Wandering Eyes

War Machine has shot up in many peoples the Everest calculations after winning the Gilgai Stakes on Saturday. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Buyers passed over War Machine as a younger horse and his Masterton breeders and part-owners continue to count their blessings that he returned home after two tours of the Karaka sale ring. The New Zealand-bred son of Harry’s Angel was offered by Ardsley Stud at both New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale and Ready to Run Sale and failed to attract the expected interest. “We always liked the horse and put what we thought was a realistic value ($100,000) on him,” Ardsley’s Jim Wallace said. “Everybody thought he was too small, but I think he’s big enough.” War Machine has since grown in stature, firstly from the stable of the late Michael Moroney, and now with Ben, Will and JD Hayes, with his victory in Saturday’s Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) earning him a crack at the A$20 million The Everest (1200m). He will run in the Coolmore slot and joins fellow Wairarapa-bred Jimmysstar, part-owned by breeder Little Avondale Stud, in the Randwick feature on October 18. Bred by MDJ Bloodstock, War Machine has now won seven of his 14 starts and banked more than $2.6 million. The five-year-old was purchased by clients of Moroney’s stable after a trial win at Foxton with Wallace and son David remaining in the ownership group. “MDJ is David and his late wife Madelaine and myself and my wife Mary,” Wallace said. “He showed us an awful lot as a young horse, and he was very impressive when he won his trial. “Steven Pinfold, who is a long, long-time family friend, was there and he put the deal together very quickly and is still involved and more or less manages the horse for us. “He’s a genuine racehorse with class, I might be persuaded to go over now (for The Everest).” War Machine is out of the Hussonet mare Caserta, a A$40,000 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale buy whose five foals to race have all been successful. She also has an unraced Darci Brahma three-year-old gelding named Vanvitelli. “We sold him earlier in the year to the Hayes stable, he’s had a couple of trials and is out spelling. He’s a lovely horse,” Wallace said. “There’s a two-year-old by Satono Aladdin, who we have just sold the majority of to MyRacehorse. They bought 60 percent of him and David and I have still got a bit of him.” Ardsley will also offer a daughter of In The Congo, a Group One-winning son of Snitzel, and Caserta at Karaka. “She’s a lovely filly too, and the mare is on the point of foaling any day now to Per Incanto and she will be going back to him,” Wallace said. Impressive Hong Kong horse Ka Ying Rising is the $1.70 favourite for the Everest with Neds Australia, with War Machine into $11 with betting sites, after being as long as $40 prior to the Gilgai Stakes. View the full article

Wolfgang will return to Matamata after a three-run campaign in Australia. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Wolfgang will return to New Zealand after finishing at the tail of the field in Saturday’s Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington. Wolfgang, who races as Mister Wolfgang in Australia, won the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and New Zealand St Leger (2500m) last term, then crossed the Tasman for a campaign towards the time-honoured race staged in early November. His co-trainer Peter McKay was pleased with his progress through his first two runs but pulled the pin when his charge performed below expectations in the Bart Cummings, which offered a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup for the winner. “It’s disappointing, we were looking forward to it and he was definitely going to get into the (Melbourne) Cup, he only needed five or six to come out,” he said. “We were getting a bit excited thinking he would be in the race with a couple of good runs in the lead up. “I thought his second run over there was good and he was coming on well, but he just didn’t put in at all on Saturday. “He had a quick, hard blow straight after the race then recovered really quick, which is generally a sign that their hurting somewhere or if it was heavy, that they didn’t handle it. But, it was a good, firm track and he trotted up well yesterday (Sunday).” While disappointed, McKay and his son Shaun (training partner) are now targeting a defence of his Wellington Cup crown, which will be run for $400,000 on January 31 at Trentham. “We’ll get him home, reassess things and then go on a programme towards Wellington Cup,” he said. “There’s a few races to take him down that path.” Back at home, the McKays were pleased to pick up a winner earlier in the week at Tauranga, with Just Call Me Jonny kicking off his campaign in winning fashion over 1400m. “Last season he was coming along nicely and going some good races, and he’s furnished up nicely this time around,” McKay said. “Without getting bullish, we were pretty happy with his work and thought he could win, which I wouldn’t normally say. “Now he can step up another grade and he’ll follow some of these Rating 75 races on Saturdays, he’s capable of getting through his grades and ticking along quietly. “He’s going to be a nice longevity horse, the type that will keep racing through, possibly a couple of the little summer cups races would suit him.” Sir Delius is the favourite for the 2025 Melbourne Cup at $4, with Al Riffa ($6) and Revelare ($13) round out the top three. Valiant King, who won the Bart Cummings and earned automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup, had his odds slashed from $101 to $21 to win the cup. View the full article

Final Score, a speedy son of Not This Time, took the $400,000 Bourbon Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland Oct. 5 by 1 1/2 lengths, earning an automatic fees-paid berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) Oct. 31 at Del Mar. View the full article

