Thoroughbred Daily News

5th-Churchill Downs, $122,025, Msw, 9-13, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.55, ft, 3/4 length.
BARACCA (f, 2, Oscar Performance–Shop Again {SW, $122,274}, by Wild Again) belied odds of 8-1 to score a good-looking victory while making her career debut sprinting over the main track at Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon. Away smartly from a wide gate, the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase was content to force the pace from the outside through an opening quarter in :22.52. With 3-2 favorite Frolicking (Not This Time) warming up to the task three deep approaching the entrance to the straight and Bonne Sante (Instilled Regard) splitting horse to announce his presence, Baracca fought on bravely two off the inside and won the sprint to the line. Frolicking was a good second and Bonne Sante held for third. Baracca is a half-sister to Fierce Boots (Tiznow), SW, $103,147; Power Broker (Pulpit), GISW, $865,612, and SP Smart Shopping (Smart Strike), the dam of Classic winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate). The winner's dam is a half-sister to GISW Miss Shop (Deputy Minister), GSW & MGISP Trappe Shot (Tapit) and SW & GSP Bought in Dixie (Dixieland Band). Sales history: $500,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Heider Family Stables LLC; B-Jamm Ltd (KY); T-Brendan P Walsh.

BARACCA ($19.44) aced her debut in the 5th at @ChurchillDowns. @Tyler_Gaff rode the two-year-old filly by @millridgefarm's Oscar Performance for trainer @brenpwalsh and owners Heider Family Stables. pic.twitter.com/O9yJMq74Mn

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 13, 2025

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1st-Belmont The Big A, $80,000, (S), Msw, 9-13, 2yo, 7f, 1:24.84, ft, 1 3/4 lengths.
FROUTIEN (c, 2, Galilean–It's Timeless, by Mineshaft) was hammered into 1-4 favoritism to improve on a debut third at Saratoga Aug. 15 and did just that, becoming the first winner for his freshman sire (by Uncle Mo) with a workmanlike victory in the Saturday opener at Aqueduct.

With Kendrick Carmouche taking over from John Velazquez, at Woodbine for the afternoon to ride that track's three Grade I contests, the $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer was ridden for speed and maintained a narrow advantage through an opening quarter-mile that was clocked in :22.84. Continuing to lead for the run around the turn while being urged along, Froutien kept finding into the final furlong and was always holding the late bid of the debuting Royal Riddle (Practical Joke) in the run to the line, scoring by 1 3/4 lengths.

A $95,000 purchase out of last year's Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale, Froutien was led out unsold on a bid of $160,000 at OBS this past March. Re-routed for the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale a couple of months later, the May 7 foal breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5 over the sloppy Timonium track before hammering to Mahmoud Mouni on behalf of the Libyan-based Tagermeen Racing.

Froutien is out of a daughter of MSP What Time It Is, also the dam of two-time stakes winner Never Enough Time (Munnings). The dam produced a Cyberknife colt this term and was bred back to Solomini. Galilean, who stands for $3,500 at Questroyal New York, was himself a $600,000 2-year-old in training purchase and won six of his 16 starts, all in stakes company,while under the care of John Sadler.

Andy and the late Susan Beadnell also bred New York-bred Haveyougoneaway (Congrats), winner of the 2016 GI Ballerina Stakes. Sales history: $95,000 Ylg '24 SARAUG; $160,000 RNA 2yo '25 OBSMAR; $700,000 2yo '25 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $54,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Tagermeen Racing; B-Andy M & Susan K Beadnell (NY); T-Todd A Pletcher.

Freshman #NYsire Galilean gets his milestone first winner! Andy and the late Susan Beadnell bred Froutien, who was born at their Bead Land & Cattle Co. @KendrickCarmou1 aboard the #NYbred 2yo for Tagermeen and @PletcherRacing. Galilean stands at @QuestroyalNorth. pic.twitter.com/K4SN0A3u87

— NYTB (@nytbreeders) September 13, 2025

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After a dark day Friday, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale picked up right where it had left off when a colt by Into Mischief (hip 1197) brought a final bid of $2 million early in Saturday's fifth session of the 12-day auction. Bloodstock agent Justin Casse signed the ticket on behalf of Coolmore, White Birch Farm, and John Oxley.

Consigned by Gainesway, the bay colt is out of the unraced Miss Jessica J (Empire Maker), who is a half-sister to champion Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) and multiple stakes winner Danzatrice (Dunkirk), the dam of Grade I winenr Tapit Trice (Tapit). He was bred by Al Shira'aa Racing and Gainesway Thoroughbreds.

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Multiple graded stakes winner Newgrange (Violence) has retired from racing and will stand at Sequel New York in 2026, the farm announced Friday via press release.

A graded stakes winner in 2022, 2023, and 2024, the eye-catching horse won back-to-back GII San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita Park. He retires sound with five graded races to his tally–including wins in the GII San Antonio and the GIII Southwest and Sham Stakes–and just north of $1-million in earnings. He was purchased for $125,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale in 2020 and later changed hands to Rockingham Ranch and David A. Bernsen for $325,000 in 2022 via the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age sale.

Out of a daughter of GSW Bella Chiarra (Phone Trick), his dam's full-sister has produced GSW Amalfi Sunrise (Constitution) and GSP-UAE Gotti (More Than Ready). This is the immediate female family of MGSW & GISP David Copperfield and his full-brother GSP Smithfield.

The stud fee will be announced at a later date.

“Newgrange embodies everything we look for in a stallion prospect,” said Becky Thomas. “He was precocious at two, dominant at three, and proved his class and soundness competing against the best older horses. He's a horse that breeders in New York and beyond are going to love.”

“When purchasing Violence, I was struck by his balance and athleticism,” said Hanzly Albina. “Newgrange reminds me of his sire in those same ways–he has that same raw physicality, competitive spirit, and ability to carry his speed over a distance. Those shared qualities give me every confidence that Newgrange will follow in Violence's footsteps and become a terrific sire. We at Newtownanner are excited to be a major shareholder in Newgrange and look forward to supporting him with a strong book of quality mares.”

“Newgrange possessed all the right physical attributes from the very beginning,” said Donato Lanni. On the racetrack, he demonstrated class, toughness, and an undeniable will to win. He represents exactly the type of horse I aim to purchase–and the kind of stallion breeders should be eager to breed to.”

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The University of Kentucky has terminated the employment of former lab director Scott Scanley following what they call “a serious breach of ethics and policy violations related to misconduct and mismanagement of the institution's former Equine Analytical Chemistry Lab (EACL), which provided drug testing for the equine industry,” according to a Sept. 11 press release from UK.

After the initial findings from a UK Internal Audit investigation, the university announced last September that it had begun the process to revoke Scott Stanley's tenure as a faculty member, with the intention of terminating him as a university employee.

The press release says that among the audit findings was confirmation that a test commissioned by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU)–a result that Stanley reported-was never performed. The findings also indicate that some other test results may have been compromised by Stanley's actions, according to UK.

UK says that Stanley exploited vulnerabilities in technology, governance and oversight, the audit concludes. Additionally, they say that investigation found that Stanley potentially engaged in business and employment relationships that constitute conflicts of interests. Specifically, Stanley purposefully chose not to disclose external work, violating university rules requiring disclosure, UK says.

