Blood-Horse

Although East Coast-based horses have captured the last three runnings of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), it's safe to say there is a strong chance a California-trained contender could take this year's $1 million prize.

European-trained runners have won 12 of 18 runnings of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). They're favored to win another: the Oct. 31 race with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Gstaad.

The $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) usually features an East vs. West showdown. Yet the Oct. 31 edition of the champion-making race at Del Mar offers a matchup with more pizzazz than normal.

A year after Lake Victoria exceeded expectations in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore aim to do it again with Precise.

Iron Orchard, trained by Danny Gargan, recently sold for $2.5 million and is undefeated going into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

After adding to an already impressive initial campaign with a victory in the Cheveley Park (G1), True Love will aim for success in North America when she makes her overseas debut in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

ESPN Louisville will be live at the Breeders' Cup, offering two days of shows from the shadows of the Del Mar paddock, anchored by BloodHorse Monday co-host Louie Rabaut.

Mike Smith, the all-time leader in wins (27) at the Breeders' Cup, has given patient and professional Breeders' Cup rides to some all-time greats in horse racing, including Lure, Skip Away, Azeri, Zenyatta, Royal Delta, Songbird, and Arrogate.    

Owner/breeder Debby Oxley may have a mere 20 mares on the farm and a few graded stakes winners to her credit as an owner, but the impact of her breeding operation has been nothing short of potent.

BH Interview: Robbie Medina

The first of six opportunities to bet on the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) opens Oct. 29 through Oct. 31 with Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, headlined by likely Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) favorite Ted Noffey.

Stakes-winning mares Dorth Vader, Free Like a Girl, and Sacred Wish will head to Fasig-Tipton's November Sale Nov. 3 with a twist: a portion of the proceeds from each sale will benefit a charity, Matt Bowling of Vinery Sales announced Oct. 27.

It didn't take the whole mile, but Warming needed about three-quarters of a mile to heat up and find her stride to win the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes Oct. 26 at Santa Anita Park. 

Thorpedo Anna made her final racetrack appearance Oct. 26, parading for fans at Churchill Downs before retiring to begin her broodmare career at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa.

After succeeding with successful claim Johnny Podres, a son of Grazen, owner/trainer Librado Barocio has done even better with Breeders' Cup Sprint hopeful Lovesick Blues.

Fifteen horses put in their final serious moves Oct. 26 ahead of the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, including Preakness (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism, who breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01 2/5.

Emulating the same move that carried Sovereignty to victory in last year's Street Sense Stakes (G3), Pin Oak Stud's Incredibolt placed himself on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail Oct. 26 at Churchill Downs.

Pierre Bonnard (IRE) completed a group 1 double for Aidan O'Brien with a determined victory in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1) under Christophe Soumillon Oct. 26.

Attica capped a golden day for Godolphin colts and his departed stallion, Lonhro, while stamping himself a stud-bound star of the future with a breathtaking victory in the Oct. 25 Spring Champion Stakes (G1) at Randwick Racecourse.

Churchill Downs' late Vice President of Communications John Asher, who died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 62, will be honored by the city of Louisville Oct. 27 with a "Hometown Hero" banner that will be displayed in front of Presentation Academy.