Wandering Eyes

Calumet Farm homebred SHE BE SMOOTH (f, 3, Lexitonian–Seattle Smooth, by Quiet American) went to favored fellow firster Prom Queen (Quality Road) entering the final furlong of their respective one-mile debuts Friday afternoon at Gulfstream Park and kicked home smartly to open her account at first asking in very promising fashion. Fairly well-backed at odds of 9-2, the chestnut filly broke a bit to her inside, but it didn't cost her momentum or position, as she steadily made ground at the inside to enjoy the run of the race from close up in third. Given the hurry-up at the five-sixteenths, She Be Smooth was pulled to the outside to deliver her challenge, dueled with and eventually collared the chalk with about 100 yards to travel and was going away late. The winner's dam celebrated her finest moment when taking out the 2009 GI Ogden Phipps Handicap for Mercedes Stable and Tony Dutrow and was purchased by Brad Kelley's operation for $300,000 in foal to Malibu Moon at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale. The mare's six previous winners includes 2020 GIII Remington Park Oaks third Seattle Slang (Tapit). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Todd Pletcher SHE BE SMOOTH ($11.20) overtakes Prom Queen to break her maiden at @GulfstreamPark under @iradortiz. This 3YO daughter of Lexitonian is trained by @PletcherRacing and owned/bred by @CalumetFarm. pic.twitter.com/UHzPSrR9Qx — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 23, 2026 The post Lexitonian Filly She Be Smooth Professional on Gulfstream Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

German legend Andrasch Starke has retired from the saddle, Galopp Online reported on Friday morning. The most successful German jockey of all time, Starke has at least 2,853 victories to his credit on record during his time in Europe and several more in Asia. Although he won eight Deutsches Derbys and was crowned a champion in Germany 10 times, Starke is best remembered as the partner of the indomitable German Horse of the Year Danedream. The daughter of Lomitas won the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2011 and added the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes a year later. “This is the end of my career,” Starke told the Turf-Times on Thursday. The post German Legend Andrasch Starke Retires appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

According to a story by David Grening in the Daily Racing Form, according to trainer Bill Mott, the main goal in 2026 for the newly minted Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) will be the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Mott said that while he has not yet mapped out a schedule for Sovereignty, he has already ruled out a start in the March 28 GI Dubai World Cup. That news came as somewhat of a surprise considering that Sovereignty's owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and often targets the $12 million race run in his home country. Sheik Mohammed's Godolphin Racing has won the race nine times. Mott told the DRF that Sovereignty, who is stabled at his winter base at Payson Park in Florida is “a couple of weeks away” from his first workout on the year and that he is not sure where or when his champion colt will make his 4-year-old debut. “I'd like to make the Breeders' Cup Classic at the end of the year and whatever makes any kind of sense in between,” Mott said. Sovereignty was on target to make the 2025 Breeders' Cup Classic but missed the race after spiking a temperature three days before the big event. Mott acknowledged that missing the Breeders' Cup may have led to the decision to race Sovereignty as a 4-year-old as the Godolphin teams knows that a Breeders' Cup Classic win would only enhance his value as a stallion,. “If he would have won the Breeders' Cup it would have been more difficult to bring him back for a lot of different reasons,” said Mott. Grening also reported that Mott was contacted by NYRA racing officials about the idea of moving the date of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. The idea that was floated was to return the race to Belmont Park and run when the track re-opens in mid-September. That would mean it would be held about six weeks prior to the Breeders' Cup. “Funny enough, I gave them my opinion without even thinking I had a horse for it,” Mott told the DRF. “I mean, he was asking about the placement of races and I said it makes perfect sense.” Mott also mentioned the GI Whitney as a possible target for Sovereignty. He also acknowledged the challenges that come with bringing a Horse of the Year back to the races. Mott won back-to-back Horse of the Year titles with Cigar in 1995 and 1996. “It means you don't want to make any mistakes,” Mott said. “That they've made the decision and they're taking the gamble of putting him back into training, there's a little more pressure, a responsibility, a feeling that you want to come back and be able to perform well. I just don't want to mess anything up.” The post Report: Sovereignty Will Not Be Ready For The Dubai World Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Imperial Emperor booked a spot in the Dubai World Cup (G1) and Opera Ballo earned a start in the Dubai Turf (G1T) with victories on Fashion Friday at Meydan Racecourse Jan. 23.View the full article

Blackout Time, scratched by regulatory veterinarians from the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, posted his first published workout since his withdrawal from that race in breezing 3 furlongs in :37 1/5 Jan. 23 at Fair Grounds.View the full article