Stanley was charged with the following violations:

1. Failure to perform duties: Misrepresentation, falsification of test results and fraudulent billing
2. Failure to perform duties and/or incompetence: Lack of internal controls (to prevent tampering and manipulation of data) and lack of oversight of EACL operations
3. Failure to perform duties and/or incompetence: Conflicts of interest/commitment and improper hiring practices

The decision made Thursday by the Board of Trustees concluded a year-long process in accordance with the university's Administrative Regulations, which included:

• Charges presented by the provost to Stanley and the opportunity for him to respond
• A review and recommendation by the Faculty Advisory Committee on Privilege and Tenure to the president to initiate dismissal proceedings
• The opportunity for Stanley to be heard by the Faculty Advisory Committee on Privilege and Tenure
• A report from the committee to the president confirming adequate cause for dismissal has been established
• An additional opportunity for Stanley to respond before the case was sent to the Board of Trustees
• And, prior to a final decision to dismiss Stanley from the university, the right to a hearing before the Board of Trustees. Stanley waived that right, according to the press release.

In lieu of the hearing before the Board of Trustees, the process concluded with a board special session on Sept. 11. Board members questioned both Stanley's attorney and the university's attorney on the matter and reviewed university and legal filings. They subsequently voted to revoke his tenure and dismiss him from university employment.

“At the University of Kentucky, we are committed to advancing Kentucky through research and service of the highest quality,” said UK Board Chair Britt Brockman. “We must uphold the highest ethical standards and comply fully with university and industry regulations. Any violations of these policies are taken seriously and addressed to maintain the integrity of this work – the work of thousands of people across this institution.”

In February 2024, the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) first began investigating Stanley's management of the lab. At the same time, the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) and Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) met with the college to raise concerns about the lab's management and customer service. Soon after that meeting, HIWU informed the college that they had evidence that Stanley lied about analyzing a sample. Once university officials became aware of these concerns, the university launched a thorough investigation through its Internal Audit office, working in parallel with HIWU to uncover facts and remedy issues.

In the early stages of the investigation, UK auditors, based on information systems evidence, said they had confirmed that Stanley had not performed at least one contracted test and, in other cases, had not followed certain protocols in accordance with industry standards as established by HISA.

In March 2024, Stanley was removed from his administrative role as director of the lab. Stanley's tenured faculty position is distinct from his role as lab director and disciplinary action with respect to his employment at the university was a separate process.

In September 2024, following a months-long investigation, UK Internal Audit published its draft report and the university announced it was initiating the tenure termination process.

When reached for a statement, Scott Stanley's legal representative said, “Dr. Scott Stanley strongly rejects the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees' decision to revoke his tenure, calling the process 'deeply flawed and fundamentally unfair.'

“Dr. Stanley categorically denies the University's allegations and disputes the conclusions of both the UK Internal Audit and the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) Report. Despite repeated requests, he was never granted access to the underlying evidence, data, or witness notes, only the reports that, he says, 'confuse speculation with proof.'

“He points to an email obtained through subpoena in connection with his on-going defamation suit against Dr. Cecily Wood, Stanley v. Wood, 24-CI-4027, Fayette Circuit Court, between HISA CEO, Lisa Lazarus, and Nancy Cox, Dean at UK CAFE in which HISA instructed the University that it 'cannot possibly allow Dr. Stanley to work in any way, shape or form in the horseracing industry,' a directive made before either the internal audit or the HIWU investigation were complete.

“I have devoted my career to science, integrity, and transparency,” Stanley said as part of the statement. “Tenure exists to protect due process, yet that principle has been disregarded. I am considering all legal remedies to ensure fairness is upheld.”

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Charlie Appleby and William Buick have teamed to take the GI Rogers Woodbine Mile–a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile–two out of the last three years, and in the form of Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) they appear well positioned to add to that total Saturday afternoon in suburban Toronto.

When Team Godolphin raid from Europe, you can rest assured that it isn't just for the Tim Horton's. They mean business and their record bears that out. Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) stole away with the 2022 Woodbine Mile by better than five lengths and though he returned to England for a start in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on British Champions Day, he jetted back across to take the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at just short of 7-5. Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) returned 2-5 when scoring by 3 3/4 lengths here in 2023 and was just touched off in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile before getting up on the line to win the BC Mile at Santa Anita.

Notable Speech was a cracking third as the favorite in last year's Mile and, as Appleby told Bill Finley in Friday's TDN, he can make excuses for the colt's first three runs this term. The homebred would have backed up that opinion when last seen in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, as he savaged the line hard against the outside rail to just miss.

Graham Motion elects to allow One Stripe (SAf) (One World {SAf}) to make his U.S. debut in an apparently ambitious spot, and that can be viewed as a confident move. Slashing winner of the G1 L'Ormarins King's Plate this past January, diving through between horses late, he can be excused his last in which he was creamed while trying to thread the needle at the rail, losing all chance.

Win for the Money (Mohaymen) returns to Woodbine for the first time since causing a 13-1 upset in last year's Mile and he enters in good form, having finished third in the GIII Kelso Stakes in July and in the GI Fourstardave Stakes Aug. 2.

Juvenile males and fillies compete for automatic Breeders' Cup berths in the GI Summer Stakes and GI Natalma Stakes, respectively. Appleby holds strong hands in both races, as he'll send out 'TDN Rising Star' Wild Desert (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), the morning-line selection in the Summer despite having just a Haydock conditions victory from three starts under his belt. His last appearance in the G2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket July 12 going a straight seven furlongs is probably better than it looks on paper, as he had a horse laying all over him in the final stages and was forced to settle for a close third.

Don't sleep on the 'other' Euro, Thesecretadversary (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), who's done very little wrong in four starts since mid-May. Part-owned by South African interests, the chestnut decisively accounted for an odds-on favorite from Ballydoyle in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Tipperary in Ireland last time and this slightly longer trip should suit. He's got a big, bald face, so it won't be hard to follow him.

'TDN Rising Star' Two Out Hero (War Front) looked very good running his record to two-from-two in the Soaring Free Stakes last time and it would be no shock to see him maintain that unbeaten record here.

Dance to the Music (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) represents Appleby in the Natalma, a race won by Godolphin in 2018 and 2021. A full-sister to Grade I Breeders' Cup Mile hero Space Blues (GB), Dance to the Music was green-lighted for this trip after staying on strongly to take out the G3 Sweet Solera Stakes over the straight seven furlongs at Newmarket. She's an obvious player with Buick at the controls.

Deep Learning (Cairo Prince) could scarcely have been more impressive when whooshing home (final 2 1/2 furlongs in :28.92) to graduate by open lengths and become a 'TDN Rising Star' at first asking. She just needs a trip from the high draw in gate 10 and a genuinely run contest would suit.

Hot Mash (Not This Time) raced right on top of a sizzling pace on Ellis Park turf sprint debut last month–to be fair, the track was very fast and hard–and she raced away to score by over seven lengths, good for an 80 Beyer Speed Figure. She's a threat, but she is liable to have some company on the engine.

Saturday's GIII Iroquois Stakes and GIII Pocahontas Stakes signify the beginning of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks, respectively. Each is to be contested over the one-turn mile configuration at Churchill Downs.

