Wandering Eyes

Repole Stable's Final Score aims to carry his speed to Kentucky as he faces 11 rivals in the $400,000 Bourbon Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland Oct. 5.View the full article

By Jordyn Bublitz Confidence is the key for Look To Da Stars at Cambridge Raceway tonight. The four-year-old son of Andover Hall lines up in the NZMCA Parking At Cambridge Raceway Handicap Trot (7.54pm) for Pukekohe trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon, with in-form reinsman Andre Poutama taking the drive. As a three-year-old, he showed flashes of real ability when tested against some of the better trotters in his crop. “He showed us a bit of promise early, but he hasn’t gone on with it like we thought he would,” Nathan admitted. The talented but quirky gelding has also earned a reputation for being a little unusual around the barn. “He’s a real weirdo to be honest, always worried that the bogeyman is around the corner,” Nathan laughed. “He’s not nasty by any means, just a nervous type of horse.” Back this preparation, Look To Da Stars has had two outings. He made a mistake fresh-up, but his second start was much more encouraging when running into fourth at Alexandra Park. Nathan felt there were genuine positives to take from that run. “He was really good last start, Dad just said he was a little awkward around the last turn going Auckland way round. He does seem to trot better left-handed so hopefully that aids his chances,” he said. Tonight’s assignment represents a noticeable ease in company for the gelding. After tackling quality opposition throughout his career, both in age group features and recent higher-grade events at Alexandra Park, the Cambridge field looks far more manageable. “No disrespect to the other runners but he’s faced a lot tougher opposition in his career than what he’s up against tonight, he just needs to keep his head screwed on,” Nathan said. He is currently a $3.20 favourite in what’s just a six horse field. Confidence is the key word for both horse and connections, with tonight’s trip designed to help the gelding rebuild his self-belief. “The main reason for going to Cambridge is to try and get his confidence back up, he’s found a class where he should be quite hard to beat.” Cambridge’s eight race programme starts at 5.04pm. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Hayden Douglas is hoping to make the most of a rare opportunity at Wyndham on Thursday. Douglas combines with Macandrew Aviator, who will make one of the bigger steps back in grade seen in the south in recent times. The veteran pacer comes into his Wyndham assignment after a strong third behind star pacer Akuta in the Group 3 Hannon Memorial. That looks the best kind of form to bring to his rating 55-75 assignment, made even more attractive by the chance to pick up a penalty-free junior driver’s victory. Douglas will be the man in the hot-seat on Thursday and he knows what a great opportunity he has in front of him. “It is an absolute thrill to drive a horse like him.” “It will be a tactical race, small fields always are, but I would like to think however the race pans out he will be a great chance.” Douglas also pulls on his father’s colours in Thursday’s finale, behind Always Be Batman. The three-year-old gets a massive upgrade in draw to barrier 1 after flashing home late in his last start at Winton. “It is awesome to get such a good draw with him,” Douglas said. “He has definitely improved since that last run and I think he’s a great chance.” Dragon Power is another chance for the Douglas and Douglas combination. The pacer takes a slight step back in grade following his last start fifth at Winton. “He over-raced last start so we have gone with the sliding blinds this time,” Douglas said. “His runs before that were great and he should be a nice each-way chance.” Nubliah Chamay was just OK in her last start at Gore, but Douglas is expecting the mare to strip fitter in Thursday’s feature trot. The reinsman also links up with last-start winner Sherwood Maggie , who steps up in grade and with Sky Moo, a first starter for his boss Matthew Williamson. View the full article

2nd-Horseshoe Indianapolis, $32,000, Msw, 10-1, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:05.85, ft, 4 3/4 lengths. HOLLEN DRIVE (f, 2, Practical Joke–Indian Miss {Broodmare Of The Year}, by Indian Charlie), installed the 4-5 favorite, rushed to the front from post 5, but allowed Street Twirl (Street Boss) to lead the affair through a :23.17 quarter. Inching ahead turning for home, Hollen Drive ran clear, and despite Legit Chick's (Authentic) best effort late, it was the favorite who proved best on the day, winning by 4 3/4 lengths. Legit Chick was well clear of Tap Now (Tapit). 8-5 second choice Leslie's Time (Not This Time) was last of five. Out of stakes winner Glacken's Gal, Indian Miss struck early with her sprint champion son Mitole (Eskendereya, Ch. Male Sprinter, MGISW, $3,104,910), victorious in four Grade Is in 2019, including the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. The daughter of Indian Charlie duly followed up with GI Haskell and GI Pennsylvania Derby scorer Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow, GISW-USA, GSW & G1SP-UAE, $5,976,720), who also hit the board in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, Whitney and Dubai World Cup. Sent through the ring at Keeneland November in 2020, Indian Miss brought $1.9 million–in foal to Mischief–from OXO Equine, the breeder of Hollen Drive. Subsequently named Broodmare of the year in 2021, the half-sister to GSW Live Lively (Medaglia d'Oro) produced a colt by Instilled Regard in 2024 and was bred back to that stallion this season. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $19,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O/B-OXO Equine LLC (KY); T-William Walden. The post Half Sister to Mitole, Hot Rod Charlie Graduates in Career Debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three Europeans, led by group 1 winner Diego Velazquez, take on nine high-quality American runners in the $1.25 million Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland Oct. 4.View the full article