By Jonny Turner It would be a tall order to ask Brett Gray to repeat his recent success at Riverton on Sunday. The Ryal Bush trainer had his best season when notching 40 wins in 2025 and just two weeks into 2026 he produced his first trifecta when Anita Mary, Blaze Lightning and Jaccka Evan filled the first three at Ascot Park last week. “It certainly was a thrill, all three horses went well and it was good to see Anita Mary win for Paul Hailes at the Northern Southland meeting,” Gray said. “He’s a stalwart up that way.” “She’s a nice mare and we are going to give her a crack at the mares races coming up down here.” Gray’s team of seven for the Riverton meeting is spear-headed by his Riverton Cup hope in The Big Lebowski. The giant pacer charged back into form with his second in the Cromwell Cup earlier this month. Gray is hopeful the nine-year-old can now hold his form after putting a few frustrations behind him. “He was coming up nice last year and then he had a few foot issues and things like that.” “We feel like we are on top of things now and he seems pretty well.” “We have given him a bit of work on the grass this week and I’m quite happy with him.” “I think the only question mark would be the weather, I don’t think he would want the track to get too deep with the rain that is meant to be around.” There are plenty of solid chances among the remainder of the Gray team, including Jaccka Jim. The trotter was an impressive debut winner at Omakau before getting it wrong early in his next start at Cromwell. “He’s got the motor there to be winning but it will depend on his manners.” “He is getting better all the time with his ringcraft, but he is still pretty raw with just having the two starts.” Another Jaccka trotter in Jaccka Ace is in a similar spot to Jaccka Jim. Jaccka Ace missed away in his last start, but he also has the ability to win with manners. Daisymerollin is among the trio of trotters Gray starts on the Riverton grass. The four-year-old has trialled well ahead of her return to racing. Last-start winner Our Twinkle will step out at Riverton for Gray after finally breaking his maiden at Ascot Park, following a string of placings. “I don’t think the next grade up will worry him, he keeps going.” “He went well on the grass at Cromwell and he should be a pretty good chance.” Arma Forrest will return to racing in what looks like a suitable field. Havtimefordiamonds lines up in fillies and mares company, the three-year-old hasn’t had much luck in her recent starts. To see the Riverton fields click here View the full article

While Grade I victories and a 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' nod make for a potent double, Spendthrift Farm's Stallion Sales Manager Mark Toothaker suggests that the defining narrative for Spendthrift's new stallion duo is the surging commercial power of their sires. This year Goal Oriented becomes the fourth son of Not This Time to go to stud in Kentucky and the first to retire to Spendthrift, while Chancer McPatrick is the first son of McKinzie to join the stallion ranks. “With these stallions being by hot sires in McKinzie and Not This Time, it certainly gets breeders out here on the farm to take a look,” said Toothaker. Goal Oriented, whose retirement was announced after his decisive in last month's GI Malibu Stakes, will stand for $30,000 in 2026. Dual Grade I winner Chancer McPatrick enters stud at $25,000. GOAL ORIENTED (Not This Time — Bizzy Caroline, by Afleet Alex) Goal Oriented has only been available for breeders' inspections for two weeks, but Toothaker reported the response has already been enormous. “We've had so many inquiries about the horse that I have just told everybody to submit the best mare they can,” he shared. “At this point, we're so overwhelmed that we are just going through these things one at a time.” Goal Oriented takes in his new surroundings at Spendthrift | Sara Gordon To what does Toothaker attribute such strong demand? “Not This Time is the reason he's being received this way,” Toothaker concluded. “He is a really fast dirt horse by Not This Time.” Not This Time wrapped up 2025 as the runner-up to Into Mischief on the General Sires' list. Among the Taylor Made stallion's first sons at stud, Goal Oriented joins GI Travers Stakes hero Epicenter, whose first juveniles debut this year, as well as the turf Grade I-winning duo of Up to the Mark and Cogburn, who have their first yearlings and foals, respectively, this year. “The one thing missing on our roster was a Not This Time,” said Toothaker. “Goal Oriented was a horse that we had wanted all year long, but we were looking for him to win that Grade I. For him to round out his career running a 108 Beyer and a 4 on the Sheets, he ran the race we had been waiting for him to run. He's a very fast dirt horse, but he has a grass pedigree woven inside his female family, so I think it gives breeders great options. Bred by Runnymede Farm and CWC Investment 2, Goal Oriented is out of the Afleet Alex mare Bizzy Caroline, a dual Grade III winner on turf and a half-sister to champion turf female Lady Eli (Divine Park). Purchased as a yearling for $425,000 by Donato Lanni for a partnership led by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, the Bob Baffert trainee earned 'Rising Star' status in his Santa Anita debut last April and then added a victory at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby weekend. He was fourth in a rough-run GI Preakness Stakes before adding a pair of third-place finishes in the GI Haskell Stakes and GI Pennsylvania Derby. “He's a horse that went to battle with some of the best of his generation,” said Toothaker. “He ran an extremely game race in the Haskell and was beaten three quarters of a length by Journalism (Curlin), who needs no introduction.” In his career finale in the Malibu, Goal Oriented stopped the clock in 1:20.97, marking the fastest winning time in the Malibu since 2016 and the fastest seven furlongs run in a Grade I in 2025. Toothaker noted that Goal Oriented's imposing physical makes him a natural choice for breeders looking to add size to their mares. The dark bay stands at 16.3 “He's got plenty of stretch to him and he has a beautiful shoulder,” he said. “He's got a really good hip and he's outstanding up front, very correct. There are a lot of mares that could use a little leg around town, whether they are for commercial breeders looking to add some height for that resulting yearling they may be taking to the sale or people going to the track that need to upgrade their mare a little bit.” CHANCER MCPATRICK (McKinzie — Bernadreamy, by Bernardini) Chancer McPatrick wins the GI Champagne Stakes | Sarah Andrew The Spendthrift scouting team had their eye on Chancer