Wandering Eyes

As it did in 2025, a Florida House of Representatives bill seeking to decouple racing and gaming licenses for Thoroughbred operators unsurprisingly passed its first committee.View the full article

Expressing concerns that it could not responsibly approve fair Northern California race dates amid unresolved legal, regulatory, and logistical issues, the CHRB agreed to reconvene next month to consider allocating race dates for several fairs.View the full article

'Winning Strategies', a three-part professional development series created to support women navigating leadership, communication, and decision-making in today's Thoroughbred industry, will be offered by the Horse Racing Women's Association (HRWA) in three virtual sessions over the next three months. The sessions, each 90 minutes long, are available to HRWA members exclusively and center on practical leadership tools and peer connections. Session one is entitled 'Claiming the Reins–Leading With Confidence' and is set for Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific Time. Session Two, 'Voices Unbridled–Boundaries, Balance and Growth' takes place Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT and the final session, 'In the Stretch–Strategic Leadership Lab' is scheduled for Mar. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT. The series is facilitated by Amy Brin, MSN, MA, PCNS-BC, a nationally recognized leadership strategist with more than 20 years of experience guiding executives and organizations through change. In 2024, Brin entered the Thoroughbred industry as Interim Executive Director of Light Up Racing, bringing her background in healthcare leadership, nonprofit governance, and coalition-building into the racing space. Click here to join HRWA. The post HRWA To Kick Off ‘Winning Strategies’ Series Jan. 29 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner The Group 3 Pryde’s Easifeed Southern Lights Trot is coming along at the perfect time for Princess Sadie. The Oamaru mare is set to start favourite ($2.40FF) for the Northern Southland Trotting Club feature at Ascot Park today (7.34pm) largely due to her front-line handicap. Earlier in her career, punters may not have been keen to take up short odds on Princess Sadie in a 2700m Group event. While she was known as a speedster as she competed with plenty of merit in top-class age-group events, a lot has changed since then for the Matthew Williamson-trained mare. “She has definitely got stronger as she has got older, but also I think she’s probably going as well now as she ever has,” Williamson said. “Probably the last couple of months or six weeks or so, she just seems to be thriving.” As well as her continued progression, a creditable fourth behind top-liners Mr Love and Muscle Mountain shows 2700m is nothing to fear for Princess Sadie. “She went a good race in the David Moss Stakes, so the distance isn’t a worry.” “That was a harder field too.” “That is not to say this race will be easy. With the small field, it will be tactical, and on their best day you could say just about any horse could win it.” Princess Sadie’s front-line handicap gives her a 15m head-start over her key rivals and the Southern Lights second favourite, Hidden Talent. Trained by Williamson’s brother Nathan, Hidden Talent made a surprise error at her last start on grass at Cromwell after her nice second at the recent Harness 5000. Known as something of a speed demon herself, Thursday’s small field of six runners looks to play into the seven-year-old’s hands. Usually driven with one last shot, Hidden Talent has the speed to be rounding up her rivals late. Williamson has a full book of 10 drives at Northern Southland’s twilight meeting at Ascot Park. While few of his chances look like clear-cut favourites, he combines with plenty of strong each-way chances. “The Greek Freak looks a nice chance, he’s got the manners now and it looks like another suitable race for him.” “Anita Mary would be another nice each-way chance.” “Rise Up N Dance would be too even from the wider draw.” “If he can bring his manners, Mister would be another handy hope — he went quite good at Cromwell.” Williamson also links up with Shergar, Jordan Anne and Southside Of Heaven, who all look top-four hopes. Kairaki Vegas and Pacific Arc look to be the reinsman’s rougher chances. View the full article

Groundhog Day isn't for another 2 1/2 weeks, but when a Florida House of Representatives subcommittee on Wednesday debated a newly retooled version of previously controversial decoupling legislation that is being pushed by Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, there was a distinct flavor of deja vu in the Tallahassee state house. Just like in 2025, a similar group of legislators on the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee were considering essentially the same proposed bill that would allow either of Florida's two Thoroughbred tracks to cease live racing while retaining their gaming rights. And just like last year, when a version of his decoupling measure ended up getting passed in the House but not the Senate, its same sponsor, Rep. Adam Anderson, claimed his goal of decoupling was to actually “support” the Thoroughbred industry. During Jan. 14 testimony in support of HB 881, Anderson highlighted how this year's updated version of his bill would require the tracks to give notice of racing suspension as of July 1, 2027, with racing required to continue for at least three years after that notice of intent got filed. In almost exact carbon-copy fashion as 12 months ago, Thoroughbred industry participants and several legislators sympathetic to the concerns of stakeholders fired back with reams of impressive economic-impact statistics, impassioned stories about their love of horses and the importance of continuing multi-generational family legacies involved in the sport. Additionally, horsemen once again articulated how they feel their trust is being abused by track operators who, decades ago, leveraged the support of the racing community to establish a gaming-at-tracks paradigm that Gulfstream and Tampa now want to abandon by having the option to walk away from hosting horse races while retaining the benefits of the respective slot-machine and card-room privileges that the partnership of horsemen made possible. To be sure, there were also the same queries of confusion by some legislators who, year after year, find it difficult to grasp the complex inner workings of how horse racing meshes with the overall gaming landscape, which in Florida is intricately linked by intertwined requirements involving a state compact with an Indian Tribe, various pari-mutuel statutes, local referendums and commission-level oversight. Thus, given the repetitive, cyclical nature of all of the above, it was not surprising that the end result of Wednesday's voting ended up with the same result as last year, as the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee reported HB 881 as “favorable.” Just like last year, a nearly identical companion bill has been filed in the Florida Senate, but it has yet to come up before a committee for a recommendation either way. After the hearing, a press release from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA), termed the vote an “expected outcome.” Lonny Powell, the FTBOA's chief executive officer, added that, “The bill has a long path ahead and we will continue making the case for Florida's Thoroughbred industry at every opportunity.” Powell wasn't kidding about the “long path” prediction. All of this happened on just day three of the House's 2026 session, which is scheduled to go at least until Mar. 13. HB 881 must next clear the House Commerce Committee, where it is up for consideration with no hearing date yet posted. Racing and breeding stakeholders have fought Florida's looming threat of decoupling almost since right after Gulfstream and Tampa first got gaming two decades ago. On Wednesday, at least to those within the horse industry, the descriptions of the decoupling bill by its sponsor, Anderson, had to have resonated as a mind-boggling array of double-speak. “The whole intention of this legislation is to ensure that live racing does not end,” Anderson said. With specific regard to a committee member's question about how decoupling might affect live racing at Tampa, Anderson postulated that, “we don't believe there will be any impact at all to Tampa Bay Downs.” Asked a similar question about Gulfstream, Anderson replied, “this bill is providing [a] pathway to preserve the industry” that “guarantees racing into the future.” Powell, who said he was testifying on behalf of not just the FTBOA but of all of the united horsemen-supported spheres of influence in the state, told legislators not to buy what he alleged was Anderson's intentional use of opaque language. “Though it may be said this [bill] does good for the Thoroughbred industry, what that means, as presented so far, [is] 'good for the Thoroughbred racetracks,'” Powell said. “As far as the horse people, it's not good. We oppose it. We oppose it just like we did last year. Decoupling is just, simply, not being committed to live racing, [and] the revenue share that used to go to the horse people gets kept by the racetracks,” Powell said. “You'll hear much more about the destruction of decoupling,” Powell forewarned. “You heard it all last session.” Powell told the committee members that when Anderson spoke of purported flexibility in the form of the bill's options to transfer racetrack permits, what the sponsor was really trying to do was execute a legislative strategy based on “permit confusion.” “It's an attempt to toss out lots of 'shining-star' options,” Powell explained. “However, they're all extremely speculative. Does anybody really know, especially as we try to look at the wording, which is not clear, are these certain options? Are these even realistic or even possible, [and] are they even viable economically?” Two committee members were clearly on the side of horsemen in opposing the legislation. One was Rep. Yvonne Hinson, whose district includes part of Marion County, the heart of Florida's Thoroughbred breeding and horse-raising territory. “Decoupling is a multi-billion-dollar threat to Florida's world-renowned Thoroughbred legacy,” Hinson said, echoing nearly verbatim arguments she made before the very same committee last year. “I beg you all not to destroy five or six generations of the Florida equine industry.” Another was Rep. Angie Nixon, whose district is in the northeast part of the state. “I believe in honoring contracts, especially contracts with voters. The casinos wouldn't have even been established if not for the races and the Thoroughbred owners. And so it doesn't make sense that now they can kind of be pushed out of the deal, so to speak,” Nixon said. No executives from either Gulfstream or Tampa spoke during the public testimony portion of the hearing. In summation of his bill just prior to the committee's vote, Anderson was given the floor one final time to make closing remarks. “It appears that most of the concerns here with this legislation is what the potential impacts could be if racing ceases in the state of Florida. Those are concerns that we are addressing in this bill,” Anderson said. “So I want to remind everyone that today, there is nothing that requires a track to continue racing. Today, any Thoroughbred racing permit-holder could stop racing tomorrow if they want, which would send shock waves reverberating through the industry, and would, in fact, cause a lot of the concerns that were being brought up today in public testimony,” Anderson said. “So I remind everyone of the provisions that we add in here: The transferability of licenses, to ensure that the industry can continue in the free market, [and] the four years of visibility and notice that doesn't exist today,” Anderson said. “Four years should be enough time if there is a Thoroughbred permit-holder that wants to get out of the industry. For whatever reason it is, that's enough time for the industry to adjust, enough time to transfer that permit, enough time to ensure that racing continues,” Anderson said. The bill then got reported favorably by the subcommittee by what appeared to be at least a 10-6 margin. (Several voice votes were inaudible during the roll call, and the Florida legislature's web page for the bill had not posted the official vote tally prior to deadline for this story.) The post Just Like Last Year, Decoupling Bill Clears Same Florida Subcommittee In First Legislative Hearing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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. Thursday's Observations features a half-brother to Ace Impact. 