Turfway Park intends to add three stakes races in December and raise purses for maiden races from $80,000 to $90,000 during its upcoming meets, according to track officials.View the full article

Dreaming of Alys, the 61-1 upset winner of the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes, will try to prove that victory was more than just a fluke as she takes on seven other 2-year-old fillies in the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita.View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) a record 13 times, including the last four runnings.View the full article

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Schwarzenegger (c, 2, Not This Time), narrowly defeated as the 3-5 favorite sprinting over the Saratoga grass on debut Aug. 29, will attempt to earn his diploma in the $300,000 Indian Summer S. at Keeneland Sunday. “This has always been one of my favorite 2-year-olds from the onset,” trainer Wesley Ward said. “Once we got up to Saratoga and we started working him on the grass, you could see the talent that he had.” One of the more talked about babies on the Saratoga backstretch this summer, Schwarzenegger broke like a shot from his outside draw beneath John Velazquez and sped off through an opening quarter in :21.59 in his highly anticipated unveiling. In a race of his own rounding the far turn–track announcer Frank Mirahmadi called him eight lengths in front–the powerfully built bay kicked for home in complete command and led by 6 1/2 lengths at the stretch call. With Schwarzenegger, however, still racing on his left lead and drifting out to the center of the course down the lane, 23-1 first-time starter Attfield (Vekoma)–entered in Friday's 'Win and You're In' GIII Futurity S. at the Belmont at the Big A meeting–came charging through an inviting opening along the inside and just got up to win by a neck. The final time for 5 1/2 furlongs over the firm going was 1:03.31. “(Velazquez) said he didn't realize how fast Schwarzenegger was,” Ward said. “He said, 'I never believed I was eight lengths in front, he was just going so comfortable and so easy.' Unfortunately, that early fast pace just kinda got him the last few strides.” Schwarzenegger (outside) just got tagged late by Attfield (inside) on debut at the Spa Aug. 29 | Sarah Andrew Schwarzenegger has breezed twice at Keeneland since, most recently working four furlongs in :50.60 (33/40) Sept. 30. He'll face eight rivals going 5 1/2 furlongs on grass in the Indian Summer. “With that particular race underneath him, I think he's really going to move forward,” Ward said. “I'm so excited for this guy's future.” Schwarzenegger, a $410,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $950,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, is campaigned in partnership by Mrs. John Magnier, David Fennelly's Mountmellick Farm, Brook T. Smith and Resolution Road Stables. His leading young sire Not This Time is already responsible for eight winners at the top level, including 'the Fastest Horse in the World' Cogburn, who captured the 2024 GI Jaipur S. going 5 1/2 furlongs over the Saratoga grass in a North American-record time of :59.80. Schwarzenegger's dam Soothsaying (Lemon Drop Kid), purchased by Gainesway for $350,000 carrying a Nyquist filly at the 2024 Keeneland November sale, won her lone career start going a mile over the Ellis lawn. Schwarzenegger, named, of course, in honor of the iconic action star, former California governor and professional bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, was bred in Kentucky by Frankfort Park Farm. “I described the horse as a powerful guy to Robyn Murray at Coolmore, and when she saw him, she called me and said, 'I kinda like this name Schwarzenegger,'” Ward said. “And I said, 'Yeah, you hit it right on the head!' Robyn came up with a great name.” Since launching 'Second Chances' in 2017, 64 maidens have been featured in these pages (through 2024), producing 25% graded stakes winners, 34% stakes winners and 48% stakes horses. The series has introduced eight future winners at the top level, led by this year's GI Kentucky Derby, GI Belmont Stakes and GI Travers S. winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin) and fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). Against the odds, a perfect tribute ATTFIELD, carrying the name of the late John Attfield, wins first out at 23-1 under @DavisJockey for trainer @morley_racing. pic.twitter.com/JrOIvcvXwK — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 29, 2025 The post Second Chances: A Star in the Making? Indian Summer Up Next for Schwarzenegger appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

KILDARE, IRELAND – Bloodstock agents Richard Ryan and Federico Barberini provided the entertainment at Goffs on Wednesday when going hammer and tongs on a State Of Rest filly consigned by Castlebridge, who went the way of the latter for €150,000. Ryan opened the bidding at €50,000 on the State Of Rest filly and, despite making one last lunge at auctioneer Andrew Nolan before the hammer fell, his instruction on the phone came too late and he was forced to fill the runner-up spot on the most expensive lot sold on day one of the Book 2 session of the Orby. The State Of Rest filly was bred by Horse Racing Ireland chairman and Caherass Stud owner Nicky Hartery and is understood to be heading to England, where she will be trained on behalf of owner Mrs Alanood Althani, who has a number of horses with Andrew Balding. Barberini said, “State Of Rest was a very good racehorse and I have been impressed by the yearlings I have seen by him. This was a particularly nice filly and she has been bought by Mrs Alanood Althani, who has a number of horses in training in Britain. I am not sure what the plans for this filly are at the