Making his stakes debut for trainer Michael McCarthy, Stark Contrast took the lead in deep in the stretch and scored by a length in the $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes (G3T) going a mile Oct. 5 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Spendthrift Farm homebred Brave Deb (Authentic) completed a big weekend for the historic farm–while adding a second graded win in two days for her sire–with an authoritative victory in the GIII Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita Sunday. Spendthrift's colors were carried to victory at Keeneland by Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) in the GI Darley Alicibiades Stakes Friday and by Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) in the GI Claiborne Futurity Saturday. The farm's homebred Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), a daughter of champion Beholder, returned with a victory of her own in the GIII Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita Saturday. Brave Deb, who set the pace and just held on to take her one-mile debut over the Del Mar lawn last time out Sept. 5, was sent off at 10-1 Sunday. She rushed up and over from her outside post to stalk pacesetting favorite Will Happen through an opening quarter in :22.26. Will Happen had scampered away to a three-length advantage as the half went up in :45.76, but Brave Deb reeled her in approaching the stretch and the favorite had no response when the dark bay filly surged to the lead at the top of the lane. Brave Deb strode clear under a hand ride with Scratch It chasing in vain to the wire. Will Happen, a debut winner going five furlongs at Del Mar in August, faded to eighth. “She's a nervous filly,” said winning jockey Mirco Demuro. “First time I took her to the front and she got a little excited. Even in the morning-time she gets a little excited. I didn't want her to get too nervous and take her out of the race. So this time I let somebody take the lead and I kept close to him. She is a little bit funny, you can see when she was coming back she was looking around at everything. She doesn't really like to be in front. But she has a lot of speed and a lot of ability. It was perfect. The other one came close to me in the stretch and helped me keep going. She doesn't want to lose.” Winning trainer Richard Mandella added, “We were worried that the one that went to the lead would and it would turn into a sprint. We hoped our filly would settle, which she did. Mirco did a fabulous job with her.” Pedigree Notes: Brave Deb became Authentic's third graded winner and his second of the weekend, following Iron Orchard's victory in the GI Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct Saturday. Nora's Joy was purchased by Spendthrift for $175,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. She hit the board in three of four lifetime starts in 2019 and 2020 for Spendthrift and trainer Richard Mandella. Her first foal is Tirupati (Mitole), who won the GIII Wilshire Stakes in March. The 8-year-old's yearling full-sister to Brave Deb sold for $50,000 at last month's Keeneland September sale. She produced a colt by the GI Kentucky Derby winner in 2025. The winner's third dam, Al Balessa, produced multiple Grade I winner Fowda (Strawberry Road {Aus}). BRAVE DEB ($23.80) caps off the weekend for @spendthriftfarm with a brilliant win in the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes (G3) at @santaanitapark. @MircoDemuro1 #ミルコデムーロ was on board the daughter of Authentic (Spendthrift Farm) for trainer Richard Mandella. pic.twitter.com/TYw1yiK57a — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 5, 2025 Sunday, Santa Anita SURFER GIRL S.-GIII, $101,500, Santa Anita, 10-5, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:35.40, fm. 1–BRAVE DEB, 122, f, 2, by Authentic 1st Dam: Nora's Joy, by Street Sense 2nd Dam: Brite Diamond, by Deputy Minister 3rd Dam: Al Balessa, by Rare Performer 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($70,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP). O/B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Richard Mandella; J-Mirco Demuro. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $108,000. *1/2 to Tirupati (Mitole), GSW, $218,176. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Scratch It, 122, f, 2, Tapit–Carolyn's Cat, by Forestry. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($490,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG). O-Fergus Galvin, Mrs. M. V. Magnier and Mrs. Paul Shanahan; B-Newtownanner Stud Farm (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $20,000. 3–Pentle Bay, 118, f, 2, Uncle Mo–Sanenus (Chi), by Scat Daddy. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($130,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT; $180,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR). O-Qatar Racing LLC; B-Whisper Hill Farm, LLC & Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD (KY); T-Simon Callaghan. $12,000. Margins: 1, 1 3/4, HD. Odds: 10.90, 2.90, 16.30. Also Ran: Yours Sincerely (Ire), Dreaming of Alys, South Bay, Soaring Angel, Will Happen. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Authentic’s Brave Deb Adds to Spendthrift’s Weekend Haul With Surfer Girl Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The last Amerman Racing homebred by Oscar Performance to carry the colors home in the GIII Zuma Beach Stakes was Endlessly, who captured the race as the 80 cents on the dollar favorite in 2023. Stark Contrast, a horse with a pair of races under his belt, duplicated the feat at Santa Anita Sunday. Like Endlessly, Stark Contrast is also from the Michael McCarthy shedrow. The colt tried turf for his conditioner at second asking over the seaside oval grass course and he won by a length Sept. 6. Set for his first graded start as a 7-2 shot here, the juvenile steadied himself along the rail as a scramble ensued on the engine into the first turn. Keeping tabs on favored Proletariat up the backstretch and around the far turn, Stark Contrast began to find his best stride entering the lane and he sailed to victory by a length over Third Beer. “[Stark Contrast] kind of tipped his hand a little bit to us this summer at Del Mar,” McCarthy said. “He worked just well enough to warrant a start on the dirt and he got a lot out of it. Obviously, towards the end of the meet there, we were lucky enough to run him a mile on the turf and he was very good that day. He has been training forwardly since then.” “I'd like to go to the Breeders' Cup, hopefully he stays healthy,” McCarthy added. “Congratulations to the Amermans. They are not here today, but it would be nice to get back to the Breeders' Cup for them.” Pedigree Notes: Caravaggio (Scat Daddy), who has stood in Japan since 2022 after being the leading first-crop sire in Europe the year prior, now has a baker's dozen when it comes to graded winners–led at the top level by the likes of Porta Fortuna (Ire), Whitebeam (GB) and Tenebrism. The first foal for his dam, the winner has a pair of younger half-sisters who are both by another Amerman homebred, Oscar Performance. Catch the Eye was bred back to that same sire this spring. Stark Contrast is part of an extended female family which includes MGSW A.P. Warrior (A.P. Indy) and GII American Turf Stakes victor Global View. —campbellparlay Sunday, Santa Anita ZUMA BEACH S.