12.23 Cagnes-Sur-Mer, Debutantes, 2yo, c/g, 10f (AWT) ARMANO (FR) (Waldgeist {GB}) is the seventh foal out of the remarkable Absolutly Me (Anabaa Blue), which makes him a half-brother to Cracksman's illustrious son Ace Impact who was the winner of this in 2023 before it was renamed in his honour. Bidding to make it a third win in the race for the dam's progeny after the subsequent Prix Royal-Oak hero Arrow Eagle in 2024, Waltraut Spanner's Jean-Claude Rouget-trained homebred meets the Wertheimers' Frankish (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a Yann Barberot-trained son of the 1,000 Guineas heroine Miss France (Dansili). Armano is also looking to add to Jean-Claude Rouget's tally in this, with the stable's eventual Grand Prix de Paris hero Leffard continuing the trend 12 months ago. The post Armano Follows In His Half-Brother Ace Impact’s Steps appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) will reach its centenary on January 15, 2026. A brief history and major milestones of the organisation are below. Founded in January of 1926 as the Bloodstock Breeders Association of Ireland, the inaugural council was led by president Peter Fitzgerald and supported by Frank Barbour, Ernest Bellaney, Col. Ar. Blake, Isidore Blake, Capt. J. Cecil Brodie, Major J. Scarvell Cape, D.J. Cogan, Capt. Bernard Daly, S.C. Dawson, Major T.G.C. Gerard, W.P. Gill, J.W.A. Harrie, Albert Lowry, J.J. Maher, F.B. O'Toole, Senator J.J. Parkinson, G. Smithwick, J.C. Sullivan and C.T. Wallis, with F.S. Myerscough as the honorary secretary. Courtesy of the BBA of Ireland, there was a formal definition of an Irish-bred horse in 1943. The call for a national stud in 1944 demonstrated an understanding of the infrastructure required for longevity of the industry. The Association's engagement with the Government on transport conditions, effects of World War II, and its support for breeders during outbreaks of Foot and Mouth in the 1940s and strangles in the 1960s, reflected a readiness to assist Irish breeders when the industry was most vulnerable. For many years, The Irish Horse served as the Association's annual record—a publication that combined statistics, pedigrees, stallion fertility figures, and international reports with photographs and commentary. Discussions around an Irish Equine Research Centre in 1979 reflected a growing awareness of the scientific and veterinary demands of a modern breeding landscape. In 1975, the BBA of Ireland moved to its current location outside Goffs in Co Kildare and a few years later in 1981, the Association became known as the ITBA, with the amalgamation of the Irish Bloodstock Breeders Association and the Thoroughbred Mares Owners Association. For anyone with an interest in tracing the history of the Association, past records and minutes of the meetings are available to view on request—a reminder that the story of Irish breeding has always been shaped not only by great horses, but by the people and structures that supported them. For more information, visit the ITBA website. The post ITBA Celebrates 100th Anniversary On Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The finalists for the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, were revealed on Wednesday. The finalists will head to Ascot Racecourse for the ceremony, hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin on February 23 after a final round of judging earlier in the day. The finalists for each category are: Newcomer Award Emma Skerritt – Richenda Ford Freddie Wilks – Charlie Johnston Poppy Hatton – Folland-Bowen Bloodstock Leadership Award Carrie Sanderson – Karl Burke Claire Freeman – Dan Skelton Louisa Allen – Jim Boyle Rider / Racing Groom Award Ellie Jefferson – Christian Williams Kieran Kourdache – Karl Burke Michelle Kramer – Paul Nicholls Stud Award Dayna Walsh – Tweenhills James Goddard – Chasemore Farm Oleh Ihnatenko – Whitsbury Manor Stud Dedication Award Christopher Pattenden – Diana Grissell Derek Snaith – Charlie Fellowes Helen Halliwell – James Fanshawe Community Award Anna Collins – Chester Racecourse Geraldine Jones – Godolphin Hayley Clements – Micky Hammond Brant Dunshea, acting chief executive of the BHA, said, “My congratulations to this year's finalists, who are truly worthy of this accolade. The 2026 ceremony promises to be another memorable occasion as we celebrate the very best of British racing and breeding. “Everyone who was nominated, made the shortlists or got through to the final 18 should be immensely proud. You are all fitting representatives of the many individuals, yards, studs and communities across the country who make our wonderful industry the success it is. “A huge thank you to our sponsors Godolphin, our award partners at the Racing Post, Racing TV and Ascot Racecourse, and of course to our esteemed judging panel – who no doubt have the toughest job.” The post TIEA Finalists for 2026 Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was a good year for the new management team at the Maryland racetracks, where the average daily handle at Laurel was up 13.49 percent and average per-race handle increased by 14.29 percent. To talk about what went right for Maryland racing last year, the future of the GI Preakness Stakes, the decision to form a circuit with Colonial Downs, and to report on the rebuild of Pimlico, Bill Knauf, the president and general manager of the nonprofit Maryland Jockey Club, joined the team for this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. Knauf was the Gainesway Guest of the Week. “It was a really great first year for us,” he said. “When our new organization took over Jan. 1, we weren't quite sure what to expect. We started off a little slowly in January. I think, at the time, there was a lot of uncertainty about what Laurel was going to bring and what Maryland racing was going to bring. Then we really got some nice momentum going for the rest of the year. Because we shut down for two months in the summer, there was a substantial date reduction. We decided that when we race, let's put big fields out there. Let's put competitive fields out there. We chose to focus on some bets, like the 12 percent low-takeout Pick Five. We were doing some online handicapping contests. So there was a lot of focus after we could set the product the right way.” When it came to Laurel, Knauf and his team decided to focus even more heavily on grass racing. According to statistics from Horse Racing Nation, Laurel Park ranked third in the nation in the number of turf races run in 2025, behind only Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park. From Apr. 1 to the close of the turf season on Thanksgiving Day, Laurel Park carded the most turf races of any racetrack in North America. “We have a fantastic turf course,” Knauf said. “I stepped into one of the largest in the country. Our turf maintenance guys do a fantastic job. So shout out to them. We've got six running lanes and that's a luxury. When I came here, I honestly didn't realize how big the turf course was. The turf course can really take quite a beating, and it really wasn't until the very end of November that we felt like we had to stop because it was in such great condition. The other part of it is that we have a natural break by not running in July and August, which means we can open it up in April and can run pretty strong on it until June. We can give it a nice two-month break, recuperate, and then come back and go September to November.” Laurel stopped racing for two months in the summer after a deal was worked out with Colonial Downs. The two Mid-Atlantic region tracks had been going head-to-head during those months, which was an unhealthy situation. Knauf said that the Colonial decision worked out well for the Maryland tracks. “It's a true point,” Knauf said when asked about the glut of tracks in the Mid-Atlantic region. “I think a lot of people recognize that. We started down the path with Colonial, and I also think that trying to work in conjunction with Delaware Park also makes sense. During our break, our horsemen actually ran just as much, if not more, at Delaware than they did at Colonial. I can't speak for Delaware, but I think it's a natural fit, as well. It's just trying to get to that point where we all can agree on when to run or when not to run and what the long-term focus should be. We can live without racing in July and August.” The “Fastest Horse of the Week” was One Nine Hundred (Dialed In), who earned a 104 Beyer figure after taking an allowance race at Aqueduct Jan. 9. The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar, which stands the red-hot sire Constitution. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the PHBA, 1/ST TV, the KTOB and West Point Thoroughbreds, Randy Moss, Bill Finley and Zoe Cadman discussed the latest problems at Monmouth Park and recapped remarks John Sikura made on the prior week's edition of the podcast, in which he called on the Breeders' Cup to offer financial assistance to the struggling California racing industry. The team also looked at some of the potential 3-year-old stars who have run during the early weeks of 2026 and previewed Saturday's GIII Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds, which carries Derby points. Click here, to listen to the Writers' Room podcast. To view the podcast as a video, click here. The post Maryland Jockey Club’s Bill Knauf Joins The TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Presented By Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The dual Louisiana-bred Horse of the Year from 2022 and 2024, Free Like a Girl (El Deal–Flashy Prize, by Flashy Bull), was euthanized after a recent trailer accident. The story was first reported on Tuesday, Jan. 13 by the Daily Racing Form. The all-time highest earner in the Pelican state's history with over $2.5-million, Free Like a Girl made 55 starts and got her picture taken on 21 occasions. The $5,500 Equine Sales of Louisiana Yearling Sale grad was owned by Gerald Bruno, Carl Deville, Jerry Caroom and Chasey Deville Pomier, who also trained her. Free Like a Girl ran third in the GIII Iowa Oaks then served as the runner-up in the GIII Charles Town Oaks and GIII Remington Park Oaks during her 3-year-old campaign. Almost exclusively a stakes competitor moving forward, the race mare was incredibly consistent versus state breds as she recorded 18 black-type wins, but she also took on graded company where she was second in the GI Fasig-Tipton La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2024 and the runner-up to Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in 2025. After a