A field of 10 heads to the post for the Iroquois, topped by the field's lone stakes winner, Comport (Collected). A debut winner over 5 1/2 furlongs here on June 1, the $135,000 Keeneland September purchase was runner-up in the June 29 Bashford Manor Stakes before bouncing back with a popular two-length tally over Spice Runner (Gun Runner) in the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes Aug. 10. Nothing Personal (Violence) earned a lofty 76 Beyer Speed Figure when graduating by 8 3/4 lengths over the Colonial main track Aug. 9, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors.

Dazzling Dame (Girvin) is the 2-1 choice on the morning line for the Pocahontas and is perfect from her two tries to date, a daylight defeat of fellow Maryland-breds at Laurel June 27 before wiring the field in the Aug. 17 Sorority Stakes going a two-turn mile at Monmouth Park. Nothing Personal's stablemate Embrace the Moment (Yaupon) owns the field's highest figure, a 69 Beyer earned for a front-running score at odds-on at Delaware Park Aug. 28. Despite being a two-start maiden, Miss Complicated (Complexity) will have her backers off a runner-up effort to Our Two Girls (Caravaggio) over the Ellis main track Aug. 2.

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7th-Churchill Downs, $123,202, Alw, 9-12, (NW2L), 2yo, 6f, 1:10.37, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.
GANAAS (c, 2, War Front–Shurakaa, by Tapit) rewarded his backers with a debut score by four lengths at Horseshoe Indy July 10. As a 7-1 shot here, the homebred raced between runners up the backstretch, but around the far turn the colt was ready to flash his speed. Ganaas pointed towards the wire, shifted into overdrive and then was steadily geared down as he cleared the condition by 5 1/4 lengths over Just Deeds (Liam's Map). The winner's dam produced a filly by Curlin last year and a filly by Gun Runner back in the spring. Shurakaa was bred to Nyquist for 2026. Out of French stakes winner Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), Shurakaa's half-sister is also a French Listed victress in Aghareed (Kingmambo), who notably produced full-brothers & English Group 1 winners by Sea The Stars (Ire), Hukum (Ire) and Baaeed (GB). Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $92,484. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Shadwell Farm, LLC (KY); T-Andrew McKeever.

Ganaas wins 2 in a row with Edgar Morales aboard for Andrew McKeever! pic.twitter.com/ojo4MHwgeN

— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) September 12, 2025

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Marc Gunderson and his team at Twin Oaks Bloodstock have been among the most prolific buyers during the first four sessions of the Keeneland September sale. Through Thursday's session of the 12-day auction, Gunderson's MWG, LLC has purchased 21 yearlings for $8,545,000. Leading the group's purchases was a City of Light half-sister to Vahva who was acquired for $850,000 and a colt by Justify purchased for $800,000.

“Wow. I hadn't even counted,” Gunderson said with a laugh when asked about his newly acquired yearlings.

Gunderson said he had a specific plan coming into the September sale this year.

“We wanted 12 top-end, high-quality competitive yearlings,” he explained. “And then we wanted to go ahead and get some precocious–bred fast, look fast, and conditioned fast–pinhooks for the top of the pinhook market. So we are going right back in the 2-year-old sales on five of them. The rest of them we are going to race.”

Gunderson's purchases so far include 15 fillies and six colts.

“We are filly centric,” he said. “We stay hard on the fillies. But if we find a colt that is bred well enough to stand later in life, if he wins a couple of graded races and we are fortunate enough to be the owners at that time, we will be very pleased.”

Strangely enough, standing a stallion is what got Gunderson–a self-described serial entrepreneur based in Fort Worth, Texas, entrenched in the racing game nearly 30 years ago.

“Back in 1997, I saw a stud, his name was Raykour and the Aga Khan had owned him,” Gunderson recalled. “He told me he was prepared to sell him and I was enamored with this beautiful animal. He acted better than my Labrador. I had run some Quarter Horses with D. Wayne Lukas and the whole group out there that was in the Quarter Horse business, but nothing at the level that this Thoroughbred was bred.”

Raykour was second in the 1998 G1 St James's Palace at Royal Ascot for his breeder before transferring stateside where he was runner-up in the GI Hollywood Derby.

“I was trying to develop the stallion and it wasn't going to work with a grass horse in Texas,” Gunderson admitted. “Nobody wanted that. So I moved the stallion to Maryland. I found tremendous friendship in Ronny and Carolyn Green from Green Willow Farm. I stood him at Green Willow Farm and we had far better luck, but not nearly the luck we needed.”

In the process of supporting his stallion, Gunderson had built up an extensive broodmare band when his wife decided she was happier on the family's cattle ranch in Texas than with the expanding Thoroughbred population.

“I decided–I really think my wife decided–we should probably get out of the business for a little while,” Gunderson said. “And it was mainly because she was operating the farms while I was traveling. Of course, I called her bluff. I didn't think she would get out because she loved the horses so much. But she didn't necessarily love the job. She came to my office in Arlington, Texas one day and asked for some of the guys to help her unload boxes of stuff. I was pretty sure at that point she was ready. So we sold out completely. That would have been in 2003 or 2004.”

After a sabbatical of some 20 years, Gunderson eventually found his way back into racing.

'We came back to Keeneland one year and my son, Will, seemed to have the same passion for the sport that I did,” Gunderson said. “And we decided we would get back in the business, but we were just going to take all of the fundamental steps of crawling before we walked.”

With the advice and support of people like Ledgelands' Shelley and Andrew Ritter, and Shane Ryan of Castleton Lyons, the Gundersons were soon building again.

“Shelley Ritter and her husband are just super people,” Gunderson said. “I said, 'Look, I want you to take the forthright position of guidance and I am going to go ahead and do whatever it takes to be successful. But I am not going to go out here and buy a large farm until I am sure that this is something we want to do this time. We started with some yearlings. And then we sat down and discussed the concept of being in the business with yearlings or do we really want broodmares. Now we have a long-term relationship going on.

“It all kind of happened around this time of year three years ago because all the sales came up. We decided to take a run at some broodmares. And Shelley was foaling out the babies. And we then we became really good friends with Shane Ryan over at Castleton. The concept of truly meeting the right people and good people in the industry got us excited to keep going.”

One thing, as it often does, led to another and some eight months ago, the Gundersons purchased a 100-acre farm in Paris, Kentucky. The farm is currently home to eight broodmares and Gunderson said he could see that number increasing slightly in the future.

“The concept is to keep it at the stakes-winning, stakes-producing level of broodmares,” he said. “We want to stay in the 15 range. Some of those will be homebreds and some of them will have to come from purchases. We have never really backed off from purchasing good broodmares. They have always been stakes winners or in foal to stallions like Flightline or Into Mischief, a very distinct pattern.”

Gunderson refuses to be tied down to any one side of the race or sell debate.

“Two questions I hate in interviews, do you want to raise or race?,” he said, even before the question can be asked. “My question back is always, 'Why am I picking?' I can afford to do both, why am I limited to having only this much fun, when I can have twice as much fun.”

While still in its early days, Gunderson's Twin Oaks Bloodstock broodmare band seems filled with promise. Through Ledgelands' Twin Oaks sold a filly by Girvin for $180,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November sale. The filly sold again for $240,000 at the Keeneland September sale before topping this year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale on a bid of $1.1 million. Named Ornellaia, she was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following her debut win at Saratoga in August.