-GIII, $100,000, Santa Anita, 10-5, 2yo, 1mT, 1:34.77, fm. 1–STARK CONTRAST, 122, c, 2, by Caravaggio 1st Dam: Catch the Eye (GSP, $126,902), by Quality Road 2nd Dam: Turns My Head (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire) 3rd Dam: Egyptian Queen, by Storm Cat 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Kazushi Kimura. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $112,800. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue- style pedigree. 2–Third Beer, 122, c, 2, Mendelssohn–Siqueira, by Curlin. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Philip Lebherz; B-Premier Thoroughbreds LLC (CA); T-Tim Yakteen. $20,000. 3–Proletariat, 120, r, 2, Raging Bull (Fr)–Kodiak West (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). ($50,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT; $200,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). O-Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC; B-Liberty Road Stables (KY); T-Jeff Mullins. $12,000. Margins: 1, NK, 4. Odds: 3.60, 7.10, 1.60. Also Ran: Caro Buono (Fr), Won for Lou. Scratched: Charlie's Curlin, Medici. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #1 STARK CONTRAST ($9.20), a juvenile colt by Caravaggio, gets his first stakes victory in the $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes (G3) at @SantaAnitaPark. @kazushi0096 was aboard for trainer @mwmracing. pic.twitter.com/FZYdYwxbxk — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 5, 2025 The post Caravaggio’s Stark Contrast Carries Amerman Colors to Victory in Zuma Beach appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With a plethora of Breeders' Cup berths up for grabs over the past weekend, Repole Stable's Final Score (Not This Time) grabbed the last one when taking Keeneland's GII Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes, a qualifier to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. Final Score was driven to the front from the word jump, rolling out and opening quarter mile in :22.51. Soon running head-and-head with Casa Cielo (Caravaggio)) through a :47.69 half, he continued to play cat-and-mouse what that rival into the final turn. With Irad Ortiz Jr. stepping on the gas straightening for home, Final Score strode away to win by a professional 1 1/4-length margin over the closing Turf Star (Caravaggio). Gordon Pass (Instilled Regard) rounded out the trifecta. “He went a little faster than I wanted, but he got the job done. He deserves a lot of credit,” said Ortiz Jr. “He was a little aggressive going into the first turn but on the backside, he switched off really nice. After that, I just bided my time turning for home. Then when we were in the straight, I asked him to go, and he gave me a good turn of foot.” Runner-up in his career debut in a 5 1/2-furlong off-turf test at the Spa in July, the dark bay bounced back to score on the front end going two turns on the turf there on Aug. 10 and made it two straight with a victory in the GIII With Anticipation Stakes on Aug. 28. “He showed speed before but not this kind of speed,” explained Ortiz Jr. “I thought it was a little more speed than he would have in the race. I thought we were going to be right behind the speed, but he broke so good and put me in a good position without asking too much. I had talked to the trainer [Todd Pletcher] and he said, 'If he's on the lead, fine; let him go.'” Pedigree Notes: By red-hot sire Not This Time, Final Score, a $600,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase, is out of Precious Dixie–a daughter of Grade III winner and Grade I-placed Princess Haya and a half-sister to SW and GISP Lady Kate (Bernardini). Precious Dixie produced a colt by Good Magic in 2024 and another colt, this one by Cody's Magic, this season. The 10-year-old mare was bred back to Muth. Sunday, Keeneland CASTLE & KEY BOURBON S.-GII, $400,000, Keeneland, 10-5, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.51, fm. 1–FINAL SCORE, 122, c, 2, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Precious Dixie, by Bernardini 2nd Dam: Princess Haya, by Street Cry (Ire) 3rd Dam: Sally Slew, by Slew City Slew ($600,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG). O-Repole Stable; B-BG Stables (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $226,300. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $397,550. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Turf Star, 118, c, 2, Caravaggio–Starstruck (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-H. Graham Motion. $73,000. 3–Gordon Pass, 118, c, 2, Instilled Regard–Could Be Magic, by Speightstown. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-OXO Equine LLC (KY); T-William Walden. $36,500. Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 1.41, 12.01, 52.04. Also Ran: Dr. Agne, Exonerate, Awesome Connection, J J Grey, Blinging It Back, Vintur, Repentless, Password, Casa Cielo. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Final Score Grabs BC ‘Win and You’re In’ Berth With Bourbon Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1781450.jpg Lady Performer put plans of the broodmare paddock on hold for another year after capping off a consistent run of form in the Johnny Neil Builders (1400m) at Hawera on Saturday. The eight-year-old had nearly been retired at the end of the spring last season, but her owner-trainer Lydia Pickford opted to bring her back for another winter, which has paid off with Lady Performer recording a win, two seconds and five thirds since resuming in early April. She was due another winning turn, but facing Rating 75 grade for the first time, she was underrated in the market closing at $15 with racing betting sites, with Librero and Ghazzah the two fancied runners of the field. Carrying a featherlight 52kg under apprentice Amber Riddell, Lady Performer went back early to settle outside of Sotirio, while Our Akashinga eventually took the lead at a leisurely tempo. The pressure dialled up at the 600m and the mare was cruising into contention on the outside, hitting the lead at the 200m alongside Overdraft. Spread wide apart on the track, it was hard