McPatrick from the time he was an unraced juvenile. Bred by Rigney Racing, the bay was a $260,000 yearling before he breezed in :21 flat at the 2024 OBS April Sale. “We fell in love with this horse down at the sale and got permission to take a swing,” recalled Toothaker, “We went to $700,000 and wound up the underbidder on him.” Flanagan Racing landed the winning bid of $725,000. Trained by Chad Brown, Chancer McPatrick put in a dramatic come-from-behind debut win at Saratoga before reeling off back-to-back scores in the GI Hopeful Stakes and GI Champagne Stakes. “It's extremely difficult for a two-year-old to be able to put those two top races together,” said Toothaker. “Jackie's Warrior, another one of our stallions here, was able to do that.” Practical Joke is the third horse to have completed the prestigious double since 2013. At three, Chancer McPatrick's highlights included a runner-up effort in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby, a win in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga, and a third-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. “He ran a great race to close out his career, finishing behind Nysos (Nyquist) and Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) on a track that was impossible to close against,” Toothaker said. “He was able to make up ground to finish third that day, running a 5 1/2 on the Sheets. He was a horse that showed toughness and grit.” Chancer McPatrick is out of the winning Bernardini mare Bernadreamy, a daughter of GI Alcibiades Stakes victress and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Dream Empress (Bernstein). While Chancer McPatrick was McKinzie's first 'Rising Star' and his first Grade I winner, the Gainesway sire has since added two more Grade I winners in Baeza and Scottish Lassie and his fee has increased to $75,000 from the $30,000 price point Chancer McPatrick was bred on in his first year at stud. Toothaker said that breeders have responded to Chancer McPatrick's $25,0000 debut fee paired with his striking build. “I'd put him up against anybody physically,” he shared. “He's a touch below 16.1 and has got an unbelievable hip. He's not an overly huge horse, so I think he fits a lot of mares. His book filled up extremely fast.” The post A Pair of Grade I-Winning Rising Stars New at Spendthrift appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Six Speed, racing for new American owners, won the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3), surprising his jockey and trainer and moving one step closer to returning to the Bluegrass for the Kentucky Derby (G1).View the full article

The New York Racing Association is preparing to pass the torch to a newly reconstructed Belmont Park and goodbye to Aqueduct, ending more than a century of racing in Ozone Park.View the full article

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sent a letter to stakeholders at the Eclipse Awards asking them to bar jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr. and his brother, Jose, from future consideration for the awards after the discovery of a social media video that appears to show the brothers collecting cash in a ring at a cockfight in Puerto Rico. It is unclear when the event took place. The 18-second video was posted on X in November, 2025 on the account of @Josmaestre131, with a caption in Spanish reading, “the horseracing cockfighters.” Two roosters appear in the center of the ring in glass cages. In a follow-up letter to the TDN, the organization writes, “PETA points out that Ortiz Jr.—who led North American jockeys in both wins and earnings in 2025—and his brother José, who ranked third in both categories, should face investigation and potential prosecution for working the ring in the bloody spectacles, where people gamble on a bloodsport in which terrified roosters have razor-sharp blades strapped to their feet and are forced to fight to the death.” Cockfighting is illegal in the U.S. and all of its territories, including Puerto Rico. It was officially criminalized with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, and remains illegal despite local efforts by some in Puerto Rico to preserve it as a cultural tradition, prompting legal battles between the island and the U.S. federal government. The Supreme Court has since upheld the ban. While Puerto Rico formerly had local laws on the books allowing it under certain conditions, such as no interstate transport, the federal ban made all aspects of cockfighting–including training and attending–a federal crime. It is unclear if the video was taken before or after the law was passed. Steve Rushing, the agent for the brothers, responded to the TDN via text to say that he would have no comment on the matter at this time. When asked, Rushing did not confirm or deny that the video shows Ortiz and his brother participating in the event. PETA did not respond to a query as to what they had done to verify the authenticity of the video or that it, in fact, depicted the brothers. The Eclipse Awards are governed by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the National Turfwriters and Broadcasters Association (NTWAB), and the Daily Racing Form. The NTRA said that they had received the letter and had forwarded it to the Eclipse Steering Committee, but that they would have further immediate comment. The NTWAB said that they did not receive the letter directly from PETA, but that they had received a copy from the NTRA midday on Friday. Asked if the Horse Racing Safety and Integrity Authority had any jurisdiction in the matter, HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus said that because Puerto Rico does not send out its simulcast signal, it is outside of HISA's authority. “HISA regulations only cover jockey conduct on a covered racetrack or in relation to a covered horse,” Lazarus said via text. “Neither of those scenarios are at play here.” The PETA letter reads: Board Members: We are writing to urge you to make Irad Ortiz, Jr., and José Ortiz ineligible for future Eclipse award nominations. While Irad Ortiz, Jr., may lead North American jockeys in both wins and earnings, with José close behind, they