Thoroughbred Daily News

Godolphin's Sovereignty (Into Mischief) breezed five furlongs in 1:01.39 over the Oklahoma dirt training track at Saratoga Sunday as he prepares for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty was piloted in the work by assistant trainer Neil Poznansky, starting slightly in front of workmate Playa Del Mar [1:02.27] before kicking away in the stretch and finishing several lengths in front. NYRA Clockers caught Sovereignty through splits of :24 2/5, :36 3/5 and galloping out in 1:14 3/5 over the fast track.

“He looked good,” said the Hall of Famer. “He is not one of those horses that works and breaks the stopwatch. He has good solid works, good useful works, that is kind of him. He does what he has to do and what you have him do.”

Sovereignty won five-of-six starts this year, including the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes and most recently, the GI DraftKings Travers on Aug. 23 at the Spa.

“The main thing is you bring the right horse and get them there in good shape,” Mott said. “The horses are all going to be ready to run. They are going to be fit. Everybody is going to have their horses fit.”

Bill Mott | Sarah Andrew

Sovereignty is slated to ship on Wednesday and will work Sunday or Monday at Del Mar, according to Mott.

“I don't have any reason to think he wouldn't adapt quickly or well enough,” Mott said. “I'm going just a little bit early. A lot of guys like to do their last work and ship and that's fine, the only reason I want to go a few days early is travel problems, you know what I mean, get it over with.”

Also working for Mott Sunday, SW and GSP Quiet Street (Street Boss) breezed five furlongs in 1:01.44 over the Oklahoma turf in company with MGSP Royal Majesty (GB) (Frankel {GB}) [1:01.65]. Quiet Street, a homebred for Godolphin, is targeting the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Oct. 31.

Quiet Street (outside) works in company with Royal Majesty on Sunday | Sarah Andrew

Mott also reported that Juddmonte's Scylla (Tapit) is targeting the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. The 5-year-old homedbred breezed a half-mile in :48.20 on Saturday at Churchill Downs. In her most recent start, the daughter of MGISW Close Hatches (First Defence) finished third in the nine-furlong GI Spinster on Oct. 5 at Keeneland off of three graded placings in sprints.

“I haven't talked to Garrett [O'Rourke of Juddmonte], but as far as I know, we are going to run in the mile and an eighth Distaff,” said Mott. “She ran well enough [in the Spinster] and we thought maybe she didn't prove enough and the sprint division is very deep, and maybe the other division looks like it lost the reigning Horse of the Year [Thorpedo Anna] and a couple others.”

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5th-Belmont The Big A, $85,000, Msw, 10-17, 2yo, 1m, 1:36.11, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.
PALADIN (c, 2, Gun Runner–Secret Sigh, by Tapit) scored his first career win here, albeit not in a way his connections likely believed he would after Renegade (Into Mischief)–first across the line–was disqualified to second.

The even-money favorite for this unveiling, Paladin was never far from the front as he pushed Credit History (Nyquist) through an opening quarter in :23.20 and a half in :46.48. Asked to take command passing the half-mile, he had a slim margin coming off the bend as Renegade loomed the danger behind him. The pair came together inside the final furlong and distanced themselves from the field before Paladin found himself on the receiving end of late contact in the stretch. They hit the wire heads apart, but the inquiry sign was immediate posted afterwards.

After a Stewards' inquiry, it was determined that Renegade had impeded Paladin in the final yards of their duel, and the order was reversed with the son of Into Mischief being disqualified to second as the Chad Brown-trainee was elevated to the first-out score.

Paladin was a $1.9-million yearling pick up at the boutique FTSAUG sale across town in 2024 by M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for a partnership that would ultimately comprise of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith, and Summer Wind Equine LLC.

The victor is out of an unraced daughter of MGSW India (Hennessy), making the dam a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) in Japan and SW Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro), herself mother of SP Padma (Tapit). Secret Sigh's first to the races was unplaced Pippi Longstocking (Frankel {GB}), who foaled a Practical Joke colt this past spring, while placed Stop the Press (Uncle Mo) was her first to hit the board. Paladin is her most recent of racing age and she has a yearling colt by Into Mischief in the wings. Her 2025 Elite Power foal died.