to line up Lady Performer and Overdraft as they powered to the line in unison, but there was no doubting the photo finish which crowned Lady Performer the victor by a head. “She’s a really honest mare and tries hard, she’s probably gotten better with the more racing she’s had this season,” Pickford said. “She really deserved that. “She’s not the soundest horse, she’s got a few little issues, so we nurse her along and she’s going very well. She’s probably the soundest she’s ever been. “It was interesting to see her step up to Rating 75 grade and cop it, that’s the grade she has to race in from now on so we’ll see how we go.” The daughter of Sacred Falls boosted her total earnings above $136,000, a far cry from the $1,200 outlaid to purchase her through gavelhouse.com in 2023. “She was a bit tricky when we first got her, she wasn’t the easiest to manage, but she’s a nice mare that has mellowed in her older age,” Pickford said. “I was actually going to retire her last year but Leah Hemi (jockey) said to me that she would be alright for another winter. “I was going to put her in foal at the end of last season but it got late enough, and she was sitting in the back paddock, so I thought we may as well then send her away this spring. But, you can’t retire her the way she’s going at the moment, so that’ll likely be put in hold until next year now. “She does a lot of jumping and enjoys that as well, my daughter likes show jumping her and mucking around with that so she may have a calling with that too. Out of a More Than Ready mare Peak Performer, Lady Performer is a half-sister to Toesonthenose, a six-race winner in Queensland, and recent maiden winner Paddy The Farmer. In 54 starts, she has recorded four wins and 17 minor placings. “It’s great to have one that tries so hard, it would be easy if they were all like her,” Pickford said. View the full article

After setting a quick pace, Calumet Farm homebred Gin Gin was able to outlast a late charge by Nitrogen and pull the upset in the $650,000 Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Oct. 5.View the full article

Natural Rise tries to become the first horse to complete the Dirt Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, which was introduced in 2024, in the Japan Dirt Classic at Oi Racecourse Oct. 8.View the full article

According to her rider, Barnavara is a filly who wears her heart on her sleeve. In contrast, the man on top may well have had his heart in his mouth in the dying strides as Barnavara conquered the Prix de l'Opera (G1).View the full article

Looking for her first black-type win, Cy Fair (Not This Time) exploded from off the pace to win Woodbine's BET365 Algonquin Stakes Sunday afternoon. Cy Fair's career debut at Saratoga in July was good enough to earn her a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, badge after she ran off to a 3 1/4-length victory in the 5 1/2-furlong test. Beaten a desperate neck in the Bolton Landing Stakes over that course and trip Aug. 17, the bay was nonetheless backed into even-money favoritism to make things right this time. Foregoing the front-running tactics this time, Cy Fair broke well but was eased back to sixth as a trio of fillies slugged it out through an opening quarter in :22.56. Still at the back and fanned wide turning for home, Cy Fair catapulted from the back of the field to the front in a matter of strides and ran clear late to score by an eye-catching margin over SW Casson (Caravaggio). Gypsy Art (Munnings) was third. “She has a strong heart–you could see her pin her ears at horses,” said winning rider Sahin Civaci, who won last year's Algonquin with Mi Bago. “She likes the competition, I could tell.” Explaining his tactics coming into Sunday's race, Civaci said, “I watched her replays and I felt like it wouldn't matter if I come off the pace or be on the front. I felt like she would be much the best in this field.” Owned by Swinbank Stables, LLC, Medallion Racing and Mark Stanton, Cy Fair, a $185,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, was bred in Kentucky by Marc Keller. In 2024, the winner's dam Remarqued dropped a filly by Omaha Beach and followed up with a filly by Nyquist. A half-sister to dual Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), Remarqued was bred back to Nyquist. BET365 ALGONQUIN S., C$184,450, Woodbine, 10-5, 2yo, 5fT, :56.39, fm. 1–CY FAIR, 117, f, 2, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Remarqued, by Arch 2nd Dam: Citizen Advocate, by Proud Citizen 3rd Dam: Twilight Service, by Horse Chestnut (SAf) *TDN Rising Star* ($185,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Swinbank, Reagan, Medallion Racing and Stanton, Mark; B-Marc Keller (KY); T-George Weaver; J-Sahin Civaci. C$105,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $160,205. 2–Casson, 122, c, 2, Caravaggio–Zee Ro Drop, by Lemon Drop Kid. ($200,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Manfred and Penny Conrad; B-Ballycroy Training Centre & Villa Rosa Farms (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. C$42,000. 3–Gypsy Art, 118, c, 2, Munnings–The Girl Herself, by American Pharoah. ($200,000 2yo '25 EASMAY). O-Mrs. Fitriani Hay; B-Chelston (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. C$19,250. Margins: 3 1/4, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 1.05, 2.40, 3.30. Also Ran: Highwaytothemoon, Reb Five, Shak Town. Scratched: Rogue Legend (GB). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV The post ‘Rising Star’ Cy Fair Closes Like a Freight Train to Win Woodbine’s Algonquin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Well supported for his stakes debut, Schwarzenegger (Not This Time) went to the front and stayed there, holding on to win by a half-length over TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, Obliteration (Violence). Sprinting through a quarter mile in a crisp :21.17, the bay was clear turning for home and dug in late as a trio of runners came up to his haunches but were unable to get by the 2-1 favorite at the wire. Obliteration was a neck in front of Rogue Legend (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and it was a nose back to Bobrovsky (Daredevil). “We know he's super-fast,” said winning jockey John Velazquez. “Even out of the gate, he's so fast out of there I had to let him jump for three or four jumps before I tried to get a hold of him. He came out running, and all I tried to do was to save him for the end.” He continued, “I don't think the grass