Gunderson recalled another streak with pride.

“We bred five first-time starters and won five races, from here to California,” he said. “I don't know the odds of that, but from a small farm perspective, that is a big success.”

Gunderson's yearling purchases this year include the $525,000 co-sale topping son of Practical Joke at the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale in Saratoga last month.

“My perception of this market is that it is fantastic,” Gunderson said. “I run across friends here at Keeneland who are asking how they can afford to stay in this marketplace. I think as long as you are prepared to pay the price, and the quality is there, and the purses stay where they are at or above, it's going to create a marketable product. As far as economics go, global economics isn't any different than horse economics. Supply and demand and good product and large outcome–meaning the purses–it will stay together. It will be successful.”

Despite the competitive market the first week of the Keeneland September sale, Gunderson still said he was finding value, thanks largely to the bonus depreciation made permanent in this year's tax bill.

“We knew coming in, because we planned as a group, to identify and understand the 20% differential that is going to be built into the market,” Gunderson explained. “And again, that's just global economics. If you are looking at $1 million and you are looking at an accelerated depreciation, then you take all of your opportunity out on the front, it's 28%. Well, if you have to pay over 20% for your product, and you have an 8% margin of deductible depreciation, how does this not work?”

He continued, “I researched that tax code about eight months ago and, I hate to use the term 'I bet the farm on it,' but they told me it was passing and I went full throttle on all of my businesses, my real estate, my reinvestments, my improvements, my horses. And if it didn't pass, I wouldn't have time to sit here and talk to you today because I would be scrambling to get out of all of those poor mistakes. We built it in in all of our businesses.”

As would be expected from someone who has started and operated over 45 businesses, Gunderson has a plan for his racing project.

“I do have a definite business plan,” he said. “And I do have a growth plan. And I do analyze it predicating it like some of my businesses. A, B, or C. If I don't have C, I don't really have a business plan because I have to have three ways in and three ways out. And we will figure out what goes on from there.”

Gunderson, who got into Thoroughbred racing thanks to one stallion 30 years ago, admitted there was one aspect of the game that is not in play for his Twin Oaks Bloodstock.

“I will never stand a stallion,” he said with a broad smile. “But I know a couple of really good farms right across the street from me who would love to stand my stallions.”

The post A Man With Plans: Gunderson Busy at Keeneland September appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Irad Ortiz, Jr., a five-time Eclipse-champion jockey and this country's leading rider by races won in each of the last eight seasons, will relocate from New York to Kentucky for the fall season. He will join a riding colony that also includes his brother Jose Ortiz, who is also represented by agent Steve Rushing.

“My agent and I have talked about this for a little while now,” Ortiz Jr. said. “There's a lot of business in Kentucky and the racing is really strong.”

The veteran reinsman had four rides on opening night of the September meet on Thursday and won two of those, new 'TDN Rising Star' On Time Girl (Not This Time) for Brad Cox in race four and Show Time (Into Mischief) in the evening's finale for Norm Casse.

Ortiz, Jr. is named to ride 21 horse this weekend, including Taken by the Wind (Rock Your World) for Ken McPeek in the GIII Pocahontas Stakes, favored Alpine Princess (Classic Empire) in the GII Locust Grove Stakes for Cox and the McPeek-trained No More Cents (Goldencents) in the GIII Iroquois Stakes.

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by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis and Jill Williams

LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland September Yearling Sale continued to churn out double-digit year-on-year gains as its second Book 2 session concluded Thursday night with yet another son of Gun Runner leading the way. Through four sessions of the 12-day auction, 671 yearlings have grossed $307,639,000. At this same point a year ago, 640 head had sold for $252,528,000.

Asked about the gross surpassing the $300-million mark after day four, Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach laughed and said, “It's never been on a Thursday before.”

Breathnach continued, “There were several September sales, especially in the early years, but post-2008 economic crash, and I think the COVID year, where it didn't even sniff $300 million for the whole thing. This is putting money back into the hands of the people who make this industry go. The breeders are the backbone of the sale, but also of the industry. It's such a difficult job and a lot of them are still taking hits on certain horses here this week, as good as it has been for most. So as much of that money we can get back into their hands to go forward year to year, that's a massive focus.”

Through the two Book 2 sessions, 454 yearlings sold through the ring for a gross of $163,454,000. The section's average was $360,031–up 18.1% from the 2024 Book 2–and the median was $300,000, up 15.4% from a year ago.

During last year's Book 2, 436 yearlings sold through the ring for a total of $132,963,000 for an average of $304,961 and a median of $260,000.

“It has been consistent over the last two days,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “There are a lot of similarities in the increases and the RNA rate–there was a little better clearance rate today. It was just a good, healthy environment. The money was here right to the end.”

Through four sessions, the buy-back rate stands at 27.07%. It was 29.59% at this same point a year ago.

Eighteen horses sold for $1 million or more during the 2025 Book 2, up from just five in 2024.

“Today again, the top 15 sellers went to 13 different buyers by 12 different stallions and from 11 different consignors,” Breathnach said. “That's what gives you confidence going into the next eight sessions. Because we have depth to the market. We have more buyers that are coming in, the next waves are going to arrive for Book 3 and beyond and people that are still here are having to bid hard for the horses they want.”

Gun Runner continued to dominate the top of the standings at the Keeneland September sale, with each of the four sessions to date topped by a son of the Three Chimneys stallion. Monday's first session–and the sale so far–was topped by a colt by Gun Runner who sold for $3.3 million to M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm, and the partners returned to take Thursday's session-topping colt for $1.55 million from the Four Star Sales consignment. Gun Runner had to share top billing during Tuesday's session of the auction, with a colt who sold for $2.2 million, while Wednesday's first Book 2 session was topped by a $1.9-million colt.

Bidding at the Keeneland September sale will have a one-day break before resuming Saturday and continuing through the following Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Coolmore's M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, who went to a sale-topping $3.3 million to acquire a colt by Gun Runner Monday, added another son of the Three Chimneys stallion to their portfolio when going to $1.55 million for a yearling (hip 969) from the Four Star Sales consignment on Thursday. All four sessions of the September sale have been topped by sons of Gun Runner.

Hip 969 was bred by Three Chimneys and is out of graded winner Twenty Carat (Into Mischief). His third dam, Silk n' Sapphire (Smart Strike), produced GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf winner Shared Account, who in turn is the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Sharing.

“[Three Chimneys'] Goncalo [Torrealba] is a very good breeder, and he's out of a good mare,” Magnier said of the yearling's appeal. “So we are happy enough to get him.”

Of the colt's placement in Book 2, Four Star Sales' Kerry Cauthen said, “I saw that horse back on the farm quite a while ago. He was a rangy horse who probably didn't have it all pulled together at the time. People might ask what this million-dollar horse is doing in Book 2, but he was narrow and light. But we thought he would come along and develop. And he did.”

Gun Runner, whose 'Rising Star' son Brant won the GI Del Mar Futurity Sunday, has had 12 yearlings sell for seven figures this week at Keeneland. Through four days, 36 yearlings have sold for an average of $932,917 and a median of $825,000.

“What can you say about Gun Runner?” Cauthen asked. “You can't go wrong right now with Gun Runner. They are in love with them and they should be.” @JessMartiniTDN

The action around first-crop sire Flightline continued Thursday with a colt out of Layla (Union Rags) (Hip 794) realizing $1.4 million from April Mayberry, bidding on behalf of Lee Searing's C R K Stable.