runner-up finish in the Magnolia Stakes at Delta Downs Oct. 11, the 7-year-old was retired and according to the DRF article was set to visit Into Mischief for the 2026 breeding season. By El Deal, Free Like a Girl has an unraced full-brother named Flashy Rich Deal, who was made the $150,000 topper by Landon Jordan of Mansfield Racing during the 2024 Texas Yearling Sale at Lone Star Park. The post Dual Louisiana-Bred Horse Of The Year Free like A Girl Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bob Duncan, whose career spans better than 50 years at the tracks of the New York Racing Association (NYRA), will be honored with a Special Eclipse Award for Career Excellence during the Resolute Racing Eclipse Award ceremonies at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday, Jan. 22. The award recognizes Duncan's horsemanship and his work to foster the human-equine relationship at the starting gate. Duncan, who grew up in Elmont, NY, began working at the NYRA tracks in 1967-1968 and returned from a stint in the U.S. Army in Korea to become an assistant starter under Frank Calvarese. He succeeded Calvarese as head starter in 1993 and remained in that role until his retirement in 2004. He remained a consultant to NYRA and continues to provide his service on a private basis to racing stables. Addressing the issues starting gate crews had with loading horses into the gate, Duncan came to the realization that common practices of using fear and intimidation were counterproductive and counterintuitive. Horses, by and large, were being loaded into the gate, but the process was often a recipe for disaster. “Horses respond to good leadership,” said Duncan. “Once we started communicating in a language that the horses understood, they responded calmly, and their performance improved. By watching horses, you learn how to connect with them; the key is to set aside your ego and any urge to dominate the horse. “They are prey animals, and dominance just doesn't work. We used to think we were heroes just to get the horses into the starting gate, but we didn't realize the price that the horses were paying and, in turn, how it hurt their connections and the sport.” “Bob revolutionized the starting gate process over his 50-year tenure,” said Hall of Fame trainer and eight-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher. “He was the first to introduce more humane, behaviorally informed practices in his running of the gate-schooling and starting-gate program, establishing a model now emulated internationally. He led the charge in urging the industry to use natural horsemanship not only at the gate but throughout all elements of the training, racing, and breeding process.” Duncan's practices began receiving attention both at home and overseas, as his services were solicited by the likes of trainers Aidan O'Brien and Gai Waterhouse in Ireland, Australia. Barbados and other countries. Duncan's methods were well institutionalized in New York. In 2004, there were 6,000 horse visits to the gates at NYRA tracks without a serious occurrence at the starting gate. In later years, Duncan worked with the starting gate crew at Churchill Downs and started the 2006 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby. In 2009, Duncan worked with the Pletcher-trained Quality Road, who was fractious and unruly while being loaded for the start of the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park, and had to be scratched. Following that incident, Duncan got a call from Pletcher. “I came down from Saratoga and schooled him at Belmont Park,” Duncan remembers. “I just took him in the stall with my rope halter and spent 15 minutes with him, moving him back and forth, and connecting with him. He was almost instantly responsive.” In 2010, a calmer Quality Road won four graded stakes races, including Grade I fixtures in the Donn Handicap, Metropolitan Handicap and the Woodward Stakes. Moved upon hearing the news of receiving a Special Eclipse Award, Duncan reflected, “This is not something that normally happens in our discipline. There is so much joy and satisfaction to this process–handling the horses in this way–that it's like winning a little Eclipse Award every morning.” “What began with smaller changes like limiting the use of buggy whips and blindfolds,” continued Pletcher, “turned into a complete overhaul of the current system focusing on bringing in the practices of Monty Roberts, Pat and Linda Parelli, Ray Hunt, and the like, to create calm horses at the gate and build a safer environment for all involved.” The post Legendary Starter Duncan To Receive Special Eclipse For Career Excellence appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple Group 3 heroine Lastotchka anchors the Tattersalls Online January Sale catalogue, which was released on Wednesday. Set for Tuesday, January 20-Wednesday, January 21, the sale features 102 lots comprised of 70 horses in and out of training, 18 broodmares, four yearlings, three breeding rights, three two-year-olds, three stores and a share in young sire and champion sprinter Bradsell (lot 99). Lastotchka, by Myboycharlie and sold as lot 59 by Ronald Rauscher, won the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit and G3 Prix Gladiateur. The seven-year-old mare also won the Listed Prix de Thiberville and is from the family of Arc winner Rail Link. Other lots of note are Willie Mullins's 132 IHRB-rated hurdler and listed-placed Charlus (Churchill) (lot 42); as well as listed-placed hurdler Olympic Man (Martaline) (lot 16), who is a winner over fences and rated 132 over hurdles and 136 by IHRB as a chaser. Listed Tipperary Stakes-placed Fresh Fade (Cotai Glory) (lot 2) will be offered, as will prolific all-weather winner Maris Angel (Harry Angel) (lot 14). Broodmare Hotaugustnight (Camelot) (lot 83) will be put through the ring in foal to Pinatubo. She is a relative of G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly (Gleneagles). Among the stallion offerings are: a breeding right to Group 1 stallion Space Blues (lot 102), as well as breeding rights in A'Ali (lot 100) and El Caballo (lot 101). The post Lastotchka Headlines Tattersalls Online January Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jimmy Hyland, the new CEO of Godolphin Ireland, speaks about champion sire Night Of Thunder, new addition Shadow Of Light and more Sweeping statements about the future are usually best left to Nostradamus and the like but Jimmy Hyland, the new man at the helm at Kildangan Stud, has more than one good reason to look out over the horizon and smile. We say new, but Hyland put down 38 good years working for the Maktoum family before taking over as CEO from the outgoing Joe Osborne back in October. Hyland has taken over at a time when Kildangan Stud is abuzz; Night Of Thunder was just crowned the champion sire in Britain and Ireland, Blue Point is threatening to break into that upper echelon – and might just do so in 2026 – while many shrewd judges believe that Ghaiyyath could be on the cusp of something big. When you add that to the fact that dual Group 1-winning juvenile Shadow Of Light has joined the roster for the upcoming breeding season, it's easy to see why Hyland speaks with infectious optimism about what might be in store. “I am heading into my 39th year with the Maktoum family,” he says from his base at Kildangan Stud. “I say the Maktoum family because I worked for the late Sheikh Maktoum at Gainsborough Stud in Kentucky. I also spent some time in Japan – I went there in 1992 with Dancing Brave, so I was probably one of the first Darley employees to have worked in Japan back then. After that, I had the opportunity to manage Thornton Stud (pls add in North Yorkshire, which was leased by Sheikh Mohammed in 1995 and 1996. I came back to Kildangan Stud in 1996 to take over the management of Kildangan Stud and, working closely with Joe Osborne, my role grew from there. With Joe's departure, it's definitely a change as we met every day to discuss and plan things. It worked very well down through the years but I have to embrace change now and I think the future is very bright here at Kildangan Stud.” He added, “With stallions like Night Of Thunder, the champion sire in Britain and Ireland, and Blue Point, who could be in for a huge year, along with Ghaiyyath, a stallion we feel is only going to go from strength to strength, we're in a very good position. On top of that, you have Space Blues, very much the forgotten stallion, first-season sire Naval Crown, who is a fast, sharp horse by Dubawi and Native Trail, whose first foals sold very well last year. “Then we have the older horses, like Teofilo and Raven's Pass, who are doing well in the background and, of course, Shadow Of Light, who is new to the roster here this year. So it's a very strong stallion roster. There's lots to look forward to on the track with potential stallions in Ombudsman, Notable Speech, Opera Ballo and Wise Approach so I think we could be in for a big year.” It is a lazy assumption that an outfit as big as Darley is guaranteed any amount of success by virtue of the fact it plays home to some of the best bloodlines in the business. There is no reliable guide as to what way the pendulum can swing in this great game. Therefore, there is a genuine appreciation when the extensive work that goes on behind the scenes pays off. “The Godolphin operation in Ireland comprises eight farms and 4,700 acres,” Hyland explains. “We've 200 staff members depending on the time of year and we've about 500 horses under our care at any given time. So there's plenty going on here all year round and there's no downtime. It's challenging, but I love the challenge and this is a really exciting time of year because, in January, you have the newborn foals and every newborn foal is a blank canvas. When they are born, you are thinking, 'this could be the next big one.' That's the exciting part of this job; watching those young foals develop on the farms here, then going through the yearling prep and on to their trainers before, one day, possibly returning here to either stand as a stallion or join the broodmare band. We get great satisfaction out of that. Like, that big weekend in May, when we had the four Group 1 winners – Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby winners Good Cheer and Sovereignty along with 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas winners Desert Flower and Ruling Court – was just amazing. Desert Flower was born and raised here on the Irish studs so that was particularly special. Godolphin is a global team, but the Irish operation plays a huge role in that success and it's amazing to be a part of that winning team with Desert Flower along with Trawlerman and Rebel's Romance as well. We set the bar very high for ourselves every year and if we don't get four or five Group 1-winning graduates, we're disappointed.” Jimmy Hyland | Tattersalls He added, “As you walk through the entrance of the office here, you will see on either side of the walls that we have 102 brass name plates dedicated to all of the Group 1-winning graduates that the Irish farms have produced. I have been here so long at Kildangan Stud, that I can remember practically all of them, including Dubawi's mother, Zomaradah (Deploy), along with Dubawi himself and his own sire, Dubai Millennium. So we've had generations of the Dubai Millennium sire line), along with Dubawi, Night Of Thunder and all of the sons coming through. Obviously you have the influence of Shamardal as well. To have Dubawi and Shamardal racing in the same year as three-year-olds and then to have both of them join our European roster, it's a bit like buses; you