Blood-Horse

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has quickly made a mark on the Kentucky horse racing circuit since shifting his tack from New York. The 33-year-old native of Puerto Rico secured his first Churchill Downs leading rider title with 46 wins through the Fall Meet.

One day after her half brother, Salamis, won the Hollywood Derby (G1T), Segesta became a grade 1 winner herself when taking the $302,000 Matriarch Stakes (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 29.

With a victory in the Cardinal Stakes at Churchill Downs Nov. 27, Proctor Street became the latest in a successful family line that dates back to owner/breeder Patricia Moseley's first horse: the multiple stakes winner Drumtop.

Every major breeder from around the globe will have eyes on individuals in this catalog as representative of the most historic and coveted bloodlines that money can buy. Last year, record trade saw ten mares tipping past the 1,000,000gns mark.

Taylor Made Sales consigns Porta Fortuna at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. She highlights Taylor Made's first time back in Newmarket since 2021.

The New York Racing Association was forced to cancel the final eight races of the nine-race card Nov. 30 at Aqueduct Racetrack due to a protest lodged by the jockeys resulting in their refusal to ride.

Taylor Made Sales consigns Porta Fortuna at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale. She highlights Taylor Made's first time back in Newmarket since 2021.

Officials from Jamaica's Mouttet Mile asked jockey Javier Castellano to participate in the Caribbean's largest purse race in 2023 and 2024. But other obligations compelled Castellano to decline their overtures. This year, he couldn't say no.

Libertad produced the biggest performance of his career and one of the most dramatic finishes of The Pinnacles when the 5-year-old entire lunged late to deny Overpass the Winterbottom Stakes.

The world's top-rated horse, Calandagan, was all out to defeat Japan's best, Masquerade Ball, by a head at the end of the 1 1/2 miles of the Japan Cup (G1) Nov. 30 at Tokyo Racecourse.

Bella Ballerina, a half sister to 2023 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Pretty Mischievous, is on the Oaks trail herself after a win in the $397,375 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs Nov. 29.

A dawdling pace in the $301,500 Hollywood Derby (G1T) Nov. 29 at Del Mar turned the race into a test of late acceleration, and Salamis passed with flying colors.

Joining Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Ted Noffey, Further Ado gives Spendthrift Farm two aces heading toward the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1). Further Ado captured the Nov. 29 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Florida Sire Stakes series wrapped up Nov. 29 at Gulfstream Park with a pair of homebreds taking top honors in the two $300,000 stakes for Florida-bred 2-year-olds.

Seabiscuit is considered one of horse racing's greatest longshot stories, so fittingly the $200,000 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar Nov. 29 was won by the race's longest shot: Call Sign Seven at 68-1.

Over the four days of selling, 646 lots sold for 37,893,400 guineas (US$52,671,826), down 13% year on year, while the average finished at 58,660 guineas (US$81,537), also down 13%, but the median came in at a record 30,500 guineas (US$42,395).

Group 1 winner Scorthy Champ will be standing at Barton Stud in 2026 as Tom Blain's team adds another aspect to the operation.

Satono Voyage set sail on a voyage that could find him at Churchill Downs in May with a victory Nov. 29 in the first leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Lush Lips rewarded her new ownership as she landed a hard-fought victory in the Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2T) Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs.

Augustin Stables' homebred Truly Quality became the first horse in a quarter century to win back-to-back runnings of the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) when he rallied to score a 1 3/4-length victory Nov. 28 at Del Mar.