A full-sister to GISW Express Train, the 11-year-old mare is a granddaughter of GI Alabama Stakes heroine November Snow (Storm Cat). Mayberry also secured Express Train for Searing for $500,000 at the 2018 September sale. The Mar. 12 foal was offered by Dixiana Farms, who also bred the colt.

“He's identical [to Express Train] and then throw Flightline in on top of that,” said Mayberry of Thursday's purchase. “Express Train is one of Mr. Searing's all-time favorite horses, so it's kind of a no-brainer. He looks so much like [Express Train].”

In addition to Thursday's seven-figure purchase, Mayberry also signed for a colt by Tapit out of Manki (Hip 413) following a $1.3-million final bid during Wednesday's Book 2 opener.

“It is definitely a seller's market right now,” Mayberry said. “We expected after watching Saratoga, everything was going to be a little bit higher and we were not wrong. If you want them, you're going to pay for them. We've been real, real picky and I think we're happy with everything we've gotten so far.” —CBossTDN

Many of the big names at this week's Keeneland September sale were still in attendance for Thursday's Book 2 finale and several of them made their presence felt when Hip 1066, a colt by Not This Time, stepped into the ring. When the dust had settled it, was Texas horseman Richard Drake who secured the third highest-priced yearling of the session for $1.35 million. Handling the bidding and signing duties for Drake was former European champion jockey Cash Asmussen.

“It is going to be the first horse that Steve [Asmussen] has for Mr. Drake,” confirmed Asmussen. “He's smooth. This is the kind of horse we felt was not too big, not too small. He's very athletic.”

The Mar. 15 foal is the first for the 6-year-old unraced Tapit mare Definitive, a daughter of GI Humana Distaff winner Aubby K (Street Sense) and full-sister to GSW Magic On Tap and GSP Principe Guilherme.

“He's got enough pedigree out of a Tapit mare and the Winchell family [who campaigned Tapit] has been a great supporter of my family, and so Tapit is a very familiar horse for us,” explained Asmussen. “He has the pedigree and confirmation. It's a roll of the dice, as we all know. But Mr. Drake said, 'I want to roll the dice on this horse.'”

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the dark bay was bred by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm.

“We have sold for Summer Wind in the past, but we haven't sold a lot for them recently. It's a privilege really,” said Taylor. “The colt was a Not This Time and it just kind of fit, so they sent him our way.”

“I fell in love with him the first time I saw him–a beautiful horse, so well balanced. He reminded me of the one we sold out of Wembley in Book 1 for $1.7 million [Hip 211]. This one ended up in Book 2. I thought he was a $1-million horse, and that is aggressive to say for a Book 2 horse. I didn't know definitely that the money as going to be there, but it was.”

Cash Asmussen | Keeneland photo

Based on the deep buying bench seen at Keeneland this week, Taylor was also pleasantly surprised with who ultimately signed the ticket.

“The list of people on that horse was two pages, but the one I didn't have on the horse was Cash Asmussen. He surprised me. I mean, he's a legend,” said Taylor. “I think Cash got an awesome athlete and I can't wait to see what he does.”

According to Asmussen, the colt is the first of what looks to be growing string of horses that Drake plans to have under the care of Asmussen's Hall of Fame brother, Steve.

“[Drake] has quite a few horses, but he wanted to get hooked up with Steve,” Asmussen explained. “He'd like to buy a horse that was special. We feel this horse was special.”

Asmussen indicated the new acquisition will initially start at the Asmussen family's El Primero Training Center in Laredo, Texas.

“Epicenter, Untapable, Tapit…that's just a few that have run off of there that Steve's had the pleasure to train,” said Asmussen. “Steve and I talked, and I'll get him ready, and then he'll go on to Steve.”

And what is the plan for Drake's fledgling operation?

“Well, he started with the Kentucky Derby, and then he said, 'We'll work down from there,'” Asmussen laughed.

“He wants a horse that can get two turns, that could possibly be a Classic horse. But I think he'll be selective. I think that he will venture out into buying a few more horses that he thinks are two-turn horses that could be good 3-year-olds.”—CBossTDN

Minutes before 8 p.m. Thursday evening and just a dozen hips before the end of Book 2, the hammer dropped at $1.25 million for a colt by WinStar's first-crop yearling sire Life Is Good, with Hunter Rankin signing the ticket on behalf of the Boersma family's Flying Dutchmen. MGISW Life Is Good, a son of Into Mischief, also had a yearling filly sell for $1.025 million to Repole Stable last month at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga.

“When you're buying horses, they're all undefeated right now, so you've got to be excited,” said a jubilant Rankin. He said this is the third Life Is Good yearling Flying Dutchmen will have in the barn.

“We bought one last year as a weanling that we love (a $400,000 colt out of Lady Aces {Constitution} at Keeneland November). We have a homebred that we really like, too, and here at this sale, we've liked a bunch of them, but this guy just came from a really good pedigree and really great breeders. It's really hard to overestimate how much that means to us in terms of where they were raised.”

Hip 1142 | Keeneland photo

Bred and consigned by Hinkle Farms, who also bred his first two dams, the bay colt, sold as hip 1142, is out of the unraced Indian Bay (Indian Charlie), making him a half-brother to Japanese GSW & G1SP Shivaji (First Samurai) and to U.S. SW & MGISP Tarabi (First Samurai), as well as to this year's GI Santa Anita Derby third Westwood (Authentic). The family is replete with black-type, but also with top sales horses. A Not This Time daughter of Stave (Ghostzapper)–a half-sister to Indian Bay–brought $2 million Monday when selling to Cindy Heider. A Constitution son of that same mare, since named Matenro Hour, sold for $1.1 million to Yuichi Fukunaga at this sale last year.

Rankin signed for 10 yearlings for Flying Dutchmen through the first two books at Keeneland September, including a $1-million filly by Not This Time.

“It's hard to say if this is going to be the best one,” said Rankin, “but if you keep buying horses like him, you're going to be successful. It was really hard to get him. I know we outbid some really good people, and obviously, maybe [it was] a little more than what we'd hoped to spend, but if you want to put nice horses in the barn, you have to spend real money.”

Rankin touched on the emotions behind buying at this level.

“You can't take this stuff for granted. It's really special,” he said. “This family, they're such special people and they get excited with every horse we buy, as we all do. The horse will be named within 24 hours. It's a really cool thing to be a part of.” ––JillWilliamsTDN

After buying five colts over the first three sessions of the Keeneland September sale for an average of $485,000, Hunter Rankin of Flying Dutchmen went to a cool $1 million Thursday afternoon to add a Not This Time filly to the operation's haul. Consigned by Warrendale Sales as hip 887, the bay daughter of 2017 GII Golden Road Stakes victress Road to Victory (Quality Road) is a half-sister to 2024 Sir Barton Stakes winner Corporate Power (Curlin). She was bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, who picked up her dam for $1.45 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2019.

“We loved the family,” said Rankin, “and Barbara [Banke] is so great to buy from. [Stonestreet] raises their horses the right way, so we loved her and we were really going to try to get her. That was at the upper end of what we wanted to pay, but it was great.

