON (c, 2, Maxfield–Wild Ridge, by Tapit), a $450,000 Keeneland September acquisition by Katsumi Yoshida just over a year ago, launched his career in smashing fashion, becoming the second wide-margin debut winner in Japan for his freshman sire (by Street Sense), and his 16th scorer overall. Sent off as the 22-5 third choice, the early April foal was kicked straight into the lead by Kohei Matsuyama and relaxed nicely on the engine. Still going nicely for the run around the second turn, the dark bay colt quickly put several lengths on his rivals once into the straight and cruised home a 10-length winner. “He broke as well as he was in training,” the winning jockey said. “He maintained his rhythm and traveled in his own pace. When I asked him to go, he responded sharply and pulled away.” Danon Bourbon is a half-brother to three winners, including the stakes-placed Clubhouse (Speightstown), $223,283, and is out of a daughter of three-time Grade III scorer Wild Gams (Forest Wildcat). The latter is also the dam of MGSW 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Cazadero (Street Sense); 2022 GII Remsen Stakes hero Dubyuhnell (Good Magic); and SW Mt. Brave (Malibu Moon). Wild Gams is additionally the granddam of Gastrique (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}), a Group 2 winner at two in Japan in 2022; and of recent Discovery Stakes third Light Forever (Frosted). The yearling relation to Danon Bourbon, a colt by Nyquist, fetched $750,000 at KEESEP last month. Maxfield is already the sire of the Japanese-based 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Magna Victor, who won his maiden by nine lengths at first asking over 1400 meters in early September. Inbred 4×4 to both A.P. Indy and Storm Cat, Danon Bourbon is also kin to a weanling filly by Mage and the dam was most recently covered by Timberlake. Sales history: $450,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,020. O-Danox Co Ltd; B-Blue Heaven Farm (KY); T-Manabu Ikezoe. The post Danon Bourbon Another Smashing Japanese Winner for Maxfield appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Did you hear the one about the wrestler who opted for three foals and a submission? Understandably, Jeff Kerber feels a little conflicted about the “submission.” In his youth, as Iowa's first high school wrestler unbeaten through four years of varsity competition, everything came down to what he could do with his bare hands. In lately discovering a flair for a second walk of sporting life, however, Kerber had to make a pragmatic concession to the economic odds against him. His entire Kentucky program comprised four mares, and one of them-actually the first he ever bought-has turned out to be too valuable to keep. He sold her last year, to Jeff and Melissa Prunzik of Stone Bridge Farm, in the process ensuring that he can afford the stud fees to keep the other three producing viable foals. But he still has skin in the game, as we'll hear; and his conversation is full of infectious cheer as he recalls the day he laid a foundation for what he wanted to do, now that he had sold his livestock feed business. That was at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale, where he fell in love with a Bernardini filly named Pray for Leslie. She had won her first two at Churchill earlier that year, only to derail at Saratoga. Kerber asked his friend Mike McMahon (of McMahon and Hill) to come and give a more seasoned opinion. “Looks like she's wearing slippers,” McMahon said. They both laughed. But McMahon assured him that her big feet were not a problem, and that he had indeed found a nice type. “I didn't trust my eye back then,” Kerber says. “I've got better in the years since. But I'd picked her out, done all the research, and she was my pick of the litter. It was before Bernardini had really caught fire, as a broodmare sire, but I'd always loved him. And Pray for Leslie had been really fast, broke her maiden by open lengths at Churchill, ran big numbers and then got hurt only the third start of her life. I was ready to go quite a bit higher than we ended up paying [$130,000].” In fairness, Kerber was not a total novice. His was an inherited passion and, by the sound of it, an inherited aptitude. “My dad was the one that spent the time to get me hooked,” he recalls. “Not that it took much! Anyway he always had two or three mares and, in 2022, he ended up with two foals running in the same paddock. And one went one direction, one went the other: Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) and Mr. Wireless (Dialed In) won $3 million between them, out of his two old mares. He died the next year. But with a smile on his face!” Kerber's own enthusiasm had been such that right back when he left college, before entering the family business, he had put in a few months on the track. “I didn't want to go into the real world right away!” he recalls. “I actually worked for D. Wayne Lukas. Well, he signed my paycheck. He wouldn't have known me. I was walking hots and grooming for his 'B Team,' at Bay Meadows.” So while three decades of feeding hogs and cattle still lay ahead, Kerber always had some horse sense lurking there. Certainly he showed judgement in his choice of Pray for Leslie's first cover, Nyquist, then on the bubble at $40,000. Unfortunately she lost that foal, so it was not until the 2022 September Sale that the mare could bank a first dividend, an Omaha Beach filly bringing $120,000. As Alys Beach, this filly proceeded to win on debut at Saratoga and later ran third in the GI Alcibiades