Blood-Horse

The 1-2-3 finishers from last month's Seaway Stakes (G3) at Woodbine venture south to contend for the $300,000 prize in the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) Sept. 19.

This week's racing on radio and television schedule, compiled by America's Best Racing.

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities will hold its 59th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities Oct. 6 in Paris, France at Le Méridien Paris Arc de Triomphe.

The strength of the market carried through the end of Book 4, with a colt (Hip 2469) by leading freshman sire Yaupon topping the Sept. 16 session of Keeneland's September Yearling Sale, selling for $560,000 to Mike McCarty.

Mauro Lucas and Nathan McCauley hit a pinhooking home run at Keeneland's September Yearling Sale when they sold the top-priced filly (Hip 2597) of the Sept. 16 session for $535,000 to Winter Creek Stables. She was consigned by Taylor Made.

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., announces the arrival of Major Blue, the final horse owned by legendary Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

The Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park has seen its grade and purse gradually reduced since it was moved from Calder Race Course a dozen years ago, but the race has experienced a renaissance in its impact on the female sprint division

Maiden Watch: Week of Sept. 8-14

At the Santa Anita autumn meet, which opens Sept. 26, seven coveted Breeders' Cup bids will be on the line as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

An all-sources handle of $13,026,804 (All figures CA$) ranks the 2025 edition among the top-five Woodbine Mile day handles. The Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) generated $2.1 million in wagering, a 23% increase from the 2024 race. 

Ragtime and Echo Sound—second and sixth, respectively, in the Aug. 2 Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course—meet again Sept. 20 in the Dogwood Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Poll results from leading horses after week 34 of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll are unchanged.

The sale will offer New York-bred weanlings that will be eligible to race for equal purse money as open company horses on the New York Racing Association circuit starting in 2026.

Three grade 1-winning 3-year-old fillies—Scottish Lassie, La Cara, and Good Cheer—have another opportunity for top-level stakes glory when they compete Sept. 20 at Parx Racing in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1).

Distinguished speaker Molly Fletcher will deliver the keynote address at the Horse Racing Women's Association 2025 conference Oct. 8-9 in Lexington. One way the HRWA is making the event more accessible is through the Pay It Forward initiative.

Dollars and Sense with Frank Angst

The seventh session ended with 295 horses changing hands for a total of $31,039,000, including private sales. The average was $105,217, with a median of $75,000. Seventy-five horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 20.3%.

Hip 2266, a filly by Hill 'n' Dale Farm's Good Magic, and Hip 2302, a filly by Spendthrift Farm's Omaha Beach, were the co-highest priced fillies of the session at $400,000.

Southern California trainer Sergio Morfin was suspended and fined following two methocarbamol positives found following the first two career starts of 3-year-old Lady Dosia. He got additional penalties for having multiple violations within two years.

Darley America's late sire is the Keeeneland September Yearling Sale's leading broodmare sire by number of seven-figure yearlings sold through the sale's sixth session.