moment but she is very nice and the client is very happy to have bought her.” The State Of Rest filly is out of Sea The Stars mare Duchess Of Danzig, who carried Hartery's colours victory in France. She also placed in a Listed race over 1m2f. She led what was more bustling trade at Kildare Paddocks this week. Of the 219 horses that were offered, 185 were sold at a clearance rate of 84% – which was up by 10% on last year. The €4,853,500 turnover was also up by a massive 27% on last year's figures. Meanwhile, there were further rises to the median, which at €20,000 was up 33% while the €26,236 average climbed 24%. In-Form Farrell Goes To 120k To Secure Too Darn Hot Colt Breeze-up handler Cormac Farrell has enjoyed a banner year with Arqana graduate Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder), who is no bigger than 3-1 for the Dewhurst and is high up on the ante-post betting for next year's 2,000 Guineas, flying the flag in a big way. Farrell was active during the Book 1 session, spending a combined sum of €200,000 on a Mehmas colt and a filly by New Bay. Signing alongside American agent Deuce Greathouse, Farrell added a Too Darn Hot colt to his team for 2026 for €120,000, He said, “Saw him a couple of times, he vetted very well. He has a nice pedigree, he's out of a daughter of a multiple Group 1 winner and very good horse in Taghrooda. I liked his pedigree and I liked the horse. When we get to Newmarket a horse with that profile will be making that in sterling all day long.” Farrell added, “He'll go breezing, I don't know where. Kind of assuming Arqana but we'll figure that out as the season goes on and see what he tells us he wants to do. “The price was probably a little bit stronger than I wanted it to be but that's been the nature of the year. I'm envisaging things will go up another level when we get to Newmarket next week, so I was keen to spend euros. We'll see.” The Derrinstown Stud draft was well-received with four horses selling for €270,000. The stud's Stephen Collins said, “Thrilled with the price. He was a lovely horse, a lovely active individual; a horse who has improved throughout the year. Too Darn Hot has done particularly well, but he was a horse that everyone seemed to like and made most people's list. Yeah, we are delighted with the price.” He added, “We sell a few every year. We have tight budgets and so we have to keep our numbers fairly tight as well. This horse, we liked him, and in years gone by he probably would have been retained, but again, we have to try to make a profit every year and so we can't keep them all. I am sorry to see him go because he is a very nice horse. The trade has been great. When you look at the past few weeks, it is great to see so many foreign buyers coming in. There have been nice horses and today has held up very well.” Twomey: 'There Were Some Lovely Horses Here – It Was A Fair Marketplace' On the strength of My Corbett Court (Nando Parrado) winning and taking part in the Goffs Million, siblings Anna and Declan Corbett revisited the yearling market with Paddy Twomey, who went to €85,000 to secure a colt by first-season sire sensation Starman from Killulla Stud. The aim for the Starman colt is a simple one; get his connections, who own the Corbett Court restaurant in County Cork, to some of the big days next year. Twomey said, “I thought he was a good colt – an athletic two-year-old type. A big draw to shopping at this sale is the €50,000 bonus attached to winning your maiden and this horse could be strong enough to hopefully run in the Goffs Million next year. He has been bought on behalf of the owners [Anna and Declan Corbett] who had their first winner at Navan this year with My Corbett Court. They had a great day out when that horse ran at the Goffs Million and they asked me to buy them more of a two-year-old type. Hopefully we can get them to Ascot and then the Million – but hopefully he wins first and foremost.” Twomey bought 11 yearlings between Book 1 and 2 at Goffs this week. He admitted to finding himself stretching beyond his comfort zone on a couple of yearlings so that they didn't escape his clutches, summarising the market to be in a very healthy position. He said, “We were lucky enough to be able to buy a number of horses in various different guises this week and I thought it was a fair marketplace. There were some lovely horses here and there was good trade – every time you put your hand up, you had to bid that extra bit to secure the horse. That's the sign of a healthy market. Not only were we lucky that a various number of owners backed us this week, but we also bought a number of horses on spec, which we always do. I think a lot of the owners are happy that, if you take a risk with your own money on a horse, you must have confidence in the horse. Some owners would be even happier to buy horses that way so we mix it up. We buy them to order for owners who might want particular things but, if I see a horse that I like for what I think is a fair price, I am happy to buy it and try to get it sold afterwards.” Asked how he felt about being forced to stretch in what has been a booming marketplace in recent weeks, he added, “It's not comfortable. If you look at Fairyhouse last week, the average was up 49%, the median 59% and the clearance rate by 93%. That's unheard of. These rises have been going on for a couple of years now and it's great to see the horse business in such a healthy place – on the trading end of things at least. All we need now is the prize-money to catch up. Any horse I look at, I don't think about what they are worth. I bid on instinct and, when I think they are too expensive, I stop bidding. This is a horse I am hoping will be a good horse.” Hassett A Big Fan Of Palace Pier Johnny Hassett was another leading breeze-up-handler who got in on the action onWednesday. He went to €92,000 on Airlie Stud's Palace Pier colt and signed under Local Creator/Ramzi Alghul. He commented, “Just loved him; love the sire – he is doing so