was a favorite today, so I got a good hold of him all the way to past the three-eighths pole to try to save it for the end and lead them all the way around. Schwartzenegger was second behind Attfield (Vekoma) as the favorite in his career debut going 5 1/2 panels at the Spa Aug. 29. “[Trainer Wesley [Ward] had him ready, to go from a maiden [special weight] to running against winners in a stakes race — that's a big tip for him,” Velazquez added. According to Ward, next stop for the colt is Del Mar. “We're heading to the Breeders' Cup [GI Juvenile Turf Sprint],” confirmed Ward. “He's a sprinter and that's a very fast track out there at Del Mar. It'll be firm; we won't have any weather issues, and it won't be 5½ [furlongs] like it was today. Johnny said there was a lot of moisture in the track today; they watered it pretty good. So when we get to Del Mar it should be great for him, and it's also 5 [furlongs] instead of 5½. So everything's heading our direction now.” Schwarzenegger, a $410,000 weanling purchase at KEENOV in 2023, brought $950,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale last season. Soothsaying, a $350,000 KEENOV purchase while carrying a filly by Nyquist, was bred back to McKinzie. INDIAN SUMMER S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT, $289,125, Keeneland, 10-5, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.28, fm. 1–SCHWARZENEGGER, 118, c, 2, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Soothsaying, by Lemon Drop Kid 2nd Dam: Market Magic, by After Market 3rd Dam: Bright Magic, by Prized ($410,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $950,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Mrs. John Magnier, Mountmellick Farm, Brook T. Smith and Resolution Road Stables; B-Frankfort Park Farm (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-John R. Velazquez. $179,025. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $199,025. 2–Obliteration, 120, c, 2, Violence–I'mclassyandsassy, by Master Command. ($200,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). *TDN Rising Star* O-Leland Ackerley Racing, LLC; B-Ocala Stud (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $57,750. 3–Rogue Legend (GB), 118, c, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Blue Crest (Fr), by Verglas (Ire). (55,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Resolute Racing; B-Llety Farms (GB); T-Wesley A. Ward. $19,250. Margins: HF, NK, NO. Odds: 2.32, 3.72, 5.38. Also Ran: Bobrovsky, Trendsetter, Azizam (GB), Uncle Bucky, Zeus's Echo. Scratched: Twilight Delight. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Schwarzenegger came in a maiden and leaves a winner in the Indian Summer at @keeneland! Wesley Ward trains and @ljlmvel was aboard. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/r3BOHGxw9i — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) October 5, 2025 The post Schwarzenegger Jumps Into Breeders’ Cup Picture With a Win in Keeneland’s Indian Summer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Calumet homebred Gin Gin (f, 4, Hightail–Before You Know It, by Hard Spun) went wire-to-wire and just held off a last-gasp effort from Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) to upset the GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland Sunday, earning an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff in the process. Let go at 18-1, the filly was prompted by favored Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) through fractions of :23.74 and :46.69, with Nitrogen parked three wide while shadowing the top two. Nitrogen rushed up to challenge the pacesetter as Thorpedo Anna lacked any punch and fell back at the top of the lane. Nitrogen drifted out at midstretch, allowing Gin Gin to open up and she looked home free before Nitrogen kicked into gear to just miss in a dramatic photo finish. #4 GIN GIN ($38.64) holds off Nitrogen in the @LanesEndFarms @BreedersCup WAYI $650,000 @JuddmonteFarms Spinster Stakes (G1) at @KeenelandRacing. This is the first Grade 1 win for the @CalumetFarm homebred filly by Hightail. @luissaezpty was aboard for @brenpwalsh. pic.twitter.com/LXdaNzh6KT — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 5, 2025 Sunday, Keeneland JUDDMONTE SPINSTER S.-GI, $650,000, Keeneland, 10-5, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:49.77, ft. 1–GIN GIN, 125, f, 4, by Hightail 1st Dam: Before You Know It (GSP, $313,083), by Hard Spun 2nd Dam: Without Delay, by Seeking the Gold 3rd Dam: Slow Down, by Seattle Slew 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Luis Saez. $403,000. Lifetime Record: 13-4-3-2, $942,796. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Nitrogen, 121, f, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro 1st Dam: Tiffany Case (SP), by Uncle Mo 2nd Dam: Biblical Point, by Point Given 3rd Dam: Bibical Sense, by Blushing Groom (Fr) O/B-D. J. Stable, LLC (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $130,000. 3–Scylla, 125, m, 5, by Tapit 1st Dam: Close Hatches (Ch. Older Mare, MGISW, $2,707,300), by First Defence 2nd Dam: Rising Tornado, by Storm Cat 3rd Dam: Silver Star (GB), by Zafonic O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-William I. Mott. $65,000. Margins: HD, 1 1/4, 7 1/4. Odds: 18.32, 2.10, 6.66. Also Ran: Thorpedo Anna, Chilled. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Gin Gin Outguts Nitrogen to Upset Spinster; Thorpedo Anna Fourth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making her first start in the United States, Resolute Racing's Village Voice displayed an impressive turn of foot down the lane and swept by her rivals to win the $175,000 Waya Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features a daughter of Anapurna. 