are trailing as representatives of the racing industry. Video posted on X in November 2025 shows the brothers at a cockfight in Puerto Rico. The video reveals that they aren't simply observers of this vicious spectacle—they are in the ring taking cash from the betting crowd. As Irad Ortiz and José Ortiz surely know, cockfighting is illegal in all U.S. states and territories, including Puerto Rico. They could be investigated and possibly prosecuted for their involvement. In addition to the legal ramifications, it's stunning that past Eclipse Award winners participated in any way in the bloody, fight-to-the-death obscenity that is cockfighting. Their actions are without question detrimental to racing. The public already sees whipping, illegal drug use, breakdowns, and the slaughter of Thoroughbreds as abusive. In addition to dealing with these life and death issues, the racing industry must not tolerate cruelty to any species by racing licensees. Thank you. Respectfully, Kathy Guillermo Senior Vice President Equine Matters PETA” This story will be updated as further information becomes available. The post PETA Urges Eclipse Awards To Ban Ortiz Brothers In Wake of Cockfighting Video appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEL RAY BEACH, FL–Newly-minted Eclipse Juvenile champion Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) drew a small crowd when registering a workmanlike four-furlong move at Palm Beach Downs Friday morning. Campaigned by Spendthrift Farm, the undefeated colt worked in tandem with the farm's Authentic Chance (Authentic). The pair completed the task in :50.81, with the roan finishing slightly ahead of his workmate. The work was the first half-mile move for the TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard since his victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile victory at Del Mar in November. He previously worked three furlongs in :37.01 at Palm Beach Downs on Jan. 16. “We wanted to see him wanting to do it and we wanted to see him doing it easily and controlled and that's what we saw,” said Spendthrift Farm's General Manager Ned Toffey. “It looks like he's moving forward and he's on track. What we saw was very positive today.” He continued, “The rider was sitting motionless and had a lot of horse and probably could have done more, but we weren't looking for that. We were looking for something controlled and within himself and that's what we saw. He was striding out nicely and looking and looked like he could do more.” Bath time for Eclipse champion Ted Noffey at Palm Beach Downs this morning! ⁦@theTDN⁩ ⁦@spendthriftfarm⁩ pic.twitter.com/MmBCAYVV7E — Christina Bossinakis (@CBossTDN) January 23, 2026 Asked what the most likely route to the Triple Crown would be, Toffey said the tentative plan would be to start with Gulfstream's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 28 before the GI Curlin Florida Derby on Mar. 28. “That's the plan but it's horse racing,” said Toffey. “Planning too far ahead, you may have to change your plans. But that's the plan right now.” Case in point, GI Spinaway and GI Alcibiades winner Tommy Jo (Into Mischief), who had been targeting the GIII Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 31 will miss the seven-furlong race after being forced to the sidelines. “We were hoping to go to the Forward Gal with her, but she ran into a couple of issues so she is going to get some time off,” he told TDN. “Hopefully, 'll see her return in the latter part of this year.” Named TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard after her win in a six-furlong Saratoga allowance last July, Tommy Jo won the Spinaway by 6 1/2 lengths over Percy's Bar (Upstart) before gaining the victory from that rival via DQ in the Alcibiades. In her latest start, she finished fifth behind Super Corredora (Gun Runner) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Oct. 31. The post Juvenile Champ Ted Noffey Works, Tommy Jo Sidelined appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-GP, 84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 11:30 a.m. Kicking off a loaded Pegasus World Cup card at Gulfstream Park, St. Elias Stable homebred BENEFICENCE (Into Mischief) makes her debut for trainer Todd Pletcher. The daughter of Playtime is a half-sister to GSW Jouster (Noble Mission {GB}), a mare who brought $1.5 million from Katsumi Yoshida at Keeneland November in 2022. Playtime herself is a daughter of Eclipse-winning 2-year-old filly Storm Flag Flying, meaning the family also includes MGISW My Flag. Quick on the work tab, Beneficence has put up four bullets from her last five works at Palm Beach Downs. She debuts Saturday with Lasix and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Insights: Into Mischief Filly Opens Pegasus Card At Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The world's highest rated sprinter on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings in 2025, Ka Ying Rising will race for history in Sunday's G1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin. A winner of 16 straight starts dating back to February 12, 2024, the son of Shamexpress will attempt to equal Silent Witness's record of 17 victories in a row for a Hong Kong-trained horse. The gelding was named Timeform Horse of the Year for 2025 just last week, as well as the joint second-best horse in the 2025 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. The David Hayes trainee's record stands at 17 wins from 19 starts, and Hayes is confident his charge can make it 17 wins on the bounce. Ka Ying Rising will leave from stall four with Zac Purton at the controls in an effort to win his second edition of the race. “Last start was probably his best win and he seems no worse and what's so special about him is that he just keeps putting up consistent ratings that are exceptional. Everything tells me that he's the same,” Hayes said of the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year. “I would say [his form is]] very similar. It's hard to say better, isn't it?” Hayes also runs Tomodachi Kokoroe (Written Tycoon) in the event and said, “Tomodachi Kokoroe needs to improve. He was fantastic