Blood-Horse

At the end of 2024 when owner John Ropes weighed retiring his homebred filly Dorth Vader against bringing her back to race at 5 this season, his checkmarks in the pro-racing column included three achievements he'd love to see her accomplish.

Trainer Gary Contessa believes Nutella Fella's gate issues are far behind him and that the colt should be a live contender in the $175,000 Bold Ruler Stakes (G3) Nov. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

As Breeders' Cup tries to support efforts to gather information on exercise-associated sudden deaths, all horses in this year's World Championships and undercard races will be auscultated—examined with a stethoscope or ECG—in their stalls at rest.

A two-time stakes winner, Deep Satin will look to add her first graded stakes victory to her resume Nov. 1 in the $300,000 Goldikova Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar. The daughter of American Pharoah leads a field of 13 fillies and mares.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey leads a pair into the Nov. 2 $250,000 Red Smith Stakes (G2T), part of closing day of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. 

Schwarzenegger will be Frankfort Park Farm's ninth Breeders' Cup starter in the last 11 years when he lines up for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Frankie Dettori announced Oct. 29 that the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar will be his stateside swansong, with the legendary jockey to retire from race riding in the United States and conclude his career in South America.

Racehorse owner and philanthropist Ken Freirich will double the power of all donations received—up to $50,000—during the Breeders' Cup "Champions Give Back" campaign, which concludes Nov. 1 at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar.

If things go according to plan, Maryland-based Matt Dorman will get his first Breeders' Cup runner at Del Mar when Seismic Beauty gets the start in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

The connections of White Abarrio have a secret weapon as they hope the winner of the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) can add another score at the World Championships when he starts in the Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Leinster, who has the fewest named foals among the top 20 freshman sires, is the only one in his sire class with a Breeders' Cup starter. He will be represented by multiple stakes winner Lennilu in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T).

While most American-based horses completed their Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) workouts over the weekend, Yoshito Yahagi saved his final breeze for Japanese star racehorse Forever Young for Oct. 29 at Del Mar.

A huge wave of emotions will pour out if trainer Miguel Clement wins a Breeders' Cup race Nov. 1.

Having won the 2016 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) with 8-year-old Obviously, Anthony Fanticola seeks another signature win with an older gelding as 7-year-old Motorious runs in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint for a third time Nov. 1.

The Santa Anita Park's autumn meet ended Oct. 26 with Juan Hernandez as top jockey, Phil D'Amato claiming the trainer's crown, and Spendthrift Farm winning the owner's title. 

Ten full or half siblings to group 1 winners feature in the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale, held Nov. 24 at Park Paddocks. Headline acts include the brothers to multiple group 1 winners Emily Upjohn and Sea of Class.

The advertised fee for multiple leading sire Tapit will continue at $185,000, while McKinzie's fee has been set at $75,000 pending the results of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The stakes action on Breeders' Cup Friday gets underway in race 2 with the $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes. Later on the undercard, Queen Maxima will face Japanese shipper Puro Magic in the Senator Ken Maddy Stakes Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said Oct. 29 that Sovereignty, the leading contender for Horse of the Year, will not run in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Lee Searing often names his horses for sports figures, and he pays tribute the exploits of jockey Braulio Baeza with his Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) contender Baeza.