3.30 Yarmouth, Novice, 2yo, f, 8f 3yT SACRED GROUND (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is the third foal out of Frankel's Oaks and Prix de Royallieu heroine Anapurna who cost Marcstown and Andrew Rosen 550,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1. The John and Thady Gosden-trained filly meets Salhia Stud's 925,000gns graduate of that same auction and fellow newcomer Bintsaleh (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a William Haggas-trained daughter of the Prix de Malleret winner Waldlied (New Approach) who is a half to Waldgeist. The post Yarmouth Debut For Anapurna’s Daughter Sacred Ground appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Favored at 2-1 for her career debut, Sneaky Good (Into Mischief–Gale, by Tonalist) went to the front of Keeneland's seventh race Sunday and stayed there, becoming Into Mischief's newest TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, by a geared-down four lengths over Betty's Pearl (Munnings). In front through initial splits of :22.57 and :46/24, the flashy chestnut shook clear of Betty's Pearl turning for home and drew off to win by an easy margin. Final time for the 6-furlong race was 1:11.54, only marginally slower than Bella Ballerina's (Street Sense) 'TDN Rising Star'-earning performance earlier in the card. Sales history: $450,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $64,000. O-NK Racing & LNJ Foxwoods. B-Andrew Warren (KY); Brad Cox. Sneaky Good is a nice debut winner in R7 at @keeneland for trainer @bradcoxracing with @iradortiz in the saddle! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/yTmez6eHhh — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) October 5, 2025 The post Into Mischief’s Sneaky Good Runs Off To ‘TDN Rising Star’ Victory at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

All five stakes winners on Saturday's card at Santa Anita–GI American Pharoah Stakes winner Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), GII Oak Leaf Stakes winner Explora (Blame), GII Rodeo Drive Stakes winner Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy), GIII Chillingworth Stakes winner Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) and Speakeasy Stakes winner Later Than Planned (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB})–were reported to be doing well Sunday and will move on to the Breeders' Cup. “He's got a lot of class,” trainer Jeff Mullins said of Intrepido, who earned an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile with his American Pharoah win. “Kind of a tall, lanky horse. Not a real stoutly made horse, but he's very professional and I think he has a lot of growing to do.” Desert Gate (Omaha Beach), runner-up as the odds-on favorite in the American Pharoah, may also move on to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday morning. Desert Gate showed the way in the American Pharoah before being nailed late by Intrepido. “I was really puzzled by that,” Baffert said. “He was really tired. I think he needed that race. He came back well, but was exhausted. We'll see how he's doing next week, but he's still possible for the Breeders' Cup. He's a better horse than that.” Explora, making her two-turn debut, rolled to a 4 1/4-length win in the 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf to earn a berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. “She passed the [distance] test, so that was good,” Baffert said. “She ran well and came back well. I liked the way she was able to relax. I couldn't be happier.” Gary Mandella, assistant for trainer Richard Mandella, said all was well Sunday morning with Tamara following her eye-catching 3 3/4-length victory in the Chillingworth–her first start in nearly a year. The 4-year-old filly will now move on to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Mission of Joy rallied through the stretch and just got her head down on the wire in the final strides of the Rodeo Drive to earn a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, while Later Than Planned won the Speakeasy by a half-length going five furlongs on turf and will now move on to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Both runners are trained by Phil D'Amato. “Both came out of their races in really good shape and we'll definitely point them to their respective Breeders' Cup races,” D'Amato said. The post Breeders’ Cup Next for Santa Anita Stakes Winners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy was full of admiration for Autumn Glow after her dazzling victory in the Epsom Handicap (G1) at Randwick Oct. 4. View the full article

Trainers Will Walden and Robbie Medina likely booked their first Breeders' Cup starters with stakes winners at Keeneland over the weekend. Walden earned his first Grade I win when Rhetorical (Not This Time) came home first in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile Saturday. “He ran big and we are so proud of him,” Walden said of Rhetorical, who returned to Churchill Downs Saturday night. “He was doing so good and training better than he ever has. We use a lot of metrics with our horses and he was just off the charts. We decided to take a swing at it.” The win earned Rhetorical an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar Nov. 1. Walden expects to ship the 4-year-old New York-bred gelding to California Oct. 25 or 27. Medina, who made the trip to Del Mar three times for former boss Shug McGaughey, will make the trip in three weeks to saddle Newtown Anner Stud's Praying (Vekoma) in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint. The 3-year-old earned her championship berth with a half-length victory over Vahva in the GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes Saturday. Medina, who worked for McGaughey 25 years before going out on his own in 2020, said he learned plenty from the Hall of Fame trainer. “I would say the number one thing I learned from him was patience,” Medina said of McGaughey. “He is the greatest trainer at being patient and letting a horse develop.” Medina has been around horses all of his life. “My dad was a foreman for a few trainers in Chicago, and he would take me to work with him at the track,” Medina said. “Then he brought me to Keeneland and Churchill Downs in 1983 and that sealed the deal for me.” Two Spendthrift Farm colorbearers from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher earned automatic berths to the Breeders' Cup with wins at Keeneland on opening weekend. Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) was walking the shedrow Sunday morning at Pletcher's barn a day after his 2 3/4-length victory in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity. His stablemate Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) was the winner via disqualification of the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes Friday. “They will head to Saratoga where Todd has his Breeders' Cup horses on Monday,” said Sophie Green, who is overseeing the Pletcher barn at Keeneland. The post Walden, Medina Eye Breeders’ Cup Debuts with Keeneland Stakes Winners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) came from just off the pace to earn TDN Rising Stardom, Presented by Hagyard, in her career opener at Keeneland Sunday afternoon. Content to settle in right behind the leading draft through an opening quarter in :22.47, the 7-5 choice, who was clocking the pace wide, was given her cue from Tyler Gaffalione turning for home. Unfurling her long legs from there, the homebred drew clear in the late stages to win by a convincing 4 1/4-length margin over fellow firsters Debbie Doll (Liam's Map) and Karma Wins (Tapiture), who was farther back in third. The winner is a daughter of GI Spinaway winner Pretty City Dancer (Tapit), a half-sister to Grade I winner Lear's Princess (Lear Fan). Bella Ballerina is a half-sister to Champion 3-year-old Filly Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), the winner of a trio of Grade I races–the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Acorn and GI Test–before retiring with earnings of $2,112,560. Pretty City Dancer produced a colt by Into Mischief in 2024 and was barren this season. She was bred back to Gun Runner. 5th-Keeneland, $102,155, Msw, 10-5, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.36, ft, 4 1/4 lengths. BELLA BALLERINA, f, 2, by Street Sense 1st Dam: Pretty City Dancer {GISW, $286,344}, by Tapit) 2nd Dam: Pretty City, by Carson City 3rd Dam: Pretty Special, by Riverman Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $63,085. O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. Click for the Equibase.com chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Street Sense’s Bella Ballerina Earns TDN Rising Stardom in Keeneland Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bloodstock agent Will Douglass has joined Ocala Breeders' Sales Company as the company's international representative. Douglass, who began his career as a bloodstock agent in January 2010 when he started working with industry veteran Charlie Gordon-Watson, has also served as assistant to trainers Luca Cumani, Ed Dunlop, and David Hayes. He established Will Douglass Bloodstock in January, advising clients on all aspects of private sales, auction purchases, bloodstock, and racing management. “I am looking forward to working with the team at OBS and helping them expand their international client base,” Douglass said. “OBS has a long history of selling outstanding horses that are successful all over the world, such as Crimson Advocate winning at Royal Ascot whilst [Group 3-placed and OBS October graduate] The Publican's Son looks be a horse to follow next year.” The post Will Douglass Joins OBS as International Representative appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Miguel Clement sent out a pair of runners to earn automatic berths in Breeders' Cup races with wins at Aqueduct this past weekend and the trainer expects both to make the trip to Del Mar, but other conditioners were taking a wait-and-see approach before committing their Aqueduct stakes winners to championship weekend. The Clement-trained Bottas (Vekoma) took his record to two-for-two with a win in the GII Pilgrim Stakes Friday. That victory earned him a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. “Bottas was very impressive in just his second start,” said Clement. “He showed yet again another strong turn of foot. The plan is to go for the Breeders' Cup. We just have to get lucky with a good trip and a good draw. It is going to be a full field, sometimes it can be a bit of a messy race. Nevertheless, he is a talented horse. We will look after him and he will take care of the rest.” Stablemate Intricate Spirit (Complexity), meanwhile, earned a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint with his win in the six-furlong GIII Futurity. “That was a very impressive performance,” Clement said of the Futurity win. “He showed a lot of speed. I don't think the cutback in distance [to five furlongs] at the Breeders' Cup will be a hindrance whatsoever. That is the plan. On to Del Mar with Joel Rosario. The connections are very excited. As long as the horse is doing well, we will go for it.” Clement said that Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile), a narrowly beaten second in the GI Canadian International Saturday at Woodbine, could make his next start in either the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Turf or the GII Red Smith Stakes the following day at Belmont at the Big A. Trainer Danny Gargan said that Iron Orchard (Authentic)'s participation in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies was “in flux” following her win in the GI Frizette Stakes Saturday. “She's won a Grade I now and she's had a tough campaign, so we'll figure it out,” Gargan said. “I thought a mile would be a tough task for her and she got it done by a nose. California is two turns… she's only an April foal.” Gold Square's Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map) earned an automatic berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile with his 6 1/2-length victory in the GI Champagne Stakes Saturday. “We're going to leave it up to the horse and see how he's doing,” trainer Chad Summers said of a possible trip to Del Mar at the end of the month. “If he gives us any indication that he's taking a little while longer to get over the race–which he has every right to do having run as fast and hard as he did–then we'll skip it. If he comes out of it good and he's kicking down the walls and feeling good, we'll look to move forward.” Summers said that Gold Square's Dry Powder (Gun Runner), most recently a neck second to Clicquot in the GI Cotillion Stakes at Parx, remains under consideration for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. “She's going to breeze on Tuesday and we'll see,” Summers said. “We'll watch the GI Spinster today and see. I would like to go, but it's ultimately Mr. [Al] Gold's decision, and it's an expensive decision. If we go, we'll go early and there's a lot that goes into it.” Trainer Kelsey Danner said Ground Support (Army Mule), who earned a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with her win in the GII Miss Grillo Stakes Saturday, will return to her Turfway Park base Monday to train up to the Breeders' Cup. “She came out of the race in good order and looks good this morning,” Danner said. “She'll train at Turfway for a little bit, and we'll try to plan some logistics tomorrow before we ship out there.” Gary Barber and Peter Deutsch's Final Accord (War of Will) has trainer Mark Casse eyeing the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf after her win in the GIII Matron Stakes last Thursday. “She