well. His sister is in a Group 1 on Saturday [Consent in the Prix de Royallieu]. A Palace Pier that looks like that, what's not to like? He is going to breeze – the owners have bought three horses at the sale to breeze. He will come down to me. All the balls are up in the air.” Hassett added, “It's great, he's bought, and it is brilliant to have a horse like him for less than €100,000. His type wasn't available like that for the last two days at that price and won't be in the next few weeks. It feels right now. When you get to the breeze-ups it's a meritocracy.” Marnane Goes To 105k On “Absolute Superstar” Starman Colt Like many buyers, Con Marnane admitted to being forced to stretch outside of his comfort zone after going to €105,000 to secure a Starman colt from Ballintry Stud. However, the Bansha Stables boss labelled the colt “an absolute superstar” and qualified the purchase by stating, “if you don't have the horses, you can't sell them at the breeze-ups.” Asked what sale the Starman colt was likely to be aimed at, Marnane's daughter and key cog in the Bansha wheel, Amy, interjected, “Royal Ascot!” The post State Of Rest Filly Flies High On Day One Of The Orby Book 2 Sale At Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ocala Breeders' Sales Company has partnered with Carlos Morales of Agentes 305 to provide Spanish-language coverage on site for the upcoming October Yearling Sale taking place Oct. 7-8, the auction company said via a release on Wednesday. Founded by Morales in 2019, Agentes 305 provides bilingual coverage of Thoroughbred racing's top events through video interviews with owners, trainers, jockeys and backstretch workers. “As the second largest segment of the United States population, the impact of the Spanish-language community cannot be overstated,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “Our partnership with Agentes 305 allows us to provide inclusive sales coverage that will serve some of our most valued participants and better engage one of our industry's most vital fan bases.” The post Agentes 305 To Offer Spanish-Language Coverage During OBS October Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Sangster's group 1 winner Diego Velazquez acclimates himself to Keeneland Oct. 1 as he prepares for a start in the $1.25 million Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) Oct. 4.View the full article

Resolute Racing's Woodshauna, a group 1 winner in France, has the turf course all to himself Oct. 1 as he prepares for the $1.25 million Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland Oct. 4.View the full article

If the Keeneland turf course plays anything like it did in the spring, speed will reign supreme over the fall meet, which could play right into the hands of the returning Choisya in the $800,000 First Lady Stakes (G1T) Oct. 4.View the full article

Trainer Whit Beckman debuted a couple of promising 2-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course. One a colt, the other a filly.View the full article

OwnerView is accepting nominations for the 2025 New Owner of the Year Award–sponsored by 1/ST RACING–which honors a new Thoroughbred owner who has been successful in the sport and has had a positive impact on the industry, the organization said in a press release on Wednesday. Nominees must have made their first start as a Thoroughbred owner in the past four years (since 2022), had an ownership stake in a horse at the time it won a stakes race in the past 12 months, and had a verifiable owner license in 2025. Thoroughbred performance as well as a nominee's promotion of the sport will be considered. Anyone, including current owners, can nominate an owner who meets the criteria for the award. A selection committee will choose the winner. To submit a nomination, please contact Gary Falter for a form at 859.224.2803 or gfalter@jockeyclub.com. The deadline is Nov. 2. The post OwnerView Accepting Noms For New Owner Of The Year Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-BAQ, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 2:40 p.m. ET. Coolmore's SPECIAL ENJOY (Not This Time) gets his start for trainer Chad Brown, who strikes with 17% of his first time starters on the turf. A $1-million Keeneland September yearling purchase, the Kentucky-bred is out of SW Stillwater Cove (Quality Road) and was bred by Marcus Stables and Grouseridge LTD. Working at steadily at Belmont over the past few weeks, the bay will get the services of Flavien Prat for this unveiling. Harrell Ventures LLC's Oban (Constitution) debuts for trainer Todd Pletcher, who doubles up with Kendrick Carmouche. The jockey-trainer combo connect at a 31% clip when they have joined forces over the past year. Bred by Siena Farms, the colt, who is the first foal out of unraced Joyful Addiction (Munnings), was a $500,00 September buy. The 7-year-old mare is a daughter of GI Vanity winner My Sweet Addiction (Tiznow). The post Thursday’s Insights: Seven-Figure Not This Time Colt Debuts at Big A appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 09/26/2025 Licensee: Vladimir Cerin, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Saqeel on 8/13/25. Date: 09/26/2025 Licensee: Harry Lynch, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Flunixin–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Cutlass King on 8/12/25. Pending ADMC Violations 10/01/2025, Maria Guadalupe Gonzalez, trainer: Pending out-of-competition medication violation for the presence of Albuterol (Salbutamol)–a banned bronchodilator–in a sample taken from Jet Set Warrior on 7/23/25. 09/30/2025, William Robert Bailes, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methylprednisolone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Goodluckchuck, who won at Timonium on 8/29/25. 09/30/2025, Karyn Wittek, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Aubrey's Unbridled on 8/27/25. 