“Hopefully she's a great race filly, but she's got such a great pedigree her behind her already. We're trying to buy fillies that will ultimately go to our farm and be bred there.”

All eyes on hip 887 as the Not This Time filly out of G2W Road to Victory sells for $1 million! Consigned by @WarrendaleSales, Agent for Stonestreet Bred for Brilliance, and purchased by Flying Dutchmen. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/2RDb9F0Sl8

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2025

Like so many others, Rankin couldn't help but feel the strength of the yearling market.

“People set the values of what horses are worth,” he said. “Right now they're worth a lot of money. It's exciting obviously for the industry with a lot of new blood coming in, but it's been hard to be competitive. We've been outrun a lot, but we're happy to get this one.”

He added: “Everybody says there's so many problems with the business, but there's also a lot of enthusiasm and there's a lot of new people here who I don't recognize. Obviously it's hard when you're trying to buy against all these people, but in terms of health of the market, it's great. I know there's tax things, but I don't think it's just that. I think there's genuine interest and genuine new interest with the business.” ––JillWilliamsTDN

Shelley and Andrew Ritter's Ledgelands, which has been consigning at the Keeneland September sale since 2016, enjoyed its biggest result to date when its homebred colt by Jack Christopher (hip 854) sold for $500,000 to the bid of Katsumi Yoshida Thursday at Keeneland. The Ritters had purchased Pathos (Successful Appeal), with the colt in utero, for $26,000 at the 2024 Keeneland January sale.

“Not $500,000,” Andrew Ritter said when asked what his expectations were for Thursday's sale. “Maybe $200,000-$300,000.”

The Ritters first became aware of Pathos when she went through the sales ring at OBS at the 2023 Winter Sale where she sold for $30,000. The couple missed out on the mare that day, but didn't hesitate when given a second chance last January.

“We saw her before down in Ocala and we liked her,” Andrew said. “But then she went to somebody else. When she came up for sale again, we hit it.”

Of the bargain price, he added, “It was blind luck.”

Shelley Ritter said the colt impressed them right away.

Hip 854 | Keeneland photo

“We loved him from the start,” she said.

Her husband added, “He came out gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. He was the best on the farm from the time he was born.”

The Ritters confirmed this was the highest they have ever sold a horse for, although they had a close second at Keeneland last September.

“We didn't cry this time,” Andrew said. “Last year, we cried. The one last year was a Yaupon that brought $475,000. We bought that mare for $1. That was pretty exciting.”

Of the Ledgelands operation, Shelley said, “We have 25 mares. We do it all. A little bit of everything.”

Andrew added, “We've had a fair amount of success with Indiana-breds. And we have one running at Woodbine now, an allowance horse.”

Bumble of Love (Hampton Court {Aus}) carried the Ritters colors to a pair of stakes wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis in 2021 and 2022.

As for the 3-year-old Pathos, Shelley said, “She is in foal to Charge It and she has a Complexity [weanling].”  @JessMartiniTDN

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Standing out in the back of Keeneland's pavilion, agent Cash Asmussen signed the ticket on a colt by Not This Time at the second Book 2 session of the September sale. Acting on behalf of Texan Richard Drake, the former European champion rider extended to $1.4 million for the Taylor Made Sales consigned colt.

The first foal out of the Tapit mare Definitive, hip 1066 was bred Summer Wind Equine.

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With Turf Paradise in the process of a racing permit transfer to a new leaseholder that puts the 69-year-old track on the cusp of a possible regime change, stakeholders who spoke about the longer-term future of racing in greater Phoenix were cautiously optimistic during Thursday's Arizona Racing Commission (AZRC) meeting.

But representatives of the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) did articulate short-term concerns that at times vacillated between glass-half-full and glass-half-empty, echoing a nagging tone of uncertainty familiar to anyone who has followed the ups and downs of recently tumultuous racing seasons at the state's main commercial Thoroughbred track.

AZHBPA president J. Lloyd Yother told commissioners at the Sept. 11 meeting that Turf Paradise is flooded with stall applications for the Nov. 10–May 2 meet, with an expected influx of 3,000 horses.

But, Yother added, Turf Paradise's backstretch barn area is not right now able to handle that surge of capacity because of ongoing structural work to the stables.

“We've got an issue there of about 1,400 [stalls] that needs to be solved prior to Oct. 1, which is when the horsemen come in,” Yother said.

And while Yother termed the demand for stall space as “new life breathed into the track, which is tremendous [and] what we've been trying to accomplish for a number of years,” his colleague at the AZHBPA, executive director Leroy Gessmann, pointed out that owners and trainers would be racing for less money at the 2025-26 meet.

“The purses aren't what we want, and the purses are probably 20% less than last year, maybe a little more,” Gessmann said.

Part of that reduction can be attributed to an ongoing legal challenge to a $1-million state appropriation to Turf Paradise. According to a Sept. 10 story in the Phoenix-area Daily Independent, Arizona's attorney general has agreed with litigants who allege in court filings that money earmarked in the state budget violates the “gift clause” of the Arizona Constitution.

All of this is happening against the backdrop of Turf Paradise owner Jerry Simms leasing the track and its network of 38 off-track betting (OTB) facilities to a limited liability company headed by Gary Hartunian, a California-based real estate businessman who races horses under the stable name Rockingham Ranch.

Tom Ludt, a veteran racing industry executive, will be transitioning into the general manager's role while the Turf Paradise permit process plays out at the AZRC level.

As one of his first official acts as the new GM at an AZRC meeting, Ludt was asked by commissioners to clarify the new leaseholders' intentions amid speculation that the existing property could be redeveloped by the new group, with a new track to be built elsewhere in the Phoenix area.

“It's to be determined. We're not abandoning the property. It's a two-year lease with options to go forward,” Ludt said. “What will determine [future plans], once we get permitted, is we'll start looking at properties. But we're always going to be upgrading and looking at the current facility.

“To answer the question of where or when, we'll determine that. [And] what we will be doing is Maricopa County racing for the long term, whether it's physically at the current address or a new location.

“That will be one of my priorities of life as I get here,” Ludt said.

“But we're way too early to get into that,” Ludt added. “That's why we wanted the ability to lease this for a while. Under the agreement, we will be responsible for maintaining the property and doing the upgrades, so it will all be under our responsibility. We're retaining the name Turf Paradise. That's in the agreement,” Ludt said.

“The public needs to know this: I am not an interim [hire]. I'm doing this general management on a short-term basis pending the approval of the new permit,” Ludt said.

“Gary Hartunian and I have spent an enormous amount of time [and] Turf Paradise has been very cooperative. We're fully aware of what we're getting into. Some will question my sanity, and they probably should.

“I've been in the horse business for 30 years,” Ludt pointed out with a survivalist's self-deprecating touch of humor. “But I'm still here.”

Ludt continued, focusing forward: “I don't want anybody to think that we don't know what we're doing. We understand the circumstances of the purses. That million dollars [from the state appropriation] is being withheld, and I've been involved in those negotiations with the horsemen. We're not going to [factor into the purse account] money that we're not guaranteed to get. So yes, the purses aren't what we'd like. Obviously the horsemen seem to think there's a bright future. They're submitting their applications.”

Ludt added that the new leaseholders are also banking on a long-term future.

“That's why we're making this investment,” Ludt said.