came out of it great,” Casse said. “We are going to aim for the Breeders' Cup. To me, in both of her races, it seemed like she wanted a little bit more ground, so I think the mile is perfect for her.” Meanwhile in upstate New York, Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) continued preparations for a defense of his GI Breeders' Cup Classic title with a four-furlong work in :48.88 (13/56) Saturday at Saratoga. Trainer Chad Brown called the work “super,” before adding that he is unsure if he will send Sierra Leone downstate to make his final preparations for the Breeders' Cup, as he did last year, or remain at Saratoga. “He's loving Saratoga right now,” Brown said. The post Connections Mull Breeders’ Cup Options for Aqueduct Stakes Winners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Courtesy Santa Anita The news late Saturday of the passing of Jeff Siegel, the legendary handicapper and longtime member of the Santa Anita Park family, hit with an unexpected weight. Not that his passing at age 74 was unexpected, as he had been fighting aggressive cancer since earlier this year. But the finality of the news brought with it the realization that Jeff was gone and the hole that he left behind is unlikely to be replaced. “Jeff Siegel was, and will always be the epitome of Santa Anita Park,” said Nate Newby, SVP & General Manager. “He was incredibly respected, especially by his peers, which is somewhat unique in horse racing. He loved the sport, he lived the sport, and he was devoted to passing that passion along to everyone he met. He was the best of us.” Jeff was a true multi-faceted, Damon Runyon character. A graduate of Fairfax High School, he began his career some 50 years ago, working at Hollywood Park and as a published handicapper throughout Southern California. In the mid-1980s, he and Barry Irwin formed Clover Racing Stable, one of the original syndicates for “regular people.” They had almost instant success, winning the Santa Anita Handicap, Breeders' Cup Turf and Arlington Million for their clients. Clover Racing begat Team Valor, which Siegel remained a part of for some time. Siegel continued to maintain a small stable that ran in his own name. His last horse, the 2-year-old filly Surfin' U.S.A., debuted on Sept. 26 at Santa Anita in partnership with longtime LA Times sportswriter Eric Sondheimer for trainer Leonard Powell. It was, however, his handicapping and analytical prowess for which he was best known. He was a featured part of “Inside Santa Anita,” a weekly magazine-style TV show that began in the early 1990s and aired originally on KDOC and then on Prime Sports. Siegel was also the featured handicapper on “Santa Anita Today,” a weekly, and then daily, live racing show that aired from 1994-2000 on Prime Ticket and then FOX Sports. He was a key part of “The Best of Santa Anita: 1999,” the 1999 Eclipse Award winner for Local Television. Those shows led to the founding of HRTV in 2003 and Siegel was one of the original hosts, and the driving force behind several of the network's most popular shows. He remained with HRTV until it was sold to TVG (now FanDuel) in 2015. Next up was XBTV the following year, which was rebranded as 1/ST TV earlier this year. His analysis, picks and blogs were also integral to XBTV, 1/ST Bet and the Santa Anita Park website. At an age when most have either retired or looking towards retirement, Siegel embraced a new challenge last year when he became the Morning Line Maker for the first time, prognosticating where the public wagering would place the final odds. It was a new puzzle for him to solve, not picking the winner, but trying to pick how others saw the race. He began first at Del Mar in the summer of 2024, and then with Santa Anita until his illness forced him to step down in March of this year. There was a moment of silence observed in his honor in the Santa Anita Park winner's circle after Sunday's first race. Jeff Siegel is survived by his sister Michele, his brother Barry, and their families, along with legions of friends, colleagues, and fans. Services are pending and will be announced at a later date. California Trainers Remember Jeff Siegel “I had so much respect for him. He had so much passion for the game. I loved talking to him about horses because he was so knowledgeable and watched everything. Every time I would break a maiden with a good horse, he would run to the paddock to talk to me about him. Like Justify. He came and said, 'You're going to win the Derby with that horse.' He just knew talent. With all those horses, he was always right. He would tell me things with like a horse's style. He'd say, 'That horse doesn't want to run like that.' He would give me tips. I'll really miss him. I would listen to his commentary. He was the best one out there.” Bob Baffert “I go a long way back with him. Back in the early '80s, he had a horse in training in France with my dad (David Powell). The name of the horse was Land Lady. Jeff knew me when I was still wearing diapers. He was always very kind to me and very astute.” Leonard Powell “He was a great guy. A very intelligent handicapper, and even more so a great person. He was one of the early founders of syndicates with Barry Irwin and Clover Racing and so forth. He had a lot of success there. He was great to talk to. You could talk to him about anything, he was just a well-rounded person. I did television with him on HRTV. He was very sharp at that. I don't know anyone who ever said a bad thing about Jeff Seigel.” Sean McCarthy “I thought he was the greatest handicapper. Even if he was incorrect, his decision-making process was so good that you always learned something. I found him quite educational. He was my neighbor for many years. Not like we spent a lot of time together, but he was just a good guy and an intelligent man. We're going to miss him.” Vladimir Cerin “Jeff to me was one of the best handicappers I've seen. And with Team Valor, he was able to pluck some really nice horses for them. He was one of the go-to handicappers on the West Coast for a couple of decades. I remember being a kid and listening all the time to whatever radio or TV show he would be on. It's a great loss.” Phil D'Amato The post Legendary Handicapper Jeff Siegel Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Daryz overhauled favorite Minnie Hauk just strides from the finish to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) Oct. 5 in the colors of the late owner-breeder, the Aga Khan.View the full article