wait for one to come along and then two arrive. To get two of that standard, we were just very fortunate because they have been breed-shapers. Even Cape Cross, who is also on that wall, left a massive legacy through Sea The Stars and Golden Horn and he is proving influential as a broodmare sire as well. So I have been very fortunate to have worked and been associated with some amazing horses. It's been a fantastic journey so far.” There are, of course, headaches and teething problems when anyone assumes a new role. For Hyland, his biggest headache has been bittersweet in that the popularity of champion sire Night Of Thunder, who will stand for €200,000 in 2026, means that Darley have been forced to turn a lot of good breeders away. Hyland explained, “Night Of Thunder is obviously hugely popular. Unfortunately, with the demise of Wootton Bassett, it added to our headache here with more people wanting to use Night Of Thunder. We are using him quite extensively ourselves, which meant there were less slots available to the public market, so it has been a balancing act trying to look after the people who have been good to the horse and trying to secure the best mares for the stallion. Some people normally got two but then two became one and, in some cases, one didn't become any and a lot of people are on a waiting list. It has been a huge challenge and, if, say, Notable Speech had retired, it would have been a huge help to have another option with that Dubawi bloodline. Obviously, we have Shadow Of Light, which has been helpful, but the decision was made to keep Notable Speech and Ombudsman in training this year, and it was probably the right decision because both of them probably have unfinished business. That's what His Highness Sheikh Mohammed enjoys, watching those high-class horses competing. We can look forward to them retiring at the end of this year. But as I said earlier, the Night Of Thunders of this world don't come along very often. He's an extraordinary stallion.” What's most exciting for Hyland, who very evidently treats his role here as much more than just a job, is that the best is yet to come. He admits that, while his day-to-day role hasn't changed drastically since he stepped in as CEO, he shared that has had to learn to delegate more. He still spends his mornings inspecting stock on any one of the eight different farms. The philosophy there, according to Hyland, is that he would rather spot a problem – be that making changes to body condition, feed, farriery or exercise – before it arises. He quantifies that hands-on approach by stating the team has “one shot” at producing potential champions. He is also big on land management and speaks passionately about adopting a sustainable approach to how Godolphin runs its farms. Be that the introduction of solar panels, their extensive composting system, rainwater harvesting and even the creation of their own beehives as well as extensive rewilding projects, it's an admirable and responsible approach. Hyland grew up within walking distance of Kildangan Stud. A nephew of the late Pat and Hugh Hyland of Oghill House Stud, he spent many summers and weekends cutting his teeth at that famous nursery. This is a passion project as much as anything else for a man who says “it was in the blood” when asked about how he first got into the industry. “It's a way of life,” he elaborates about his career path. “The days are long and there are plenty of disappointments but, when you produce that big horse, the likes of Desert Flower last year, that's the reward. In actual fact, the past three 1,000 Guineas winners – Desert Flower, Elmalka and Mawj – were all raised here. That gives us a great boost. Winning a Group 1 is great but, winning a Classic, that's the icing on the cake. Our goals haven't really changed down through the years. Our main goal is to produce high-class racehorses for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and his family, but with regards to our stallion operation, the aim is to stand top-class stallions. That's our business. All of our young stock here are so well-bred, they all have the potential to be champions.” He added, “The game has been good to me. I grew up locally and Oghill House Stud would have been the home place. My late uncles Pat and Hugh Hyland, I learned a lot from them and spent a lot of my weekends and summers there when I was growing up. My cousin, Royston Murphy, spent a lot of time there as well and, along with his wife Catriona, they own and run Sledmere Stud in Australia. My brother Ray works for Godolphin Ireland and he manages three of the farms in Kildare while our other cousin Johnny [Hyland] has taken over the reins at Oghill and is doing a great job. So it's in the blood. I have two sons working in the industry. Conor is working for the Irish National Stud and he is very happy there – he loves his job and they have been very good to him. Then we have Eoin, who works with Richard Pugh and the race planning team at Horse Racing Ireland and he is really enjoying his role there as well. Thankfully, my youngest son Lorcan is in his last year in college where he is studying computer science. Otherwise, the conversation at the dinner table would have been very equine-focused! My poor wife, Esther, who is a qualified nurse, already puts up with enough equine talk as it is! But on a serious note, I am very proud of them all and it's great to see them enjoying what they are doing.” Kildangan Stud is something of an extended family of Hyland's and he speaks passionately about opening its doors to the public during the ITM Stallion Trail, an initiative that this outfit has backed from the get-go, on Friday and Saturday. Shadow Of Light: new for 2026 | Racingfotos.com He said, “I think the Stallion Trail has multiple functions. A lot of clients come through our doors during the Stallion Trail because they are able to make a weekend of it and that's when some people are making their final decisions with regards to breeding plans. We also get some foreign visitors, the majority of which comes from the UK and France, as well as general racing fans, so it's something we have always put a huge emphasis into and we like to get behind it. We always do a good bit of business over the course of the two days and we find it is an excellent way to showcase multiple stallions in a short space of time.” Champion juvenile Shadow Of Light, who has been introduced to the roster at €17,500, is sure to command plenty of attention over the course of the two days. He is understood to have a solid booking of mares to date and Hyland is confident that he will receive a strong opening book this year. He concluded, “The Night Of Thunders and the Blue Points of this world are the easiest to fill. They are the most popular, the most successful and the most expensive. They fill on their own. The stallion that you are trying to make, from the middle to lower end of the market, is very competitive. Fortunately for us, Shadow Of Light was a great racehorse. To win the Middle Park and the Dewhurst, he's only the third horse in over a century to do that. The pedigree that he has, it's what the Irish breeder loves as it's full of precocity. He's a very good-looking horse to go with his race record and he is probably a little bit more leg for that family. He is very well made and very athletic. Anyone who has seen him, likes him and his bookings have been very positive over the last number of weeks. Our nominations team – Eamon Moloney, Anthony O'Donnell and Tom Fogarty – are doing a great job and we have had a good flow of people coming to see him.” The new dawn is an exciting one. The post Jimmy Hyland: ‘The Future Is Very Bright At Kildangan Stud’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Frankie Dettori has been unable to pay his £765,000 tax debt after his various companies were liquidated, according to a report on msn.com. The legendary jockey declared bankruptcy last March. Companies House published an update to the liquidation of Frankie Dettori Limited and Newmarket Activities Limited, which showed there were no funds to repay the debt. Dettori owes £765,000 to HMRC as of last October and an additional £6,391 to a car leasing company. Once the costs to liquidate his businesses are added in, the debt total is £888,799. The latest report read, “Assuming that realisations and expenses are as anticipated, it is not expected that there will be a return to unsecured creditors due to insufficient funds. This is subject to change based on the final outcome of our investigations.” Dettori will be released from his bankruptcy on March 17, 2026. His name first came up in a legal battle with HMRC over his anonymity after using a “tax avoidance scheme” in December of 2024. His career voluntarily ended in Britain in October of 2023 and, instead of retiring, he moved to California to continue riding. Dettori, who is currently riding in South America after retiring from U.S. racing after the Breeders' Cup, will become the new Amo Racing global brand ambassador in the coming days. The post Dettori Unable To Pay £765k In Taxes After Asset Liquidation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first reported foal for four-time Group 1 winner Luxembourg is a colt born at Cleaboy Stud and Coppice Farm. Out of Raffles Monte (Martaline), the bay was bred by Sean Gorman. The dam is a half-sister to Grade 3-winning hurdler Raffles Sainte (Saint Des Saint), out of listed-winning chaser Loxlade (Sholokhov) and from the family of French Champion Hurdle winner Vaporetto (Lear Fan). “Right colour, right physical, we couldn't be happier with him,” said Gorman. Luxembourg, by Camelot, was a Group 1 winner every year from two through five, taking the Futurity Trophy Stakes, the Irish Champion Stakes, the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Coronation Cup. He stands at The Beeches Stud for €6,000 this season under the Coolmore National Hunt banner. The post Luxembourg Sires First Reported Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Juan Hernandez earns Jockey of the Week after winning three stakes at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