09/30/2025, Armando Hernandez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Guaifenesin (glycerol guaiacolate)–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Gray Lightning, who finished third in the Lady Carey Turf Sprint Stakes on 7/27/25. 09/29/2025, Tanner Tracy, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Golden Biz, who won at Prairie Meadows on 8/25/25. 09/29/2025, Michael Sabine, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Not My Type, who finished tenth at Finger Lakes on 8/25/25. 09/29/2025, Jesus Esquivel, trainer: Pending out-of-competition medication violation for the presence of Albuterol (Salbutamol)–a banned bronchodilator–in a sample taken from Summonyourcourage on 6/17/25. 09/26/2025, Isidro Tamayo, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Ballyvaughan Gig, who won at Del Mar on 8/14/25. 09/24/2025, Jabdiel Yojan Castillo, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Nikethamide–a banned stimulant–in a sample taken from City Signs, who finished fourth at Thistledown on 6/16/25. Violations of Crop Rule Delaware Park Angel Rodriguez–violation date Sept. 28; $250 fine, one-day suspension The post Weekly National Regulatory Rulings: Sept. 25-Oct. 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Takashi Saito is eager to use the experience of an unsuccessful Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe bid as he puts the finishing touches to Croix Du Nord's preparation for Sunday's ParisLongchamp showpiece. Back in 2021, Saito saddled his first runner in the Arc in the shape of Chrono Genesis, a four-time Group 1 winner in her native Japan. At ParisLongchamp, however, she could manage only seventh in a race run on very soft ground, with the daughter of Bago tiring late on after more than three months on the sidelines. Croix Du Nord, on the other hand, has the benefit of a recent outing on French soil, having denied fellow Arc contender Daryz (Sea The Stars) by a nose in last month's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange at Sunday's venue. Beaten just once in six career starts, with his victories including this year's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), the son of Kitasan Black is currently trading at around 8/1 as he tries to become the first Japanese-trained winner of Europe's richest race. “I raced the Arc with Chrono Genesis four years ago and that didn't go well, but having this opportunity again, I'm so delighted and feeling honoured to run again. It's a different horse but I'm delighted to have a challenger again,” said Saito. “After the race [the 2021 Arc], I kind of realised it was too much. We trained hard and it was too hard for her [Chrono Genesis] – that's what I learned from that time. Many different horses taught me many different things. Croix Du Nord, coming back with him, it's very hard to win the race, but we think it's the right thing to do. “It's hard to point out one thing, but I learnt many things from different horses in Japan and outside of Japan. I would like to show what I learned and how I improved in these four years.” Croix Du Nord is one of three Japanese-trained challengers, with the possible field rising to 18 on Wednesday after Aidan O'Brien supplemented leading three-year-old filly Minnie Hauk (Frankel). Byzantine Dream (Epiphaneia) is the shortest-priced of the trio after winning last month's G2 Prix Foy over the Arc course and distance, having also won the G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia back in February. Oisin Murphy was in the saddle on both of those occasions and is set to continue the association on Sunday. In winning the Prix Foy, Byzantine Dream clocked a time that was a second faster than Arc favourite Aventure (Sea The Stars) recorded in the G1 Prix Vermeille over the same course and distance, but his trainer Tomoyasu Sakaguchi does not believe a straight comparison can be drawn. He said, “You cannot simply compare because the pace, field size and level of the field will all be different in the Arc. But it was a great run by him and I think he's still improving from that race. “Probably, we don't want heavy ground. We're not sure how he would handle that because we have never experienced that. We know he likes better ground, but we don't know about soft or heavy, if he can handle it.” Alohi Alii completes the Japanese challenge and is another with a French success under his belt having made all to beat Rashabar (Holy Roman Emperor) by a comfortable three and a half lengths in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville. The three-year-old was returning from a 118-day break when claiming that Group 2 prize and trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka believes the son of Duramente will improve for the outing. He said, “We were originally aiming for the Grand Prix de Paris, but there was a minor setback. The horse came back well to prepare for the Guillaume d'Ornano. It was great to win as I know it's a high-class race. “The Guillaume d'Ornano was after his four-month lay off and the training did not go as we planned. He definitely wasn't fit – 10 days or a week before the race we were concerned about scratching him – but that week we thought he was fine to race and he did really well. “In his training, he got keener in a good way after the race, coming back for this autumn campaign. He's adapted to the French track, so he's definitely fitter and improving. Rain is expected, but we don't want to make an excuse. I hope he will handle the ground.” The post Croix Du Nord Leads Three-Pronged Japanese Assault on the Arc appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Resolute Racing's Woodshauna, a group 1 winner in France, has the turf course all to himself Oct. 1 as he prepares for the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland Oct. 4.View the full article