Gessmann said that although the purses are lower than last season, he doesn't believe they'll be reduced further.

“I do want to assure the horsemen that those purse levels have been carefully established,” Gessmann said.  “I worked very closely with [Turf Paradise] on coming up with what the purses are. [So] they may increase, but they will not decrease, [and] what is in the [first condition] book is what the purse levels are [for the meet].”

In recent years, disagreements between the Arizona racing community and Simms have roiled in the courts and at AZRC meetings. Prolonged fights over race dates, OTB privileges, simulcast signals, and purses have all been topics of heated debate.

Within a four-month period in 2023-24, two separate sales of Turf Paradise fell through after Simms had expressed confidence to the AZRC and to horsemen that the deals were moving forward without trouble.

On Thursday, Simms told the commission that workers have been going full-tilt over the summer to make structural improvements to the barn area.

“Normally, we would spend, getting ready for a season, $30,000 or $40,000 in repairs and so on,” Simms said. “This year we've spent $1.5 million, and we're far from done with some of the roofs.”

Yother agreed that “there has been a lot of activity going on this year, and things are moving, I feel, in the right direction.”

But Yother and Simms have repeatedly been at odds over the years about the scope and specifics of the actual work that needs to get done, and Thursday's meeting was no exception.

Simms, for example, told the commission that barn D1 is getting a new roof.

Yother disputed that: “They are actually coating the top of that barn. I was out there yesterday, and they're just sealing that barn. “Maybe that's [Simms's] interpretation of a new roof.”

Yother said that regardless of what's being done on barn D1, six other barns still need extensive roof work in the next three weeks before stable area opens.

“I commend [the new leaseholders] that are giving us a second shot and coming into Arizona so they can get in line for the possibility of a new track or an existing track,” Yother said. “But what really scares me is we've got 1,620 [currently available stalls]. We've got 3,000 horses coming, [leading to the possibility of] horses getting here with no place to go.”

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The Gun Runner show continued to roll on at the Keeneland September sale when Coolmore's M.V. Magnier went to $1.55 million to acquire a son of the Three Chimneys stallion (hip 969) Thursday. The yearling, bred by Three Chimneys and consigned by Four Star Sales, is out of graded winner Twenty Carat (Into Mischief). His third dam, Silk n' Sapphire (Smart Strike), produced Grade I winner Shared Account, dam of another Grade I winner in Sharing.

Yearlings by Gun Runner have attracted the top price at the first three days of the September sale and the stallion has been represented by 12 million-dollar yearlings so far at the 12-day auction. Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm purchased the top-priced $3.3-million colt during Monday's first session of the sale.

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Charlie Appleby says it's not easy to come over to North America and win major stakes, even though he makes it look that way. On Saturday at Woodbine, Appleby will send out three horses, all of them in Grade I competition, and each one looks to have an excellent chance. He usually does well when he ships to anywhere in North America, but has been particularly tough at Woodbine, where he is 9-for-17 (53%). All nine of his Canadian winners have come in Grade I stakes.

“We have sent the right horses to Woodbine to be competitive and we have had a lot of luck there,” Appleby said. “They have to ship there first and foremost and you hope they get there in good condition and that they adapt to the surroundings. Because of all the traveling we do, we feel like we've been choosing the right horses because we've seen it so much of late.”

And is it easy? Are European turf horses simply better than North American turf horses?

“It's far from easy,” he said. “I can assure you of that. We have had a lot of success, but I think that's because we've brought some good horses to the U.S., first and foremost. The experience we have gained over the years has helped us do the right things when we get there. You want to get there in the best shape and get a performance that you hope will put you in a competitive position. I feel that the turf horses in North America are improving year after year, so it's becoming harder. There are more turf races in the U.S. now than there have been historically. People are buying and training more with turf horses in mind than they were 20 years ago. It becomes more competitive every year. That just means we have to up our game and bring a better horse.”

Appleby will start three horses at Woodbine Saturday. All three are morning line favorites.

A look at Appleby's trio of starters:

Wild Desert (Ire) (Too Darn Hot [GB}) will go in the Grade I Summer S. for 2-year-old colts. He is 1-for-3 in his career but was at his best last out when finishing a troubled third in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.

“He hasn't run since July,” Appleby said. “But after he ran so well in his last start it was our target to come to Canada. That's the only reason why he hasn't run lately. He's doing well. He drew stall 10, which might make things tricky. They'll be running on the inner turf course so it will be tight out there for an inexperienced horse who has been running in straight seven-furlong races. He encountered a turn in his first start at Haydock, but it is nowhere near as sharp as what he'll be facing at Woodbine. He's doing well physically, he's in a good level of form and he had spin around the grass there (Thursday) morning and seemed to handle it fine. Everyone was pleased with that. He should be live player. He had some trouble in his last race, but I don't mind. There should be some hustle and bustle in this race. He's been through that and I hope that experience will benefit him Saturday.

Dance ToThe Music (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will run in the Grade I Natalma Stakes. She's 2-for-2 and is coming off a win in the Aug. 9 G3 Sweet Solera S. at Newmarket.

“She's a full sister to Space Blues (the winner of the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Mile) so she has the pedigree to, hopefully, be a Breeders' Cup contender,” Appleby said. “She's 2 from 2. She had a nice break after breaking her maiden in the spring. In her last performance, she showed some grit to get the job done and I have to say she's probably improved physically since. She got a nice draw. When you get those nice draws you have to use them to your advantage and hopefully she can break well enough to get a good position. I feel stepping up to the mile should suit her on that style of track.”

Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a class horse with two wins in Group 1 company, in the 2024 Sussex S. and the English 2000 Guineas. He was also third as the favorite in the last year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. He has not won since the Sussex 16 months ago, but looked like his old self when second last time out in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois in France (see below). He is the 8-5 morning line favorite in the Group I Woodbine Mile.

“Notable Speech is a Guineas winner and a Sussex winner and you can't get much better than that,” Appleby said. “He's been such a good horse for us. In the Lockinge he needed the run off a big layoff. The Queen Anne was one of those races that if William (Buick) could do it over again he would have sat where he was and waited for the gap to come at the end. The jocks have to make split-second decisions and sometimes in doing so you might lose that momentum. In the July Cup, we thought we would take a crack at six furlongs. The thing we did in the Jacques Le Marois was to drop him in and ride him like he's a good horse and ride him so that he could show that good turn of foot that he has. We just came up short. The most important part of that is that we saw the real Notable Speech that day. He's got a nice draw and he will probably be ridden more forwardly than he has because I expect coming off that straight could be a problem. He's got an electric turn of foot but you still need to be in a position where you can use it.

“It's a competitive race, as one would expect. But he's been there and done it at the top level. He's got the experience of running at Del Mar under his belt. I think he ticks all the boxes going into the Woodbine Mile. As for the juveniles, they are unexposed types. We feel confident we're coming over there with the right kind of horses to be competitive.

“Of our three, Notable Speech has done it at a top level. Until you actually run the juveniles you don't know. They shipped in fine and they went around the turf track (Thursday) morning and the lads were pleased with what they saw. You may think you're bringing over the right kind of horses for these races but until they actually run you just don't know. We'll be showing up Saturday with the right horses that we think will be competitive.”

All three Grade I features are Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' Challenge races for their respective divisions.