With Horse of the Year candidate Sovereignty (Into Mischief) recently returned to Bill Mott's winter base at Payson Park in preparation for a 4-year-old campaign, breeders eager to support the three-time Grade I winner will have to wait at least another year. In the meantime, the Darley America stallion team is still plenty occupied with two other millionaire homebreds new to Jonabell Farm for 2026. Sales Manager Darren Fox said that the farm has carved out a competitive position in the market with 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' First Mission (Street Sense) and Grade I winner Highland Falls (Curlin). “Both horses represent tremendous value,” he said. “We priced them both at $10,000 to make them a no-brainer for breeders. Really top horsemen who have been out to see them have really loved them. They're both very strong physicals with a lot of sire power to boot.” HIGHLAND FALLS (Curlin — Round Pond, by Awesome Again). Standing for $10,000 Highland Falls joins the roster with the distinction of being the only Grade I-winning son of Curlin at stud out of a multiple Grade I-winning mare. Godolphin secured Round Pond (Awesome Again), winner of the GI Acorn Stakes and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, for $5.75 million in 2007 and the champion mare has proven to be a foundation producer for the operation. Her first foal Long River (A.P. Indy) was a Grade I winner and her daughter Tyburn Brook (Bernardini) has extended the line as the dam of Grade I winner and Darley sire Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) as well as recent GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes winner Knightsbridge (Nyquist). “Knightsbridge has oodles of talent and we're very excited about his campaign this year,” said Fox. “It's an immensely deep female family and you couldn't really ask for better in a young stallion.” Sara Gordon Trained by Brad Cox, Highland Falls was a winner on debut at three and developed into top form the following season. His 4-year-old campaign was highlighted by top-level scores in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes and GIII Blame Stakes, as well as runner-up finishes in the GII Oaklawn Handicap and GIII Monmouth Cup Stakes. In the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Highland Falls defeated three Grade I winners including GI Whitney Stakes victor Arthur's Ride (Tapit). “He got bumped from both sides pretty hard at the start and it didn't faze him a bit,” recalled Fox. “He's a two-turn horse, but he had speed and he put the race to Arthur's Ride. Turning for home, he pulled away and drew off impressively to win by four.” Highland Falls placed third in the same Saratoga race in 2025 and also finished second to champion Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the GI Whitney Stakes, earning a 107 Beyer Speed Figure. “That race was absolutely loaded with the likes of Sierra Leone, White Abarrio (Race Day) and Fierceness (City of Light),” recalled Fox. “For about three strides I thought he was going to win, but was ultimately collared late by Sierra Leone and was only beaten by a length by a very good racehorse. That race really showed what he could do over nine furlongs.” Due to an ill-timed minor injury, Highland Falls was not able to make the Breeders' Cup Classic for his final career start. He retired with six wins and finished out of the money only twice in 13 career starts. Fox noted that the chestnut has taken well to his new surroundings at Jonabell, adding that breeder interest has been high since the new stallion's arrival. “Highland Falls is an absolutely gorgeous horse physically,” he noted. “He's got a lovely shape to him, very racey with an attractive profile. What I love about him is the length of his hip. When he walks away from you he has that lovely, square hip. For a two-turn horse to have that shape of hip, I think it's going to prove very commercial. Pedigree-wise, he's an easy horse to breed to and physically he will fit most mares.” FIRST MISSION (Street Sense — Elude, by Medaglia d'Oro). Standing for $10,000. Sara Gordon First Mission becomes the third son of Street Sense to join the Darley America roster, following in the footsteps of Maxfield, whose fee has climbed to $50,000 following a breakout season with his first 2-year-olds in 2025, and Speaker's Corner, whose first juveniles will hit the track in 2026. Street Sense's fourth son at stud in Kentucky is Gainesway's McKinzie. “When I look at First Mission, he is all class and that is something that is synonymous with the Streets Sense sireline,” said Fox. “They love to eat and train. They're so easy to be around and this horse exudes that class.” Another standout for the Cox stable, First Mission finished a narrow second to future MGSW Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) on debut in February of his 3-year-old season. He returned a month later to break his maiden by over six lengths going a mile and a sixteenth, earning the 'Rising Star' nod. Also during his 3-year-old campaign, he claimed the GIII Lexington Stakes, defeating future Grade I winner Arabian Lion (Justify), and was second in the GII Clark Stakes. Returning to the racetrack at four and five, career highlights included wins in the GII Essex Handicap, GII Alysheba Stakes and GII Oaklawn Handicap. “He earned a 109 Beyer Speed Figure in the Oaklawn Handicap, which makes him the fastest sire to retire in Kentucky at $10,000 and under in the last five years,” noted Fox. “He followed that win with an excellent third in the GI Stephen Foster behind top horses Mindframe (Constitution) and Sierra Leone.” First Mission retired to stud with over $2.2 million in career earnings. “Like Maxfield, he was a typical two-turn Street Sense, but he had front-end speed and could carry it,” said Fox. “He is his own brand of Street Sense physically. He's got great movement and just walks like a cat.” First Mission's dam Elude is a daughter of Forty Marchanta (Arg) (Roar), a champion 3-year-old in Argentina. “He's out of a Medaglia d'Oro mare who is bred on the same cross as Rachel Alexandra, which I love,” Fox noted. “He has that lovely blend of Medaglia d'Oro coming through and that's probably one of the areas that he has an edge over his paternal barnmates Maxfield and Speaker's Corner in that First Mission is free of A.P. Indy, which is Street Sense's best cross. So bring on all the A.P. Indy and Bernardini you like, because he's going to love it.” The post Darren Fox: New Darley Sires “A No-Brainer for Breeders” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The £1-million Randox Grand National will become a 72-hour declaration race beginning in 2026, Aintree Racecourse announced on Wednesday. This year's edition is the 178th at Aintree and will be run on Saturday, April 11. The final declaration stage will be Wednesday, April 8. Previously, the final declarations were held on Thursday. The number of reserves for the race, which were reintroduced in 2025, will increase from four to six. Reserves can be brought into the Randox Grand National up to 1 p.m. the day before the race. This year, that date is Friday, April 10. Racing will also begin earlier on the Grand National card at 12:45 p.m. The Grade 2 bumper will be the card's finale after the 4 p.m. Grand National. Sulekha Varma, clerk of the course at Aintree Racecourse, said, “We're really pleased to be able to make the Randox Grand National a 72-hour declaration race from 2026, providing greater clarity for not only participants and racing stakeholders but also fans. “The Jockey Club successfully introduced 72-hour declarations for the Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs last year and, while the Randox Grand National is now the only UK jumps race to implement this, it also brings us in line with other global races such as the Melbourne Cup and Kentucky Derby. “We're extremely grateful to the British Horseracing Authority for their support in helping us make this change.” The post Grand National Declarations Changed To 72 Hours Out appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Francis Lui Kin-wai joined an elite group of trainers to reach 1,000 wins in Hong Kong when Speed Dragon stormed home from last for a stunning victory in Wednesday night’s Group Three January Cup (1,800m) at Happy Valley. Champion trainer in 2023-24 and the handler of champion galloper Golden Sixty, Lui joined John Moore (1,735 wins), John Size (1,629), Tony Cruz (1,583), Caspar Fownes (1,196) and Ricky Yiu (1,082) in reaching the major milestone when Winning Money and Speed Dragon won at the...View the full article

by George Adams Wasabi Ventures Stables & Stallions continues to upgrade the quality of their breeding stock and the commerciality of the foals that they're producing on their Serendipity Springs Farm. There is a very interesting group of stallions retiring for 2026, and Wasabi has shares in several which we'll be supporting. TICKLE THE IVORIES, 5, Justify-Gagnoa (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. Will be bred to Mindframe. The highest profile of the new stallions with whom Wasabi is involved is the multiple GI winner Mindframe, who retired to Claiborne. He's a horse that I was personally invested in early on, having claimed his half-sister as a broodmare prospect before Mindframe was named, and he comes from a deep Mid-Atlantic female family. Mindframe is a gorgeous physical, and it's quite a snub that he didn't make the list of Eclipse finalists even though he was the only older male to win two G1s in '25, beating Sierra Leone in one and Nysos in the other. But still, he's got every right to be a fantastic stallion and Wasabi purchased a young Justify mare from Coolmore in November specifically to send to him. Her name is Tickle the Ivories, she's due early to Munnings with her first foal, and we were able to steal her a couple months ago because she was literally the first mare through the ring in November. Like Mindframe, she's a leggy, strapping individual, and she should suit him very well. WHY NOT TONIGHT, 8, Tapiture-Pay the Lady, by Not For Love, and PAW PRINTS, 6, Kitten's Joy-Hachita, by Gone West. Will be bred to Johannes. Wasabi is also supporting Claiborne's other new stallion, Johannes. He was a heck of a racehorse, and Nyquist is one of the best young stallions out there, so Johannes has a lot going for him. Wasabi has never shied away from producing a turf horse, and will be sending two young mares to Johannes. The first is their first ever black-type winner Why Not Tonight, a daughter of Tapiture. Like Johannes, she is bred for dirt but did her best running on turf, and Nyquist has had success with Tapit-line mares, having sired the likes of Tenma and Gosger on that cross. The second mare that Wasabi is sending to Johannes is Paw Prints, a Juddmonte-bred daughter of Kitten's Joy from the immediate family of Final Gambit. We're leaning into Johannes's turf success again here, and the Uncle Mo/El Prado cross has produced the likes of Seismic Beauty, Showcase and Scalding. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Locked joins the sire ranks at Gainesway | Sara Gordon ITGETSGREATERLATER,6, Justify-Sotto Voce, by Tapit, and SAUCILY, 6, Curlin-Leslie May, by Tapit. Will be bred to Locked. Wasabi was very lucky to get involved early with Locked, who is another first-year stallion that we're very excited about. He was an absolutely top-class two-year-old, beat older horses in the Cigar Mile at three, and scored by a record margin in the Santa Anita Handicap this past season at four. As a son of Gun Runner, he has everything going for him, and we're sending two mares to him at Gainesway. The first will be the Justify mare Itgetsgreaterlater, whose 2025 colt by Gunite topped the weanlings in his session at Keeneland November when selling to Wesley Ward for $160,000, so it made plenty of sense to go back to another son of Gun Runner with the mare. And Locked's leg and length will suit her very well, as she's a touch more compact herself. The second mare Wasabi will send to Locked is Saucily, a Stonestreet-bred daughter of Curlin. This is a very commercial family, and we've been giving Saucily plenty of chances. She's another whose own physical is a bit more compact, so Locked should suit her well, too. WILD FOR LOVE, 6, Not For Love, Sticky, by Concern and EBB TIDE, 7, Medaglia d'Oro-Magdalena Bay, by Distorted Humor. Will be bred to Arthur's Ride. We took a share in Arthur's Ride after seeing him in person at Taylor Made during the November sale, as he just blew us away physically. Obviously he was brilliant on his best day, and is a very well-bred horse, so he's got plenty going for him. Wasabi will send him Wild For Love, who has already produced a multiple black-type winner by a son of Tapit, as well as the Godolphin-bred mare Ebb Tide, whose female family has had lots of success with A.P. Indy-line stallions, including a full-sister to the dam of Ebb Tide having produced Tapit's leading son Constitution. GIVING SPIRIT, 6, Ghostzapper-Hallie Belle, by Medaglia d'Oro and QUEEN MUM, 11, Paynter-For Royalty, by Not for Love. Will be bred to Straight No