You probably know that Terry Bradshaw won four Super Bowls, has been inducted into the College and Pro Halls of Fame and was the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1978. You probably know that Bradshaw has been a mainstay on Fox's coverage of the NFL since 1994. But you probably didn't know that Bradshaw owns a piece of a possible starter in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Along with Magdalena Racing and Graham Leveston, Bradshaw is the co-owner of the GIII Pocahontas Stakes winner Taken by the Wind (Rock Your World). He says it's been a great ride and he came on this week's edition of the TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland to tell us all about it. He was this week's Gainesway Guest of the Week. Bradshaw was also a part owner of GI Donn Handicap winnner Graydar (Unbridled's Song) and Mission Impazible (Unbridled's Song), the winner of the 2010 GII Louisiana Derby. Where did this love of horses come from? “When I grew up I spent most of my time on my grandfather's farm and he had Clydesdales and I used to sit on top of them while he plowed and the smell of the horse sweat was something,” Bradshaw said. “It was like perfume to me. I thought it was the coolest thing and I was always down there loving on them and crawling on them. My uncles were all cutting horse riders. They all rode cutting horses. So that's how it happened. It's kind of like with a kid, introduce them to a bunch of stuff and they'll pick what they like and I picked horses. It's just a natural thing for me.” Bradshaw first went into the Quarter Horse business. His Terry Bradshaw Quarter Horses, specializes in breeding and raising halter and pleasure horses and not race horses. He has reduced his Quarter Horse Stock by 90%, so he now has more time and more money to devote to his other passion, Thoroughbreds. “I watch FanDuel TV all the time,” he said. “I never really got out of it mentally. I got out of it physically. then I always wanted to get back in, I actually called (Thoroughbred owner) Steve Davison and said, Steve, 'we've done this Quarter Horse thing , and I got my stallion business going.' I said, 'you know what, I'm a little bored.' I needed to get some of that action back. I said, 'what do you have that I can buy into?' To his credit, he said that he really didn't have anything that I would want you and I to be in. I appreciated that.” Then he went to Kenny McPeek, the trainer of Taken by the Wind. Curt Menifee, who works with Bradshaw on the Fox football shows also worked the 2024 and 2025 GI Belmont S. broadcasts and told Bradshaw how impressed he was by a trainer named Kenny McPeek. So with McPeek leading the way, he brought two yearling fillies last year and is a partner on eight yearlings from this year's sales. None of the horses cost a lot at the sales. Taken by The Wind was purchased by bargain hunter McPeek for just $20,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. Bradshaw's expectations were modest. “I wasn't expecting anything,” Bradshaw said. “And then she was right in the pack. It was all clustered up and she was just sitting there about fifth and running easy. I thought, 'look how easy she looked coming out of the turn. She's still right where she was, not straining, not doing anything. And then she came out of the turn and she made here move. I said to (his wife) 'Tammy you got to be kidding me.'” Should Taken by the Wind win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, don't be surprised if Bradshaw doesn't show up to work for Fox two days later. “I told Curt, that if I get in the Breeders' Cup with my mare and we win the race on a Friday I won't be there on Sunday. I will call in sick because I'll still be celebrating,” he said. “Yeah, I won't be there. Where's Terry? He's in San Diego. He rented out a hotel.” The “Fastest Horse of the Week” was Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who got a 106 Beyer for his win in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by 1/st TV, the KTOB, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association and West Point Thoroughbreds, the team of Bill Finley, Zoe Cadman and Randy Moss talked about the Paco Lopez suspension. Their opinions were split, with former jockey Cadman being the most sympathetic to the oft-suspended rider. The team also did a review of last week's big race and previewed what should be an exciting weekend of racing coming up. Click here to watch this week's podcast or here to listen to it. The post Terry Bradshaw 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

210 main catalogue entries, including the likes of reigning Broodmare of the Year Puca, have been catalogued for the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, the company's selected mixed sale to be held in Lexington, Kentucky on Monday, November 3, following the Breeders' Cup. The single-session sale will begin at 4 p.m. “The Fasig-Tipton November Sale is the world's premier breeding stock event, where the sport's finest bloodstock is offered in one spectacular, star-studded evening session after the Breeders' Cup,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “This year's catalogue once again lives up to those lofty standards, with over 60 graded stakes winners or producers catalogued–25 of which are Grade I.” “We're offering an Eclipse Champion and Breeders' Cup winner, multiple international champions, and the first reigning Kentucky Broodmare of the Year to be presented at auction in 17 years,” Browning continued. “The catalogue also features race fillies in peak form, blue-blooded mares in foal to the world's leading stallions, and a selected group of weanlings. It's a sale not to be missed by the sport's leading collectors of top quality bloodstock.” The catalogue may now be viewed online, including the sale's Enhanced Catalogue. The Enhanced Catalogue provides up-to-date catalogue pages, Daily Racing Form past performances, and race replays; an Alan Porter pedigree analysis and five-cross pedigrees for all racing/broodmare prospects and broodmares; stallion register pages for all sires of weanlings and covering sires; as well as other tools to aid prospective buyers. All Grade I-winning females off the track or carrying their first foals will also be profiled with individual feature videos. Print catalogues will be available by October 7. The catalogue will also be available via the Equineline sales catalogue app. Online bidding and phone bidding will be available. The November Sale will also offer a supplemental catalogue. The first three supplemental entries were included as hips 211-213 in Wednesday's release. Fasig-Tipton will accept approved entries for the supplement through the Breeders' Cup. The post Broodmare Of The Year Puca Leads 210 Entries For Fasig-Tipton November Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