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The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) has approved an amended awards plan that fixes in-state breeder and stallion awards at 15% of gross purses, down from the 20% rate established in 2024, according to a release from the Florida Thorougbbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA). The new rates are effective as of Sept. 1, 2025.

The adjustment reflects industry funding streams legislation, the release said, but despite the cut, total awards in 2026 for Florida breeders are expected to remain level thanks to the launch of new Florida-Bred 'Export' Incentives.

With the objective of promoting Florida-bred horses that race out of state, the FTBOA will dedicate as much as $1 million to reward the breeders of registered Florida-breds that win in selected conditions beyond the borders of the Sunshine State. Under the new program, breeders will receive $7,500 for a Grade I win and $5,000 for wins at Grade II or Grade III level. Breeders are eligible for 15% of earnings in non-graded stakes races (up to $4,000) and for 15% of earnings up to $3,000 in allowance and maiden special weight races.

According to the release, the FTBOA estimates that Florida-bred incentives in 2026 will total more than $20 million, not including money earmarked for purses for Florida-bred races.

“This initiative shows gratitude to our longtime Florida breeders and demonstrates our commitment to supporting the industry wherever our nationally competitive horses succeed,” FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. “State legislation redirected $5 million of Florida-bred purses and owner incentives to the racetracks and injected another $2 million through the FTBOA. We are grateful to the Florida Senate and Governor DeSantis for their continued support of Florida Thoroughbred breeding. Florida-bred owners and breeders can anticipate unprecedented total awards in 2026.

“Florida-breds perennially stand out amongst all regional producers across the nation, both on the racetrack and in the auction ring. These all-new incentives acknowledge that equine speed is a major Florida agricultural export,” Powell continued.

The 2026 programs build upon FTBOA's recent elimination of most registration fees for Florida-bred and -sired foals of 2025, further reducing costs for breeders while maintaining comprehensive support programs. Combined with the Export Incentives, these initiatives demonstrate FTBOA's commitment to supporting Florida's Thoroughbred industry through multiple avenues, the release said.

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Set to begin Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27 and run through Mar. 29, Gulfstream Park's 2025-2026 Championship Meet will offer a schedule with 68 stakes, 27 graded, worth $15.2 million in purses, 1/ST Racing said in a Thursday press release.

The signature South Florida meet is highlighted by the $3 million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the $1 million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Jan. 24, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. On closing weekend, the $1 million GI Curlin Florida Derby is scheduled for Mar. 28. The key Kentucky Derby prep is in its 75th installment.

Stall applications for the 84-day meet are due Sunday, Sept. 28. Click here to view the entire schedule.

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The Jockey Club and The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) will host a state breeder organization workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. ET in the Oaks Room at Churchill Downs to share current programs to help identify best practices and areas of growth, according to a press release from the club on Thursday morning.

Topics include everything from an overview of national trends to perspectives from various breeder programs. For more information, please contact Jamie Haydon at jhaydon@jockeyclub.com or (859) 224-2750.

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The million-dollar parade at the Keeneland September sale continued early in Thursday's fourth session of the auction when April Mayberry went to $1.4 million to acquire a colt by Flightline (hip 794). The bay colt, bred and consigned by Dixiana Farms, is out of Layla (Union Rags), a full-sister to Grade I winner Express Train. Mayberry was bidding on behalf of C R K Stable's Lee Searing.

The colt was the 49th of the auction to bring seven figures and the eighth from the first crop of Lane's End's champion Flightline to reach the mark.

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As a former professional jockey, I reached a point where I had to step away from the sport and change professions to prioritize my mental health. Because I know what it feels like to be in that position, I never want another jockey to feel they are without support or options. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month–a time to shine a light on mental health, share hope, and remind people that reaching out for help is a sign of strength. I've been working with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and Jockeys' Guild to address the unique mental wellness challenges jockeys face and drive change across the sport.

I spent 12 years as a jockey before retiring due to mental health struggles. What the public sees on race day often hides a much harsher reality–one that nearly destroyed my life and family.

Being a jockey means putting your life on the line every day while also maintaining incredibly demanding physical standards. At 5'9″, I had to keep my weight at 114 pounds through strict dieting and constant self-discipline. Even as I won 253 races in 2019, the strain on my body and mind was mounting, and by 2024, my win total had dropped to just 42. The combination of physical strain and injuries took a real toll on my mental health.

Like many professional athletes, I tried to push through and keep everything bottled up. For a long time, I saw therapy as a sign of weakness, something that went against the toughness and resilience the sport demands. But the stress became overwhelming, and it was affecting both my career and my family life. With the encouragement of my wife, jockey Katie Davis, I finally sought help, and that decision changed everything. Instead of losing what mattered most, I found the tools to cope, heal, and continue forward with a healthier perspective.

Therapy changed my life. It gave me a safe space to express my problems to someone who truly understood. I learned to sort out what I could and couldn't control, practiced meditation, and focused on positivity. These tools taught me how to stay strong and calm through the toughest situations. I started eating healthier and taking ice baths to help with pain management. Most importantly, I realized that seeking help wasn't weakness, it was the strongest thing I could do.

My decision to retire was not just about leaving racing. It was about choosing to be a better father and husband. Walking away from the only profession I had ever known was scary, but it was also the clearest decision I have ever made. Now, working with HISA and Jockeys' Guild, my goal is to make sure other jockeys do not have to go down the same destructive path I did and are able to remain in the sport while safely and effectively managing their mental health.

This is where Congress can make a real difference. We need federal funding to develop comprehensive support systems: therapists who understand the unique pressures of our sport, nutritionists who can help jockeys maintain weight safely, personal trainers for injury prevention, education programs, and recovery equipment – all the things most other professional athletes already have access to. The industry has made progress in recognizing these needs, including new initiatives like HISA and the Jockeys' Guild's partnership with Onrise, which gives jockeys access to confidential, athlete-specific mental health care. But we still need greater, well-funded support that reaches every corner of the racing community.

HISA and Jockeys' Guild, along with the congressional Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, will host a Professional Athlete Roundtable on mental health at the United States Capitol on September 16. The goal is to raise awareness of the issues jockeys face by bringing together jockeys and other professional athletes to discuss our unique mental health challenges and the importance of access to appropriate resources. The stigma around mental health in sports is slowly breaking down, but lasting change requires real, institutional support.

Jockeys, like other professional athletes, have long provided the American public with entertainment and relaxation, and the racing industry provides economic value to communities all over the country. Now it is time for policymakers to provide its athletes with support in return. I made the difficult decision to step away from racing to focus on my well-being and my family. With congressional funding and industry commitment to mental health, future jockeys can access the support they need without facing that same difficult choice.

–Trevor McCarthy is a retired jockey, winner of 1,871 races and member of the Jockeys' Guild who now works with HISA and the Guild on mental health initiatives.

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A colt by Hill 'n' Dale's Curlin out of SW & GISP Cherry Lodge (Bernardini) sold for $1.4 million to Mike Ryan Wednesday during the third session of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Consigned by Gainesway and sold as hip 652, the chestnut was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD. The March colt's dam is a full-sister to GSW Gala Award and a half-sibling to GISW Stormello (Stormy Atlantic) and to additional GSW My Best Brother (Stormy Atlantic), as well as to the dam of Canadian champion Curlin's Voyage (Curlin).

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