until he got up to the upper class and then when he got into the Group 1s, he struggled. But he's healthy and well and I'm hoping he can run a place.” John Size will saddle Raging Blizzard (Per Incanto), who was second to Ka Ying Rising in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint in December, as well as Helios Express (Toronado), who was fifth in that race. “I don't think there's much between them at this stage of their careers; it just depends on the circumstances of the race, the tempo and the track conditions of the day to split them,” said the 13-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer. “Raging Blizzard ran a big race on international day to finish second and Helios Express has been consistent, too.” Romantic Warrior Returns In Stewards' Cup Former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior stayed in Hong Kong this winter and will be making his first start of the new year in the 1600-metre G1 Stewards' Cup. Successful in the G1 Jebel Hatta last term, he ran second in both the G1 Saudi Cup and the G1 Dubai Turf in February and March. Back on top when taking his third G2 Boshk Jockey Club Cup in November, his victory in December's G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup was his fifth edition of the race. He will leave from stall seven in the nine-horse race. A winner of the Hong Kong Triple Crown during the 2024/2025 season, Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) will leave from barrier six. He is hunting his third Stewards' Cup title. Taking on the big two is John Size's G1 FWD Champions Mile winner Red Lion. Slated for stall one under Hugh Bowman, the son of Belardo ran third to Voyage Bubble and Soul Rush (Rulership) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December. “You never know what can happen on a racetrack and that's how we live but, as we know, he's beaten the great horse [Voyage Bubble] once and that was a good example that on any given day, something can work in your favour,” Size said. “His run on international day was near his best and he's fit and well.” Said Size of his runners across both Group 1s, “I can't ask for anything more from them in their preparation, but you also can't expect too much when you're racing three champions like Ka Ying Rising, Voyage Bubble and Romantic Warrior. It could all go according to plan, or there could be an upset – you never know until they cross the line.” The post Ka Ying Rising Has Centenary Sprint Cup At His Mercy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2026 turf racing season will kick into gear with the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T), the first top-level domestic grass stakes of the new year. View the full article

Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Steve Adkisson and Swinbank Stables' SIX SPEED (c, 3, Not This Time–Browse, by Medaglia d'Oro), last-out winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas trial over 1400 metres at Meydan Jan. 2, proved that an extra furlong was no bother whatsoever when striding out a four-length winner of Friday's G3 2000 Guineas going the metric mile. With Jake Ballis's Black Type Thoroughbreds and Reagan Swinbank's Swinbank Stables having bought into the 3-year-old colt this past week and with 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at stake, Six Speed was made the favorite to extend his winning streak to three, but in order to do so, he would need to deal with Godolphin's progressive Devon Island (Practical Joke), two-for-two at the Dubai Racing Carnival. Very quickly into stride for Mickael Barzalona, Six Speed raced one off the fence and was content to sit second for a time before strolling to the front with more than a half-mile to travel. Going comfortably on the engine with his rider sitting hard against him, he cornered for home still under a tight hold and when asked to extend, put the Guineas to bed within a matter of strides. In the end, he maintained a margin of about four lengths over Devon Island, who just photoed Union Security (Maximum Security) out of second for a U.S.-bred 1-2-3. Six Speed is the 69th worldwide stakes winner and 34th group/graded winner for Not This Time. Sales history: $50,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; 220,000gns 2yo '25 TATAPR. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1. O-Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Steve Adkisson and Swinbank Stable; B-KatieRich Farm (KY); T-Bhupat Seemar puts the gloss on a wonderful evening for @BhupatSeemar with a bloodless success in the UAE 2000 Guineas! “He's got so much natural speed,” says the on-song trainer #FashionFriday | #DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/El6FvA2zN5 — Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) January 23, 2026 The post Not This Time’s Six Speed Blitzes Rivals In UAE 2000 Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tom Ryan, the racing manager for SF Racing, tweeted Friday morning that Madaket Road (Quality Road) will not compete in Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. “Madaket Road won't participate in the Pegasus,” read Ryan's tweet. “He seems to have an abscess brewing – unfortunate timing. He will ship back to California shortly.” SF Racing is co-owner of the 4-year-old colt who is trained by Bob Baffert. He was 10-1 in the morning line and is coming off a fourth-place finish in the GI Malibu Stakes. With the scratch of Madaket Road, Lightning Tones (Tonalist) will draw into the race. Madaket Road won't participate in the Pegasus. He seems to have an abscess brewing – unfortunate timing. He will ship back to California shortly. — Tom Ryan (@TomRyanKY) January 23, 2026 The post Madaket Road Will Scratch From Pegasus World Cup Invitational appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath) earned his first Group 1 badge in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan on Friday. The consistent colt gave William Buick his third win on the night. Four-time Group 1 winner Nations Pride (Teofilo) cut out fractions while shadowed by Wathnan Racing's Silawi (Dubawi) for much of this contest. The well-regarded eventual winner