They understand how it goes with livestock, of course, and have enjoyed many clusters of high fortune as well. But the loss of Wootton Bassett must still seem a callous twist of fate to a Coolmore team that has also, within the last year, grieved the abrupt death of Uncle Mo, equivalent talisman on their Kentucky roster. True, an unapologetic commitment to volume–extending, in this case, to shuttling a 17-year-old to Australia–means that neither of these sires will be lacking a footprint by which to extend their legacy. And we have seen how accessibly priced sons of Uncle Mo are emulating him in the numbers game, from Golden Pal on his own farm to Yaupon elsewhere. Having been much the slower burn, Wootton Bassett will doubtless bequeath further stallion sons among the stock yet to emerge from the steep upgrading of his mares in Ireland. In contrast, Uncle Mo landed running as champion freshman in 2015, his debut crop headlined by a horse who has since consolidated a reputation as premier as well as first among his heirs. At stud Nyquist matched his sire with a flying start, champion freshman in 2020. Some dazing lurches in fee admittedly ensued: subsiding to $55,000 for a couple of years, after mustering a solitary graded stakes winner in 2021, but since catapulted to $175,000. His status as one of the Bluegrass big guns is underpinned by that useful knack, conspicuous in certain stallions, of ensuring that his good ones are terribly good. Of 11 stakes winners in 2024, Nyquist had no fewer than four at Grade I level. With 13 black-type scorers already, this time round, he has had 10 in graded stakes and three at the elite level. Overall his nine Grade I performers this year represent a 3.7 percent clip, to starters, rivalled among the big guns only by the Indian summer of Medaglia d'Oro. (Of the top three in the table, Into Mischief and Not This Time have been getting their 2025 Grade I protagonists at 1.9 percent, while Gun Runner is batting 2.7 percent.) In another fertile weekend, two of Nyquist's Grade I scorers amplified their Breeders' Cup claims with Grade II wins at Santa Anita. On Saturday, Johannes added the City of Hope Stakes to his Shoemaker Mile last year, taking his turf record round Santa Anita to eight-for-eight. Next day, over on the main track in the Zenyatta Stakes, Cavalieri extended her immaculate record on her first start since winning the Beholder Mile. Both are out of mares by sons of A.P. Indy, in Congrats and Stephen Got Even, and it would not have been easy to predict their contrasting aptitudes. Johannes actually started out sprinting on dirt, only thriving once switched to grass. He's the first foal out of the first Thoroughbred purchased by Joe and Debby McCloskey, for $50,000 at the 2014 September Sale. Cuyathy (Congrats) divided her three wins in 20 starts between synthetic, turf and dirt, on which surface she also gained a stakes placing. Cuyathy's second foal, Sea Dancer (Mastery), similarly won her maiden and allowance on turf before later adding a couple of stakes on dirt; while her next, by Gun Runner, made only a brief experiment on dirt and owes her Listed podium to grass. Now Cuyathy has a Knicks Go filly underway, a debut winner on turf at Del Mar before running midfield in a stakes last month. In other words, this mare is imparting either versatility or an outright preference for grass despite covers primarily associated with dirt. So where is this coming from? Her mother Dance Darling was an unraced daughter of Devil's Bag: a dirt brand, albeit let's not forget that his full sister Glorious Song (Halo), herself a dirt champion, produced turf monsters Singspiel (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}) and Rahy (Blushing Groom {Fr}). Dance Darling's most accomplished runner was Join in the Dance (Sky Mesa), who missed the GII Tampa Bay Derby by a neck and led them a mile in Mine That Bird's Derby. More pertinent, perhaps, is her unraced daughter by Uncle Mo's sire Indian Charlie: Elm Drive (Mohaymen) first made a splash winning the GII Sorrento Stakes, but ended up switching to grass, where she was a Listed winner repeatedly placed in graded stakes. The next dam was a dirt stakes winner whose best foal (among several black-type performers and/or producers) by Miswaki also won three stakes on dirt. She was admittedly by a stallion who made a huge impact in Europe, in Danzig. But her own mother was by Buckpasser, and delivered a dual graded stakes winner on dirt in Canadian champion Pennyhill Park, by Danzig's European export Ascot Knight. Only when reaching Cuyathy's fourth dam, both of whose parents were foaled in France, do we find a deep well of chlorophyll. In summary, there aren't sufficient green zones in Cuyathy's background to discourage me from concluding (yet again) that horses are simply more versatile, in terms of surface, than we allow them to be. And, another favorite motif, if Johannes can find a place at stud, I'd be more interested in the quality that might filter through a family seeded by sons of A.P. Indy and Halo, and then by Danzig and Buckpasser, than the fact that he has given Nyquist another major talent–following dual Royal Ascot winner Crimson Advocate–on turf. Congrats | Louise Reinagel Stiffed Gets Even That last remark is admittedly sheer prejudice. We all know many cases of top runners and/or sires from families carrying