Chaser. Eclipse Champion Sprinter Straight No Chaser at WinStar is another horse with a really awesome physical. He has a lot more leg and scope to him than I was expecting for a fast son of Speightster out of a Johannesburg mare. Wasabi will be sending him the Godolphin-bred Giving Spirit, who is a half-sister to a talented horse called Maycocks Bay by Speightster's sire Speightstown. And they'll also send the Black-Type two-year-old Queen Mum, who is half-sister to the dam of a nice Munnings filly named Cougar Cocktail who looks like a stakes horse, so this sire-line has worked with her female family. AQUATIC APPROACH, 5, Omaha Beach-Secret Mission, by Smart Strike and PIVOTAL WOMAN (Fr), 9, Siyouni (Fr)-Candinie, by Bernadini. Will be bred to Arzak. Although Wasabi is focused on Kentucky these days, we were sufficiently intrigued and impressed by Arzak to take a share in him, also. He's a Grade II-winning millionaire by Not This Time that will stand at Amsterdam Two Farm in New York, and we'll be sending him the young mare Aquatic Approach, whose female family has produced several good horses by Giant's Causeway (sire of Not This Time), and also a really neat mare called Pivotal Woman (FR), who is by Siyouni and from the productive Overbrook Farm family that produced Grand Slam and Leestown. Tiz the Law | Coolmore FLORAL HALL, 7, Bodemeister-Painted Lady, by Broad Brush. Will be bred to Tiz The Law. Some of the other matings that we're particularly excited about this spring are the Godolphin-bred Bodemeister mare Floral Hall, who we got into Tiz the Law at Ashford before they increased his fee following that graded stakes double he had at Aqueduct during the November sale. MAD GRACE, 11, English Channel-Floating Island, by A.P. Indy. Will be bred to Karakontie. We'll be sending a really hard-knocking, well-bred turf mare named Mad Grace to Karakontie at Gainesway. He gets runners, and they're classy, too, and – as mentioned earlier, Wasabi doesn't hesitate to breed for turf. WAND WORK, 6, Uncle Mo-Mrs. Norris, by Bernardini. Will be bred to Jimmy Creed. I've been a big fan of Jimmy Creed at Spendthrift for a long time now, and we'll be sending a young Uncle Mo mare to him. Her name is Wand Work, and she's a half to a nice Black-Type horse named Hedwig from the Distorted Humor sire-line, so hopefully Jimmy Creed can help her get a nice runner. C'EST MARDI, 10, Tiznow-Surging Storm, by Storm Creek. Will be bred to Thousand Words. We're also sending our Tiznow mare C'est Mardi, who won a couple of races in Wasabi's silks during her racing days, to Thousand Words at Spendthrift. He's had some really impressive results with his first two crops now, despite a Comp Index of less than 1.00, and he already has two black-type winners out of mares by Tiznow and a son of Tiznow, from just five runners. So we'll take a shot with him and a cross that looks very promising. He's a beautiful horse and had plenty of talent, and the mare could run a little bit, too. The post Mating Plans For 2026, Presented By Spendthrift: Wasabi Ventures appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale carried on its momentum from opening day, with another five yearlings fetching seven-figure prices. A $2 million Extreme Choice topped the leaderboard when selling to Yulong Investments, while strong clearance rates continued to rise from yesterday's figures. Five horses sold for seven figures on Day 2, bringing the sale total so far to eight, one less than this time last year. At a glance Yulong splashed out $2 million for the day's top lot, Lot 345, a full brother to G3 Vanity Stakes winner Wollombi (Extreme Choice). The average lifted sightly to $288,266 on Day 2, slightly above the $277,145 average at the same point last year. The median remained at $200,000, and level with the $200,000 median at this stage in 2025. With 326 lots sold over the first two days, the gross sits at $93,975,000, down from 2025's record gross of $97,555,000 for the same stage, with 26 less lots sold so far. By the close of Day 2 the clearance rate had risen five points to 83%, up from 81% at the same stage last year. Segenhoe Stud sits clear on top of the vendor table with 16 yearlings sold over the first two days for $8.16 million, at an average of $510,000. Newgate Farm is in second with 20 yearlings sold for $6.5 million. Milburn Creek leads the averages with five sold at an average of $570,000. Snitzel leads sires, with 13 lots grossing $9.58 million at an average of $736,923. I Am Invincible sits in second with 13 lots selling for $8.19 million at an average of $630,000. Extreme Choice leads the table by average (2 or more sold) with seven yearlings averaging $840,000. Anamoe is the leading first season sire by both gross ($5.82 million) and average ($415,714). Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud leads the buyer's table by both average and gross, having bought four yearlings for $4.7 million at an average of $1.175 million. Ciaron Maher and David Redvers have spent $3.8 million on seven yearlings to be second by gross expenditure. Lot 345 – Extreme Choice (Aus) x Hazlebrook (Aus), colt – $2,000,000 Money was no object for Yulong Investments, who were determined not to stop until they secured Lot 345, with the gavel eventually falling at $2 million, making him the second lot of the sale to reach that milestone. The chestnut colt by Extreme Choice was offered by Kingstar Farm and is a full brother to G3 Vanity Stakes winner Wollombi (Extreme Choice). “He's a very special colt, he was our only target that we definitely needed to buy,” Jun Zhang, General Manager of Yulong Australia, said. “We can see some stallion potential with him and also we own the sister as well, she has a foal by Diatonic, so we try and create our own families, so that is another reason why we had to get him. Extreme Choice is a very successful stallion and could be a history-making stallion in the future, so this is why Mr Zhang is trying to get every Extreme Choice he can.” The powerful colt is out of Hazlebrook (Hinchinbrook), who is a half-sister to stakes winner Everage (Zizou) and has produced three winners from three runners. The family traces back to G3 Debutante Stakes winner Alshandegha (Vain). Hazlebrook's first foal, an unraced 2-year-old by Tiger of Malay, was sold at the Magic Millions last year for $75,000 to Shane McGrath Bloodstock. Hazlebrook missed in 2025 but returned to Extreme Choice this spring. Lot 252 – Snitzel (Aus) x Embrace Me (NZ), colt – $1,500,000 The first seven-figure lot of Day 2 at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale set a high standard for the session when China Horse Club, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) and Newgate & Partners combined to secure Lot 252 for $1.5 million. The athletic chestnut colt, by champion sire Snitzel, was offered by Milburn Creek and is the second foal of Group 3-winning mare Embrace Me (Shamexpress {NZ}). “We're delighted to get the colt. Beautiful horse from a fast mare and from a great farm,” Henry Field said. “We loved the horse. We've had so much success with the likes of Invader, Russian Revolution, In The Congo. We've had five Group 1 winners just by Snitzel himself. “I think it is one of those things where you have to buy what you love and hopefully he's a good horse for us. He is very much in the mould of some of those horses. He's neat and he's sharp, strong. He's got attitude.” Lot 373 – Snitzel (Aus) x Iffranesia (FR), colt – $1,500,000 With buyers snapping up the final progeny of champion sire Snitzel following his death in June 2025, Lot 372 immediately drew strong interest before Coolmore's Tom Magnier stepped in and secured the colt for $1.5 million. Offered by Arrowfield Stud, the chestnut is a full brother to Group 3 winner Beadman (Snitzel) and the fifth foal of French stakes winner Iffranesia (Iffraaj). “He's a lovely colt. Arrowfield, we've had a little bit of luck there before, obviously the Messaras know how to breed a good horse by Snitzel and we've had a bit of luck with Snitzel, obviously with Shinzo and Switzerland,” Magnier said. “There's a great group of people in our colts fund. Chris Waller will train him. They all loved the horse, he's one of the best colts on the ground. We couldn't be happier with the type, we think he's a mature type and everybody on the team really liked him, so fingers crossed.” Lot 420 – I Am Invincible (Aus) x Key (Aus), filly – $1,200,000 Rising Sun Syndicate Director Kosi Kawakami made it clear they were determined to secure the best filly in the sale, and that resolve saw them team with Knine Inc to land Lot 420 for $1.2 million. The chestnut filly, offered by Kia Ora Stud, is out of stakes-placed mare Key (Exceed and Excel), a full sister to Oz Empress (Exceed and Excel) and dam of Breeders' Plate runner-up I'm Ya Huckleberry (Home Affairs), who sold at last year's Magic Millions for $400,000 to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and the pair will now get the chance to train his half-brother. “We're obviously looking for the best filly we can get from this whole catalogue for our owner from Japan,” Kawakami said. “We looked at this horse and we fell in love with her. She's the best. Obviously, knowing her brother being trained by Gai and Adrian, they would be the best trainers to go for. We were both in love, so we just went harder and I'm happy to secure her. It's a real honour to be able to buy a million-dollar filly from this catalogue. I'm really excited.” Adrian Bott further explained why the filly was so compelling. “It's a very current family, a family of so much black-type depth, a family I know very well,” Bott said. “We've got the half-brother in training who we've got a very high opinion of. Physically and the way she presented at this sale really made her a must-have for us. We were really fortunate we were able to partner up here on this filly and I must say we're delighted we've been able to secure her.” Lot 429 – Snitzel (Aus) x Krone (Aus), colt – $1,200,000 Snitzel stamped his authority late in the session, with his third yearling for the day breaking the seven-figure barrier when James Harron Bloodstock in partnership with Tony Fung Colts secured Lot 429 for $1.2 million. Offered by Rosemont Stud, the colt is the second foal of G1 Coolmore Classic winner Krone (Eurozone), combining elite racetrack performance with a pedigree littered from top to bottom with black type. “Lovely colt, he was one of our picks across the board with all the team – ourselves and TFI – everyone just loved him,” Harron said. “He's an athletic horse and Krone was obviously very successful on the track, a very sound, consistent mare, so he was a great package. We're very happy to get him.” Harron expects the colt to get up and running early. “I think he'll be early. He's very light on his feet, he doesn't carry a lot of excess and he's very easy on himself – a real quality colt,” he said. “He's really elastic in how he moves and how he gets about the ground. I get the impression he'll just skip across the ground and be one of those really athletic types. He caught the eye from the very beginning.” The post Yulong Goes To A$2 million To Secure Extreme Choice Colt At Magic Millions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Unbeaten Sword Of State colt Warwoven (NZ) (Sword Of State) remains the horse to beat in Saturday’s A$3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) after the race favourite drew barrier six. The juvenile has been dominant in his two starts to date, winning at Randwick in December before a commanding 3.3-length victory at Eagle Farm on January 3. Trainer Bjorn Baker is