stayed in midpack from the jump, but was keen to do more behind his first three rivals. On the bend, Godolphin second-stringer Nations Pride lengthened his advantage, but came back to the field entering the home stretch. William Buick shifted Opera Ballo off the fence at the quarter-pole and the response was immediate. Handed daylight, the colt stuck his nose in front and soon kicked clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Silawi hung on for second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Holloway Boy, who nipped Nations Pride for third. A winner of his first two starts by a combined 12 1/2 lengths at Kempton last winter, the 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard found the G3 Craven Stakes too much too soon in April. After two more wins at listed level in England, he was second to Zeus Olympios (Night Of Thunder) in the G2 Joel Stakes, and handled yielding ground in the G2 Al Rashidiya over this course and distance on Festive Friday in December. Pedigree Notes Winning for the sixth time in eight starts, Opera Ballo is the first Northern Hemisphere Group 1 winner for Ghaiyyath. The Dubawi stallion already is the sire of G1 Victoria Derby hero Observer. Of his nine stakes winners, Ghaiyyath has five group winners. The second foal and black-type horse out of Dubai Opera (Invincible Spirit), Opera Ballo was preceeded by Listed Prix Maurice Zilber third Dyptique (Night Of Thunder). She current has the placed three-year-old colt Damn Precious (Sottsass) still racing, a two-year-old filly by Baaeed and a yearling colt by Paddington. This family features G3 Prix des Reservoirs heroine Emily Bronte (Machiavellian) as the second dam. That mare also foaled group winners Earnshaw (Medaglia d'Oro)–also second in the G1 Criterium International–and Lockwood (Invincible Spirit). NO DANGER Opera Ballo makes no mistake in the Jebel Hatta. Next stop Dubai Turf @godolphin | @WilliamBuickX pic.twitter.com/UrKk2Wr85o — Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 23, 2026 The post Ghaiyyath’s Opera Ballo Gets His Group 1 In Jebel Hatta appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 season didn't go as flawlessly for 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, but when pushed to her absolute limit in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), fans again saw the champion's heart.View the full article

On Thursday in Palm Beach, Bob Duncan was honored with a Special Eclipse Award for Career Excellence acknowledging his contribution to the sport of horse racing through his work at the starting gate. I loudly applaud the NTRA, DRF and National Turf Writers & Broadcasters for recognizing Bob's unique talent and gift to racing with this award. I applaud Bob himself for his approach to his craft and the shining example he has set in handling horses with respect as partners in winning races. Bob and his craft are known to anyone that has worked on a racetrack in the U.S.–myself included. But it was through his efforts with Quality Road as a 4-year-old that I came to better understand just how insightful, dedicated and generous Bob is with horses and people. After being scratched at the starting gate for the 2009 GI Breeders Cup Classic and being reluctant to load on a plane to return from California to New York, Quality Road was branded as a talented but unpredictable rogue. At that time, as General Manager for Ned Evans Spring Hill Farm, the owner/breeder of Quality Road, I knew this label was inaccurate as did his trainer Todd Pletcher, jockey John Velazquez and anyone close to the horse. Going forward, we employed Bob to reeducate Quality Road at the gate in an effort to allow him to reach his full potential. At a point where he could have been retired as a Grade I-winning, multiple track record setting 3-year-old known for bad behavior, instead, through Bob's work and wisdom, as a 4-year-old Quality Road won three more Grade Is, set another track record, redeemed his reputation and retired to stud with the highest stud fee of his intake year. As a result, Quality Road bred high-quality mares making him champion freshman sire. He has gone on to become a leading stallion of multiple champions with 17 Grade I winners and counting, plus he will leave a positive and lasting mark on the breed. None of this would have been possible without Bob Duncan. What he turned around in Quality Road, he has prevented happening in countless other horses. Bob's work ethic, empathy, nonverbal communication skills and innate respect for the horse as a sentient being, led to the development of a philosophy and approach to horse handling at the starting gate that has benefitted horses and horsemen for decades. From my perspective though, Bob's biggest gift is the example he has set–an example of horsemanship, respect, partnership, empathy and understanding. Communicate with the horse in terms he can understand, not ignorantly expecting him to learn our language. Treat the horse with respect; like with people, it must be given to be reciprocated. Develop a partnership with the horse, not a dominant/submissive relationship, if you want him to give you his all. These examples and so many more to follow in our approach to horse handling. In this day and age where the horse can be viewed as an asset to be developed, whose nature, athleticism and will must adapt to our schedule and expectations, Bob's example glaringly reminds us that taking care of the horse, putting the horse's best interests first is not only the ethical, moral and right thing to do, it just so happens to be good business as well. On behalf of the horse, thank you Bob! The post Letter To The Editor: Bob Duncan’s Example appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twelve months on from having completed a Bhupat Seemar one-two finish, Deva Racing's IMPERIAL EMPEROR (IRE) (g, 6, Dubawi {Ire}–Zhukova {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) put stablemate and 2025 winner Walk of Stars (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to the sword approaching the final furlong of Friday's G1 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan and streaked away to