Stakes. Next came a Vekoma filly, sold for $130,000 the following September; and then a daughter of Authentic, offered as a weanling at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale. Which is where the other Jeff enters the story. Prunzik is a real estate guy from western Pennsylvania, and had stumbled across the Thoroughbred world just by making Lexington a regular stopover on trips to Melissa's family farm in Mississippi. He had always been interested in the margins between sport and business: using the same professional skills, in business coaching, as he did helping out various local basketball teams. And that mindset, as he became ever more fascinated by breeding, prompted a series of parallel ventures. First there was the purchase of Stone Bridge Farm from the Courtney family, as base for his own breeding and track programs. And then he established an affiliated bloodstock syndicate, Stone Bridge Investments, bringing 59 investors together in a handful of mares, pinhooks and occasional racing stock. “So we've been trying to create some other revenue streams, to support the boarding,” Prunzik explains. “And, knock on wood, it has gone well the last couple of years. We have a very nice, eclectic mix of people: maybe 10-to-12 that I went to high school or college with; then family members and in-laws; then some business acquaintances; and a handful of horse people. Jeff and Melissa Prunzik | Courtesy Jeff & Melissa Prunzik “At first we focused primarily on the lower-to-middle market, say $20,000 to $70,000, and we did have success doing that. But the last couple years we've decreased the number of pinhooks in order to buy better quality, and I think the latest round of sales has shown that it's the stronger stallions and better pedigrees where the market's really thriving.” Prunzik's own portfolio, meanwhile, had happened to land on Pray for Leslie's Authentic filly. When she left the ring as a $100,000 RNA, the two Jeffs negotiated a private sale. “So we had her at the farm, and really liked the way she was maturing,” Prunzik explains. “So much so that we went down to OBS to try to get her 2-year-old half-sister [i.e. the Vekoma filly]. And once seeing her 'in person,' we ended up acquiring her from Mayberry Farm for $410,000 and sent her to Robbie Medina.” That enterprise paid off when the filly, named Praying, broke her maiden at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Once again, Prunzik boxed clever: cashed out Praying to Newtownanner Stud, and played up the winnings on her dam. “We'd already been looking to buy the mare, before, so now we went back to Jeff and he was nice enough to work out a deal with us,” Prunzik explains. “He would stay in the Nyquist foal [she was carrying], which we now have at the farm. And from what Jeff says, she's the best of the bunch so far, which is encouraging.” It certainly is: because Praying herself is heading to the Breeders' Cup on a roll, having followed up her GIII Prioress Stakes success in the GII TCA Stakes; while the page has also gained from the Authentic filly who originally brought Prunzik into play. She achieved an excellent pinhook yield when sold to Gregory Tramontin (also returning to the same well, having earlier purchased Alys Beach) for $450,000 as a September yearling, and then as Spa Prospector ran third in the GIII Adirondack Stakes. Three graded stakes performers, then, from three starters: Pray for Leslie, now in foal to Into Mischief, has proved an inspired find by Kerber. “She just throws babies that can run,” he says. “She just does. I mean, I didn't even breed her right, to be honest. She stands about 15.1/15.2hh, and she's got a big butt. Vekoma was a great cross on paper. But the physical she needs is like Nyquist, which is why I went back to him. Though honestly I think you could probably breed her to anything. They all look like her. They're all a bit too short, they've all got a big old butt on them-and they can all run.” Of course, Kerber could yet find himself with another nice breeder's prize this weekend. Regardless he will derive reliable fulfilment from the three mares he still has in Kentucky, divided between Hidden Brook and Hidden Springs: all by good sires (Curlin, Munnings, Scat Daddy) and all with happening covers (Tiz the Law, Omaha Beach, Twirling Candy). The one by Scat Daddy was picked up for $70,000 at Fasig February 2022, and last week in the same ring her Bolt d'Oro filly sold to Kenny McPeek for $150,000. “Chief Stipe Cauthen has been very helpful, other people too,” Kerber says. “But I do just get a lot of enjoyment doing it myself, all my research, all my matings. It's a lot of fun, but it's also hard work and competitive. With just the few mares I have, the decisions you make are all important. So you better enjoy it!” But that kind of balance, between indulgence and diligence, was learned long ago in the wrestling world-whether when in the ring himself, or in the community that also produced his brother-in-law Randy Lewis, Olympic gold medalist in 1984. “You trained hard,” he says. “It's a difficult sport. But I wrestled in the World Championships in 1979, when I was 18, against Russians and Mongolians and guys from all over the world. So that was an experience. And these horses, it's a tough business. They can get damaged. That's why I had to sell the mare. Looking back, maybe I should have got more for her! But I want to keep in the game. If I don't sell when I have something people want to buy, I can't stay in business. Now I just have to find another one.” And