chasing his third win in the feature after scoring with O’ Ole (Ole Kirk) last year and Unencumbered (Testa Rossa) in 2014. “I think it is an ideal gate for him, we were hoping to get something like that (gate 6) and with the emergency out we come into 5,” Baker said. “It’s a race where you definitely want to draw well if the track remains good. But even from that gate we have got the option to get out if we want to as well. “I didn’t want to be too close to the inside, and you don’t want to be covering ground out deep. “I think he’s got good tactical speed and he’s very laid back. He should be able to jump and hopefully put himself in the first six or seven comfortably enough.” With the potential for rain later in the week, Baker is confident Warwoven could handle a softened track should it present. “He is a big athletic horse and he is coming in with great fitness. So from that point of view, we’re happy,” Baker said. “He’s out of a Makfi mare that could handle the wet a little bit, so he is probably as well set up as any. “You don’t really know until they go on it, and I can’t recall him being on too wet a track. You never quite know, but my gut feeling is he will get through it pretty well.” Warwoven is the first foal of the Makfi mare Needle And Thread, who was the winner of the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and placed at Group Two level in the Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic and Eight Carat Classic. First season sire Sword Of State has enjoyed a terrific start to his stud career, with just the two runners in Australia to this point, the other being stakes winner Torture (NZ) (Sword of State). That Lindsay Park-trained juvenile won the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield in October and is among the favourites for Saturday week’s Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State already heads the Australian first season sires’ table and has the potential to skip clear should Warwoven nab the A$1,739,100 winner’s prize. A Group One winning son of Snitzel, Sword Of State is well represented at this month’s Karaka Yearling Sales, with a total of 50 yearlings by the emerging young sire catalogued across Book 1 (21), Book 2 (25) and the Summer Sale (4). View the full article

Father-and-son training partners Peter and Shaun McKay are taking a realistic approach to their prospects of further success when they return to their favourite track on the middle day of the Wellington Cup carnival. Trentham has been a happy hunting ground for the Matamata duo during their partnership that is now its fourth season, with 13 wins at a 20 percent strike-rate in their overall tally of 38 wins. Their highlight together was Wolfgang’s (NZ) (Puccini) double last season in the Gr.3 NZCIS Wellington Cup (3200m) and New Zealand St Leger (2500m), while in his previous career as a jockey, Shaun’s career-high came on stable runner The Mitigator (Master Of Design) in the 2020 Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile. Peter also trained 2008 and 2015 Thorndon Mile winners Alamosa and Puccini, and on Saturday he and his son will saddle up Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) in quest of further success in the 1600m feature. “It was a worry when we entered him for the Thorndon that off his high rating he would end up with something like 59 kilos, but then when the Kelsos decided to run Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), that all changed,” McKay said. “With a mare like her in the field the weight scale has ended up in our horse’s favour with 54.5 kilos, but we’re still being realistic about our chances.” Spencer has been in the McKay stable for his last three starts, beginning with a win over 1340m in late November and two subsequent unplaced efforts. In the most recent of those, the Gr. 1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) on January 3, his chances were virtually eliminated when he stumbled badly as he jumped from the barrier. “When that happened Elen (Nicholas) dug him up, but unfortunately that made him start over-racing, and to her credit she apologised afterwards. “He races best when he relaxes and gets into a rhythm, so that’s what we’re hoping will play out on Saturday. From his draw (10) the idea will be to roll forward and lead. “Masa (Hashizume) rode him in his Tuesday gallop, so he’s a had a good feel of him ahead of the weekend.” The McKays’ last-start Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth ll Cup winner Santa Catalina (NZ) (Puccini) will be on trial for the Wellington Cup when she lines up in Saturday’s Gr.3 Totara Lodge Wellington Stakes (2100m), but again her participation comes with a caveat. “Last year with Wolfgang, the Welligton Cup was 17 days after the Ellerslie race and it worked out perfectly, but this year it’s a whole month between the two races,” McKay said. “Santa Catalina had to run somewhere in between times and with no suitable race up north, this weekend is the only real option. “Her style is to find her feet and finish off, and with her record this season the 2100m will be short of her best, so to be fair so long as she’s hitting the line we’ll be happy.” The McKay contingent is completed by Faultless (NZ) (Tivaci), a three-year-old whose sole win came over 1300m on the track as an autumn two-year-old. The Tivaci gelding will be an interesting runner having his first middle-distance start in the Happy Hire 2100, with a best-case scenario a win or placing to open up some lucrative options. “If he was to win or finish second, we could get into the Remutaka Classic back here at the end or month, or there’s also the Waikato Guineas to consider. “His pedigree says he can’t stay, but in his last two starts with the blinkers off he’s relaxed a lot better, which encourages us to think now is the time to step him up over ground. “Like the other two he’s very well, so we’ll head back down to Wellington hoping it all plays out for us.” View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – The 2026 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale concluded its compressed two-day run Tuesday. “Another really good day,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “Overall, it was a great, solid day of trading. Everyone felt like it was a very honest and strong market overall.” That market strength and diversity was on display with as the top 25 horses came from 18 different consignors and sold to 24 individual buyers. The top 13 yearlings were also each by different stallions. After a three-day sale in 2025, Keeneland opted to make the 2026 January Sale into two longer, more action-packed sessions versus stretching the sale into three days. Lacy acknowledged that the decision was a difficult one to make but said, at the end of the day, buyers and sellers were happy. “It maintained the energy,” Lacy said. “The back ring was packed for a lot of the day. That's all you can ask for in a good marketplace is when you've got energy from the beginning to the end of the day. We never felt like we hit a lull. Even the auctioneer said the sale had a great bounce to it. It really comes down to the entry count. You have a choice between two full, longer days or three shorter days. And we felt like the fuller days, where you put horses up against each other and you have a real energy, are going to be better rather than split it into three days. It was a big ask from everybody because we've never catalogued that many before and we didn't get the scratch rate we expected either. So normally you have 30% scratches and it was more like 20% out of this sale which, again, is a sign of a strong market and something we're happy with.” Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach also emphasized that the switch to longer sessions in this particular sale was not an indicator that the same method would be employed in future, larger sales. “It's not something we're going to make a habit of,” said Breathnach. “This is not a new strategy and it's something you can't do in a bigger sale because you can't stable the horses. When you're re-using the same barns, you can't have 500 horses in a session. We have to really keep it at 400 or something close to that. So this is not going to be like we're going to have extra long sessions in big sales. It just became a two or three day decision [for this specific sale], and the decision was made to make it a two-day sale and we'll stand behind it as the right move.” Many consignors returned to Keeneland for a new try at short yearlings off a strong November Sale with money still to spend when they weren't able to purchase enough weanlings. “We were pleased to see the quality of the short yearlings,” Lacy continued. “The consignors felt like this was a good representation. People brought some really nice stuff here and the sellers got rewarded for that. The buyers were here and willing to support [the diversity] in the market. That's indicative of the quality of stock that was here.” Orinoco River (Hip 863) Keeneland En Fuego Stable picked up the session's top yearling, a $525,000 son of Nyquist consigned by Conley Bloodstock while the day's top mare belonged to St. George Stable LCC who acquired Orinoco River (War Front) (hip 863) in foal to Not This Time for $500,000 in a post-sale transaction after she failed to meet her reserve in the ring. The made the mare Coin Broker (Ire) responsible for two of the top four prices of the day as her Uncle Mo yearling (hip 637) sold to Rock Ridge Racing for $420,000. “Obviously her, her page is what, you know, caught our eye, but then you go look at her and physically,” said Rock Ridge Racing's Codee Guffey. “She just stood out to us. We'll ultimately keep her and hopefully add her to our racing stable and then bring her home, make a broodmare after racing.” Nyquist Colt a Home Run for Conley Bloodstock Gainesway's Brian Graves waited late into Tuesday's closing session to pick up a colt (hip 966) by top sire Nyquist, outlasting several other interested parties on a final bid of $525,000. Out of the stakes-placed mare Sorrentina Lemon, the colt counts Canadian champion 2-year-old filly and GI Darley Alcibiades winner Negligee (Northern Afleet) as an extended family member. Graves signed the ticket as part of En Fuego Stables, a group that was also active buying weanlings during the Keeneland November Sale. “I bought him for a pinhooking group and we'll bring him back as one of our stars next year at one of the select yearling sales,” Graves said. “He was just a specimen of a horse. He had everything you'd want–sire power, physical, walk, athleticism. I thought he was the best yearling here. [The market] has been hard. I bought eight foals yesterday, but it hasn't been easy. I think you just have to find your flow with the market and trust your gut.” Nyquist | Sarah Andrew The son of Nyquist was the sole offering consigned in the Keeneland January Sale by Carolyn Conley's Conley Bloodstock. First dam Sorrentina Lemon is a Justice Stables homebred. “His reserve was a bit lower than the final price but we like to see the market take it,” Conley said. “So we set a conservative reserve. Bill Justice (of Justice Real Estate) is my other half and he bred this colt. We believed in this colt from the beginning. I knew he was the nicest foal out of this mare so far. We are excited for his future.” Sorrentina Lemon's first foal is the now 4-year-old Mendelssohn gelding Lemon Sohn and she has a 3-year-old Medaglia d'Oro filly and a 2-year-old Justify filly still in the pipeline. That Justify filly failed to reach her reserve at Keeneland September last year on a final bid of $325,000. “I wanted to wait for