punch his ticket to the G1 Dubai World Cup over an extra 100 metres in a couple months' time. Exiting a victory over Commissioner King (Commisioner) and Mendelssohn Bay (Mendelssohn)–second and first, respectively in Friday's G3 Firebreak Stakes–in the G2 Al Maktoum Mile Dec. 19, Imperial Emperor was given a positive ride by the in-form Richie Mullen and sat handy to the pace as longshot Masmak (Vino Rosso) made the running from the rail-skimming Walk of Stars. Asked to win his race on the swing for home, Imperial Emperor went through his gears and finished full of running to account for Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), who also stayed on well for second. Favoured Heart of Honor (GB) (Honor A. P.) found himself at the tail given the strong tempo and was under urging from Saffie Osborne fully 1000 metres from home. Switched out for the drive, the 4-year-old found his best stride late and outfinished 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Artorius (Arrogate) for third. Imperial Emperor is the 64th top-level winner for the legendary Dubawi. Sales history: AED300,000 HRA '24 ERAMAR. Lifetime Record: 13-7-1-1. O-Deva Racing; B-Godolphin; T-Bhupat Seemar IMPERIAL EMPEROR dazzles in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan! pic.twitter.com/TDL6ZufBIp — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 23, 2026 The post Imperial Emperor a New Group 1 Winner For Dubawi In Al Maktoum Challenge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GoffsGo has assembled 42 horses for its Online January Sale, headed by the Jack Davison-trained Oh Cecelia (Starspangledbanner). The sale takes place next Wednesday 28 January at 12 noon with lots closing next Thursday 29 January from 2pm. Commenting on the catalogue, Goffs boss Henry Beeby said, “GoffsGo was launched last year and has a calendar of 17 sale dates for 2026. The January Sale kicks off the year in fine fashion featuring a diverse group of entries to appeal to the broadest buying bench. “GoffsGo provides a real point of difference to the market as it can cater for horses at all levels and offers tailored auctions from all category catalogues to dispersals and pop-up sales, all of which can be held as open to the public, or confidentially, away from public view. Vendors and purchasers benefit from the same terms of business and unique and transparent Goffs service that is evident at all live Goffs sales regardless of location. “GoffsGo offers outstanding value with an entry fee of just £49 and the lowest available vendor commission of 1.5% which is only charged for lots that sell on the platform. That is unmatched by any other European online platform.” Prospective buyers wishing to bid must register to bid online prior to the sale. For more information on the GoffsGo January Sale, or to enter your horse, please contact Ruairi Breen on +353 45 886600. The post GoffsGo Attracts 42 Horses To Its Online January Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Few bloodstock agents manage to rack up the miles that Ed Stapleton puts in on a yearly basis. That's ironic, because if it wasn't for being stopped in his tracks during the Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020, Stapleton may never have made a go of it in both hemispheres. Now, Stapleton spends six months of the year in the southern hemisphere, where he is already up and running for 2026 after striking at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Attention turns to the National Yearling Sale at Karaka, which will be celebrating its 100th year on Sunday, and the Irish native will be bidding to keep the momentum going. He said, “We shopped at Book 2 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. We targeted horses to come back here to New Zealand for the ready-to-run sale and managed to land two. We work closely with a man called Barry Donoghue, who is from Mullingar in Ireland, and came out here originally as a National Hunt jockey. He has now segued into the breeze-up game and has been quite successful from only three drafts. He teamed up with Adam Potts, Sam Haggas and some others on a Hello Youmzain colt, who they sold for NZ$700,000 last year, so that was a massive result for him.” Stapleton added, “Looking ahead to next week, sourcing horses for the ready-to-run syndicate will be high on my agenda while I also buy horses for trainers from New Zealand, Australia and even Hong Kong. So we should have a busy few days ahead of us. The nature of my business primarily revolves around the European market but this would be the busiest 10 days of my year in this part of the world, for sure.” There was a time when sourcing winners seemed nothing more than a pipedream for Stapleton. However, when he moved to the UK with his New Zealander wife Katie in 2014, the seeds were set. “I came out to New Zealand first for the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and a six-week trip turned into three years,” Stapleton explained. “I met my now-wife Katie and we actually moved to Cambridge in the UK for a few years whilst she was doing her PHD. I come from a farming background and, while I rode out for a couple of trainers when I was younger, essentially, I had nothing to do with racing until I moved to Cambridge. We rented a property very close to the National Stud in England and I just thought it was the perfect opportunity to go and learn about what I had always loved. I had come from a business development background but I left that behind and went down and asked the National Stud for a job.” He added, “That was in 2014 and I spent a little over a season there. I met Richard Venn there and I became fascinated by the job that he did because he mixed business, which was my background, and horses, which is my passion. I asked Richard to take me under his wing and he did. I dragged him, as a technophobe, into the 21st century by building him a website and a couple of other things and he taught me about conformation and pedigrees. I still do a lot with Richard and we've actually brought a stallion or two down to New Zealand together.” He added, “In a nutshell, we moved back to New Zealand during Covid and fell