few of those breed-shaping brands. Whereas Cuyathy's sire Congrats can be acknowledged a good broodmare sire–with the likes of Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), Caravel (Mizzen Mast) and Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) on his resume–the two best runners out of a Stephen Got Even mare seem to be Cavalieri herself and her half-sister, GII Gulfstream Oaks winner Affirmative Lady (Arrogate). Their third dam, meanwhile, is by the largely forgotten Marfa. Yet something in their background, demonstrably, is functioning. Cavalieri and Affirmative Lady are out of the expressively named dual stakes winner, Stiffed. She was bought by Alastar Thoroughbred Co. for $320,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale and fortunately failed to meet her reserve, at $140,000, when sent back a couple of years later carrying Cavalieri. (The latter proved a tremendous pinhook, from $170,000 September yearling to $900,000 OBS juvenile.) With two out of her first three starters so talented, Stiffed has at the very least repaid a couple of well chosen covers. Her unraced dam High Noon Nellie (Silver Deputy) did not fare so luckily, overall, but nonetheless came up with three stakes winners, all at Monmouth, by Mr. Speaker, Sea Wizard and of course Stephen Got Even. Moreover Stiffed's full sister added to the family's Monmouth black-type record when her son Great Navigator (another Sea Wizard) won the New Jersey Breeders' Handicap only last month. A Grade III success for the next dam, Full and Fancy (Marfa), puts her pretty close behind his outlier Farma Way in the output of their sire. Overall this is an old American family, tracing to a mare imported from England in 1888, but there has lately been little other than longevity to lend it an aristocratic allure. As noted, daughters of Stephen Got Even haven't otherwise set the world alight. But while his sire A.P. Indy will achieve only a sporadic connection, from the third generation, it's fun to see him doing so with a touch of his own tremendous prowess as distaff influence. Is that perhaps what we saw across the spectrum last weekend, not just with Johannes but also between Bracket Buster (Vekoma) in the GIII Oklahoma Derby and Locked (Gun Runner) in the GII Woodward Stakes? For the damsires of both are also by A.P. Indy. And while Locked is out of a daughter of Malibu Moon, Bracket Buster was rescuing his damsire–Dance With Ravens!–from total oblivion. Ultimate Love | Jeffrey-Snyder/MJC Patience Achieving Ultimate Reward How much we credit A.P. Indy for his principal distaff influence, Bernardini, is also a matter of conjecture. But even if Ultimate Love (Curlin) becomes the latest champion out of a mare by Bernardini, the latter will have to share the plaudits with one of the breed's greatest families. For Live Oak Stud to travel to Tattersalls in December 2002 and top the sale at 1.8 million guineas, for a barely formed May weanling, was pretty nerveless stuff. But she was by Giant's Causeway out of Urban Sea (Miswaki), whose 1998 foal Galileo (Ire) had won the Derby the previous year. The immediate dividends were gratifying, My Typhoon (Ire) retrieving around half the investment in prizemoney, notably winning the GI Test Stakes as a 5-year-old. To have persevered that far showed an edifying love of the sport, but her most precious assignment still lay ahead–especially given that she retired to the paddocks even as another half-brother, Sea The Stars (Ire), was dominating Europe. And, on the face of things, she flunked it. She was unfortunate to assemble a flew blanks on her breeding record; and most of the foals she delivered proved anonymous. All but one of her colts were soon gelded; and her Bernardini filly, Tsunami of Love, was vanned off from her only start. In her second career, moreover, Tsunami of Love started out no more productively. But after Ultimate Love's Selima Stakes last weekend, everything may finally have fallen into place. Who knows, someday she may yet become as valuable as her granddam. The post Breeding Digest: Nyquist Headlining Claims As Uncle Mo’s Successor appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Breeders' Cup will offer a new sweepstakes, “The Champion's Ticket,” awarding one fan and their guest with the ultimate VIP journey–an all-expenses-paid trip to both the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course and the 2027 Championships at the newly re-imagined Belmont Park. Two second prize winners will win tickets to the 2026 edition at Keeneland. Fans can enter for free here through 11:59 PM ET on Nov. 30, 2025 with winners selected at random on or before Dec. 12, 2025. “This is our most ambitious VIP sweepstakes yet, awarding back-to-back trips to the World Championships,” said Justin McDonald, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Breeders' Cup Limited. “These upcoming editions will feature an elevated on-site experience and the same world-class hospitality and top-class international competition Breeders' Cup fans have come to expect. We can't wait to share those incredible moments with our global audience, especially the lucky sweepstakes winners.” The grand prize winner of The Champion's Ticket will be treated to the kind of access reserved for the sport's insiders. From luxury accommodations and travel expenses to premium seating and private tours during the World Championships, every detail has been designed to showcase the elegance, excitement, and passion of the Breeders' Cup lifestyle. It is a prize that transcends tickets, offering entry into a world of world-class hospitality and international competition where unforgettable memories await. The post Breeders’ Cup To Offer ‘The Champion’s Ticket’ Sweepstakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Sangster's group 1 winner Diego Velazquez acclimates himself to Keeneland Oct. 1 as he prepares for a start in the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) Oct. 4.View the full article