the September sale but Bill is an expert at businessman and he said Nyquist is as hot as a firecracker so we are going to January,” Conley continued. “The colt improved while he was here at Keeneland. I swear he grew and gained weight. He has a beautiful disposition. And his walk–wow.” The result marked the highest-priced sale for Conley since she began consigning in 2021. “I have been actively consigning going on five years,” Conley said. “It was a natural flow from working in California where I was a jockey's agent for two years. I was asked to sell or buy horses so this was a natural progression. Cassie Lee is my right hand. She has been with me since I started consigning. She runs the shedrow at the sale and shows the horses and brings them to the ring. I couldn't do it without her.” Black Magic Woman Casts a Spell on L C Racing A winning daughter of Uncle Mo campaigned by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher earned plenty of attention Tuesday early in the session, hammering down on a final bid of $425,000 to L C Racing. Black Magic Woman (hip 596), a half-sister to GI Arkansas Derby winner Magnum Moon, sold in foal to champion first-crop sire Vekoma from the consignment of Claiborne Farm. “She's a big, strong mare, very attractive,” said Mark Reid who signed the ticket on behalf of L C Racing's Glenn Bennett. “I love Vekoma. And she's a half to an Arkansas Derby-winning millionaire. There was a lot to like about her. Todd had her as a race mare and she ran a couple of good numbers on the rags and sheets, which I pay a lot of attention to. I actually thought we'd have to pay a little bit more for her then we did. So we're very happy with the price.” Black Magic Woman (Hip 596) | Keeneland Twice a winner going one mile at Gulfstream in her racing career in 2021, Black Magic Woman is likely to return to Kentucky and Vekoma for her 2026 cover, though Reid admitted he'd been tempted by a few other options while visiting farms during Tuesday's open houses. “[Her 2026 foaling plans] are still to be discussed,” Reid said. “There's a good chance she'll go back to the same horse. She's a really good match for him. Although I've been wandering the countryside looking at stallions today and I've seen maybe two or three other good matches for her. So she'll go back to Pennsylvania to foal and then she'll return to Kentucky to be bred.” L C Racing has seen plenty of success on the track, including last year's GII Lexus Raven Run Stakes winner Kappa Kappa (Omaha Beach). Reid noted that Bennett was also looking to breed future success with a broodmare band that's trending upwards. “Glenn's looking to improve himself,” Reid said. “He's an old-school sports guy who's looking to have some fun and you have fun in those big races on Saturday. So my marching orders are to see if we can get him there. He's assembling a pretty good broodmare band. I bought Adorabella [at Fasig-Tipton] two years ago and now it looks like Book 'em Danno [Bucchero] could be a champion sprinter. So he's got, at the very least, a couple of top producing dams. So we're excited. He's got a band of about 15 now. And what I do every time I go to one of these sales, I sell our bottom mares and buy one higher to upgrade the group. That's what he's looking for. The market is very spotty. They either want them or they don't. And everybody seems to be on the same five horses in every sale. So that's why we're going this way [buying mares] instead of yearlings because they get the big super groups together and all the ones that I used to be able to buy for a couple hundred thousand are now going for [seven-figures]. And although Glenn could do that, I just don't think it's a smart way to go. If I can get him 15 decent-bred mares throwing horses by decent Kentucky stallions every year, I think we'll put together a pretty good race horse.” Now on the Oaks Trail, EGL-One Racing Continues to Grow Sixteen months ago, EGL One picked up their first purchase at Keeneland September, a yearling filly by American Pharoah for $75,000. Flash forward and that filly, now named Two Bits, has put the young entity on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks via her second-place finish in the Jan. 2 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct, good for 10 points on the Oaks leaderboard. EGL has continued to grow in the months since that first purchase and Amanda Gillman struck again Tuesday, adding the now 4-year-old Quality Road filly Agia Marina (hip 558) to an EGL-One Racing roster which numbers some 20 strong. “We liked her race record,” said Gillman of EGL's newest acquisition. “She's proven that she has some talent on the race track and obviously Quality Road kind of sells himself.” Agia Marina (Hip 558) | Keeneland With earnings of over $130,000 in six starts, Agia Marina broke her maiden two starts ago at Kentucky Downs and raced most recently at Gulfstream Park, finishing second at Gulfstream Park in an allowance optional claimer Dec. 27. “These guys [EGL], they're focused on breeding and anything that they can create value with and get some black-type with down the road and then put into the broodmare band,” Gillman continued. “She's going to return to the track with Amelia Green and she'll race, barring any unforeseen circumstances, through her 4-year-old year and then we'll put her in foal next year.” The $170,000 paid for Agia Marina matched the third highest-priced horse signed for by EGL and Gillman acknowledged the strength of the market. “It was a good price,” Gillman said. “It was kind of the top of our limit but, in this market, you have to stretch for the ones you really like. We were blown out of the water on basically everything [Monday] so when you do land on one, it's a relief. [We want] the kind of horses that everyone wants in their broodmare band, which obviously makes it tough to buy. You hope that some slip through the cracks here and there. You look through all sorts of horses in every sale and try and find those classic pedigrees, those Curlin and Tapit pedigrees that everyone wants.” And as for their Busanda runner up? “She's doing great,” Gillman said. “She came out of the race in great shape. She's been very exciting to have. She's such a hard-trying, sweet horse to be around. She really gives you her all and she loves people so she's been a cool horse. It's honestly surreal. If you would have told us two years ago, we probably would've laughed in your face. It's everything coming together. We'll leave all her options open and consider every race on the Oaks trail. Just see how she trains on and pick the best spot for her.” The post Keeneland January Concludes With Day Of ‘Solid Trading’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two racetrack veterinarians who are the principals of Maryland Veterinary Group (MVG) have been served with notices of violations and were given provisional suspensions that started Jan. 12 after Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) searches of that practice's offices at Laurel Park and Delaware Park allegedly turned up “banned” substances that, under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) rules, are never to be found in any covered Thoroughbred or possessed on any HISA-regulated grounds. Dr. Nicholas Meittinis and Dr. Adam Lockard are both alleged to have violated HISA Rule 2215 (“No Covered Person acting alone or in concert with another person shall compromise the welfare of a Covered Horse for competitive or commercial reasons…”) and Rule 2271(a)(1) (“Use of physical or veterinary procedures to mask the effects or signs of injury so as to allow training or racing to the detriment of the Covered Horse's health and welfare.”). TDN emailed both veterinarians on Tuesday to get their sides of the story. Meittinis wrote back and said, “as our hearing has not yet been scheduled, I withhold any comments at this time. I'll be happy to comment after the hearing.” Lockard did not reply prior to deadline for this story. The charges represent only the regulator's version of what transpired, and both veterinarians will be entitled to hearings as their separate (but related) cases move forward. According to the two notices of violation, on Sept. 23, 2025, HIWU, which is the independent enforcement agency of the HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program, conducted coordinated searches of the veterinary practice's offices at Laurel and Delaware. The violation notices did not state specific reasons why the MVG offices were singled out beyond indicating that the searches were based on “information provided to the Authority.” Nor did the documents cite any specific trainers who might have received veterinary services related to any alleged administration of banned substances. At Laurel, HIWU agents allegedly seized banned substances, some of which “were several years past their expiration dates.” The inventory list included: “Carolina Gold” (gamma aminobutyric acid) “AMP 20%” (adenosine 5-monophosphate), “Osphos” (bisphosphonate), albuterol tablets (banned if not administered via inhaler) and isoxsuprine. Multiple containers of banned anabolic-agent substances were also allegedly seized: Trenbolone, testosterone, testosterone cypionate, stanozolol and Winstrol-V. On the same date, Dr. Meittinis was present at MVG's Delaware office when HIWU found and seized another banned substance, albuterol syrup. The notices of violation further stated that, “Displayed on the wall of MVG's Delaware Park office during the Sept. 23, 2025, inspection was the recipe for 'Steroid Paint'.” That recipe appeared to be comprised of banned and controlled substances, such as pitcher plant extract, “DMSO” and “Dex.” The violation notices stated that, “On the date of the Delaware Park search, Dr. Meittinis's veterinary vehicle was also searched on the backside of Delaware Park, and HIWU found and seized another Banned Substance,” which was allegedly pitcher plant extract. The violation notices stated that a follow-up search by HIWU Nov. 20 at Laurel allegedly yielded additional jugs of topical pitcher plant extract and other allegedly banned substances that “were located in an inconspicuous location and were not observed by investigators during the Sept. 23, 2025, search at Laurel Park (although they can be seen in photographs from that inspection).” The violation notices also stated that additional substances seized from the searches are “currently being analyzed by laboratories to determine if they also contain Banned Substances.” The violation notices stated that, “As described above, you and the veterinary practice under your control were found to be in possession of several current Banned Substances across multiple locations dedicated to the care and treatment of Covered Horses and on different dates, indicating a pattern of repeated and ongoing violations. “Additionally, there is evidence that MVG dispensed Steroid Paint containing three Banned Substances to Covered Persons for use on Covered Horses since 2023… “If it is agreed or determined that one or more Rule 2271(a)(1) violations have occurred, HISA may, in addition to the provisional suspension, seek to impose one or more of the sanctions outlined in Rule 8200 as deemed appropriate by HISA in keeping with the seriousness of the violation and the facts of the case, and that is consistent with the safety, welfare, and integrity of Covered Horses, Covered Persons and Covered Horseraces,” the violation notices stated. The post Two Veterinarians Suspended By HISA After Track-Office Searches At Laurel And Delaware Allegedly Turn Up Banned Substances appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article