in love with the place. So I spend six months of the year down here in the southern hemisphere now. The other six months are spent in the northern hemisphere and we do business in both parts of the world. I am part of the bloodstock agents' federation down here in New Zealand and there is actually quite a good crew of Irish who are operating quite successfully here.” There are dozens of Irish men and women who, like Stapleton, have been afforded the opportunity to flourish in New Zealand. There are distinct differences to how Stapleton runs his bloodstock business in both hemispheres, while the County Carlow native reveals he has extensive skin in the game in New Zealand. He explained, “I run a high-volume business where I concentrate on lower- to medium-value horses in Europe. Therefore, we concentrate a lot on the horses-in-training market up there for a host of international clients. Down here, we do a lower volume of business but the value of the horses would be worth a lot more. You'd definitely have a lot more skin in the game down here, too. I joke that, in the northern hemisphere, I take the drug dealer approach and never touch the product! You just buy and sell it. Whereas down here, we have quite a few pinhooks and we will actually be selling quite a few at Karaka as well. It's very straightforward to do business down here. I suppose there are a lot of similarities between how horses are reared in New Zealand compared to Ireland as the climate and grass is quite similar. One of the big differences is the momentum behind syndication down here as well. Syndicates are quite transparent and that attracts members from the general public. They can see clearly what the offering is and get involved.” He added, “There is a good contingent of people who are doing well out here as well. There is Eathan Leonard, who is the Yearling manager at Haunui Farm, trainer Conor Fahey [son of trainer Pat Fahey], Derek Nolan, who operates under the banner of Lillywhite Lodge, while Colm Murray is a Group 1-winning trainer here in partnership with Shaun Ritchie. You've also got the likes of Tommy Coughlan, who is Farm Manager at the Oaks Stud, while his sister Clodagh Coughlan looks after the marketing at New Zealand Bloodstock. There's also Gordon Cunningham of Curraghmore Stud, who has been here for more than 20 years and can be expected to have a huge sale next week and there is also Nick King, who stands stallions at Brighthill. So there's a huge cohort of Irish people doing well in New Zealand. It's a home away from home, really.” With a view towards business Down Under and in New Zealand, these few weeks are crucial for Stapleton. Coolmore, William Haggas and a number of other familiar faces have made the trip for the 100th anniversary of the sale and Stapleton revealed there is huge anticipation bubbling ahead of the action which kicks off on Sunday. He concluded, “There's a massive feeling in the air for this sale. Karaka is a purpose-built facility on the outskirts of Auckland primarily built to show and sell horses and provide the best hospitality of any sales company on the planet. Anybody who comes here will attest to that. There's always a massive atmosphere here and it will probably attract more of the general public given it is the 100 year anniversary. But for anyone who has never been to Karaka, it could be compared to Saratoga or even Deauville in terms of atmosphere. It all kicks off on Saturday night with the Karaka Millions and then we get into the sale itself on Sunday. So there's huge excitement around the place.” The post Adopted Kiwi Ed Stapleton Excited For ‘Busiest Southern Hemisphere Period’ At Karaka appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled Saturday's live racing program at Aqueduct Racetrack due to arctic temperatures and sub-zero wind chill values forecast to impact the metropolitan area throughout the day, the association said in a press release on Friday morning. As previously reported, NYRA has also shifted Sunday's live racing program to Wednesday due to a powerful winter storm expected to bring heavy snowfall to the region. Saturday's featured Interborough Stakes will be brought back for Friday, Feb. 6, with entries to be taken on Saturday, Jan. 31. The Big A will remain open for simulcasting on Saturday but closed to the public on Sunday. The post Falling Temps: NYRA Cancels Live Racing At The Big A On Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 15:00, CENTENARY SPRINT CUP-G1, HK$13,000,000, 3yo/up, 1200mT Field: Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}), Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}), Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto), Tomodachi Kokoroe (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), Beauty Waves (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Lucky With You (Aus) (Artie Schiller). TDN Analysis: Ka Ying Rising will attempt to make history and equal Hong Kong legend Silent Witness's record of 17 wins in a row by a Hong Kong-trained horse. A surprise here is not impossible, but Helios Express needs to find 12 pounds via international ratings. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 16:05, STEWARDS' CUP-G1, HK$13,000,000, 3yo/up, 1600mT Field: Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}), Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}), Straight Arron (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), My Wish (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), Sunlight Power (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}). TDN Analysis: It is difficult to look beyond Hong Kong heavyweights Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble in Sunday's Stewards' Cup. The former holds top-level form in four countries and is running in his first 1600-metre race since claiming Japan's G1 Yasuda Kinen in 2024. The latter has won two editions of the Stewards' Cup in 2024/2025. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Ka Ying Rising Aims To Equal Silent Witness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Road, presented by Gainesway. A look at contenders on the Triple Crown trail.View the full article