that's the point: even a businesslike approach doesn't take away the addictive, magical quality-something equally appreciated by the other Jeff. “I was warned when I first got into the horse industry that it's almost like a cult,” Prunzik says. “That everyone eats, sleeps and drinks it. And I guess I've caught the bug. It's such an intriguing industry. I really wish people knew more about it, all the different angles and opportunities. Being where I am, we have a harness track up here but there's only a couple people I know that are in the Thoroughbred industry. Yet everyone that I ever brought down to the farm or to Keeneland, they love it.” It is certainly a labor of love. Prunzik will already have done a day's work in real estate when switching mode for the evening. “Every night I fall asleep doing farm or horse business,” he says. “But at the end of the day, if you put good people in places where they have the opportunity to succeed, then you'll have every chance of doing well. We've done that with our farm manager Juan Piedra, our operations manager Kali Kleinfelt, and Robbie Medina as trainer. Jeff's been a great guy to work with, too, and very flexible. So fingers crossed, things can keep going in the right direction for us all. “Even though I don't own her anymore, Praying's last two races have been the most exciting time I've experienced in the horse industry. We've been very fortunate because every connection has benefited from Pray for Leslie and Praying: Hidden Brook, McMahon and Hill, Newton Anner Stud, Jeff Kerber, Robbie Medina and Stone Bridge Farm. It has been a 'win-win' all round.” Kerber adds humorous context to that remark. “Now these foals, I'm the guy that sold them all!” he notes with a chuckle. “I did all the matings, I bred them, but they were all two inches too short to bring the big money. They were athletic, they were balanced, but they just weren't tall enough. But I'm glad that everybody has done so well. I never really got paid like they did, but I don't really care. I mean, I do care, don't get me wrong. But my passion is to breed horses that can run. And with a very, very small herd, I've been able to hang. And that's hard to do. Hard, and a lot of fun.” The post Praying Has Spread Blessings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is nine, but clearly hasn't lost a step. The same can be said for his 54-year-old jockey Frankie Dettori. He, too, is still getting it done. But can the geriatric duo pull off a win in the GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint? As well as Khaadem has been running this year, it's entirely possible. “That's two old boys together,” trainer Charlie Hills said of the horse-jockey combination. Dettori will be the second oldest jockey in this year's Breeders' Cup behind only 60-year-old Mike Smith There also may be some history involved. A win by Khaadem would tie him with 2012 GII Breeders' Cup Marathon winner Calidoscopio (Arg) (Luhuk) as the oldest horse to win a Breeders' Cup race. “It would be amazing to tie that record,” Hills said. Khaadem has made 42 career starts and won 10 races. His biggest wins have come in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S in 2023, when he was seven, and in 2024, when he was eight. None of his first 37 starts was in the U.S. But Hills knew his horse prefers fast ground and thought that would be easier to find in the U.S. at this time of year. He first ran in the U.S. in the 2024 GII Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs, where he finished second. He returned this year for the same race and finished third for Dettori, who had ridden him in a Group 2 race in Dubai in 2022. After a 10th-place finish back home in the G2 King George Qatar S., he returned to the U.S. and won the GII Woodford Stakes on the grass at Keeneland. All three of his starts in the U.S. have been contested over firm turf courses. “Coming to America is something different,” Hills said. “He seems to really enjoy it over there. He needs fast ground…to be at his best he needs fast ground. Now that it's the autumn months in England, we thought we have a better chance of getting the type of ground we need in the U.S. and at Del Mar.” He wasn't always this good. Khaadem debuted way back in 2018, when he was a distant third in a Novice Stakes at but won his two other starts. As a 3-year-old, he won two of his first four starts on the year, including the valuable Stewards Cup. But he was nowhere to be found in his next two starts, both at Group 1 level. Hills discovered that the problem was with Khaadem's feet. “When he was a younger horse he had issues with his feet, which held us back a little bit when he was a youngster,” the trainer said. “We have fixed the problem with the feet. I think the feet were the main reason he wasn't that good as a 3-year-old. But when he was three he did win the Stewards Cup, which is a big handicap race in England.” He only raced twice as a 4-year-old, but finished a respectable fourth in two Group 1 races. They were a part of a 10-race losing streak that did not end until he won the Listed Scarborough S. in September 2021 and his first win in a group race came in the G3 Palace House Stakes in the spring of 2022. He followed that up with a win in the Qatar S. But he couldn't keep it up, losing his next six starts, but snapped that streak in the QE II Jubilee S., returning 80-1. “You've got to let the horse be in charge,” Hills said. “He takes care of himself pretty well. He's the horse of a lifetime for us. He's won nearly £2million for us. He's been a special horse. He has not always been the most consistent horse. He does what he wants to do.” He's earned that right. Because he has a lot of poor efforts mixed in with his good races, it's hard to say what his best year was. It might even be this year. The Woodford was clearly one of the best races of his life. He broke sluggishly and trailed the field down the backstretch. He was still last at the top of the stretch, but once Dettori was able to get him to the outside, he came with an eye-catching late run to get the win. “He's an old character and we love him,” Dettori said after the Woodford. “I just hope he keeps his good form for Del Mar.” “He's been an amazing horse, real pleasure to train,” Hills said. “He's at his best at five furlongs or six furlongs. But he's a 9-year-old, which we all know. Nothing lasts forever.” Hills was told by Breeders' Cup officials that 10-year-olds are not permitted to run in the Breeders' Cup, so this will be his last chance to add the Turf Sprint to his resume. Hills said there are no such restrictions in Europe and will contemplate running Khaadem next year. “Next year, if he is sound and well and looks like he wants to keep performing, surely we will run him next year,” Hills said. “Obviously, you need to respect the horse. I do based on what I see from him. ” Hills has won four races in North America, including the Woodford. The other wins have come in the 2023 Mint Millions at Kentucky Downs, the 2014 GI E.P. Taylor at Woodbine and the 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with Chriselliam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}. He clearly has figured U.S. racing out. As for Dettori, he's won 15 Breeders' Cup races, the first one in 1994 aboard Barathea (Ire) (Sadlers Wells) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. On paper, the horse to beat in the Turf Sprint is the 5-year-old mare Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy) or another Group 1 winner out of Europe, Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev). But don't throw the old boy Khaadem out. There's something left in his tank. The post Old Horse, Old Jockey Team Up in Attempt to Win Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rosallion and Inisherin, both Group 1-winning grandsons of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's blue hen Reem Three (Mark Of Esteem), will join the Darley roster at Dalham Hall Stud for the 2026 breeding season. Trained by Richard Hannon, Rosallion retires as the winner of five of his 13 starts and over £1.6 million in career earnings. Beaten just once in four starts as a two-year-old, when his victories included the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp, he returned the following year with a runner-up finish in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, before proving himself Europe's leading three-year-old miler with consecutive Group 1 triumphs in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh and St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Kept in training as a four-year-old, the son of Blue Point was unable to his tally in six further starts at the top level, though in four of those races he was beaten by a length or less, notably losing out by a nose in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, by a neck in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and by a short head in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. Rosallion is out of Rosaline (New Approach), an unraced daughter of the aforementioned Reem Three, who is the dam of six black-type winners, including the Queen Anne Stakes scorer Triple Time (Frankel) and the G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Ajman Princess (Teofilo), whose best son, Inisherin, will stand alongside Rosallion and Triple Time at Dalham Hall. Trained by Kevin Ryan, Inisherin dropped back to six furlongs after finishing sixth in last year's 2,000 Guineas, a move which immediately paid dividends when he ran out an impressive winner of the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock. The son of Shamardal then confirmed his position among the best sprinters of his age group when following up in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. After returning from eight months off with victory in May's G2 Duke Of York Stakes, Inisherin continued to perform with credit in four more starts at the top level, including when finishing fifth – beaten a little over two lengths – on what proved to be his swansong in the British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot. A four-time winner from 12 starts, he retires with career earnings of more than £600,000. Sam Bullard, Darley's director of stallions, said, “Rosallion and Inisherin are hugely exciting additions to the stallion roster at Dalham Hall Stud as a champion son of our own Blue Point and a fellow champion by Shamardal – both from one of the finest female families around. “Rosallion posted three thrilling Group 1 victories and is a gorgeous-looking horse, which I am sure breeders will agree with when they come to view him at Dalham. “We are also delighted to add another top-class performer from the Shamardal line to our European roster and Inisherin offers British breeders a superb opportunity to use a champion three-year-old sprinter.” Fees for both stallions will be announced at a later date. The post Classic-Winning Miler Rosallion and Star Sprinter Inisherin Join Darley Roster for 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article