This is the immediate female family of Pilfer, most famous as the dam of MGISW To Honor and Serve (Bernardini) and his full-sister GISW Angela Renee. A third full-sibling to that pair named Cara Caterina would go on to claim MGISW La Cara (Street Sense) to her broodmare tally. A full-sister to India named GSP-Eng Sing Softly went on in her second career to produce French Group-placed Coetzee (Frankel {GB}). Sales history: $1,900,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $46,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B., Smith, Derrick, Brant, Peter M., Smith, Brook T. and Summer Wind Equine, LLC; B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.

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Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a quartet of workers over the Oklahoma dirt at Saratoga on Friday who are all intended for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. The group of workers included Antiquarian (Preservationist) and 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard, Fierceness (City of Light), Mindframe (Constitution) and Locked (Gun Runner).

Mindframe breezed to the inside of Locked shortly after the first renovation break and the pair covered five furlongs in 1:01.49, according to NYRA clockers. Mindframe edged clear of the Sept. 27 GII Woodward-winner Locked just before the wire, galloping out in front and strongly through the turn.

“I thought Mindframe went super,” Pletcher said. “He had a really strong gallop out. Locked, since he's run more recently, we weren't looking for quite as much on the gallop out from him, but I thought they both went well.”

MINDFRAME (inside) and LOCKED breeze five furlongs in 1:01.49, according to NYRA Clockers, over the Oklahoma dirt training track. Both are targeting the Breeders' Cup Classic. pic.twitter.com/3lY4lh9W1x

— Christian (@c__abdo) October 17, 2025

Repole Stable and St. Elias's Mindframe was 3-for-3 this year with a pair of Grade I wins entering his last race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga Aug. 31. The 4-year-old dark bay was on the receiving end of a chain reaction of bumping caused by Phileas Fogg (Astern {Aus}) and lost jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. shortly into the 10-furlong race.

“I don't know how to quantify exactly what he got out of the Jockey Club from a fitness perspective and an actual true race,” Pletcher said. “We felt like we needed a little more from him [in training]. We've gotten some good works and good gallop outs, so I think we have accomplished what we were hoping to from a fitness perspective.”

Pletcher confirmed Locked, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, is currently targeting the Classic rather than the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Antiquarian outside of Fierceness | Sarah Andrew

Champion Fierceness, who was last seen taking the GI Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 30, breezed to the inside of Antiquarian following the second renovation break and the pair were on even terms as they covered five furlongs in 1:00.56, according to NYRA clockers.

“Just another 'typical of what we've seen from him [Fierceness].' Every breeze, he just does things very effortlessly,” said Pletcher. “He looked good coming to the wire, stayed on, galloped out nicely. We wanted to match him up with a little stronger mate today, to get a good solid work.

“I thought [Antiquarian] responded well. He stayed on course and galloped out nicely, a good work from both of them,” Pletcher added.

FIERCENESS (inside) and ANTIQUARIAN breeze five furlongs in 1:00.56, according to NYRA clockers, over the Oklahoma dirt training track. Both are targeting the Breeders' Cup Classic. pic.twitter.com/rS3suHQLrJ

— Christian (@c__abdo) October 17, 2025

Centennial Farms's Antiquarian broke through at the top-level and earned a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure in the Gold Cup, inching close to millionaire status with $944,100 banked through a 9-4-3-0 record.

“We felt like with all four horses, today was the sternest work we were going to look for. They are going to ship next week, we won't look to do quite as much next week,” Pletcher said, confirming that the four Breeders' Cup Classic contenders will work again at the Spa next week before shipping.”

Derrick Smith, Repole Stable, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier's Fierceness was a 1 1/2-length second in last year's Classic to champion Sierra Leone (Gun Runner).

“It is always comforting to know that he appears to like the surface out there, two good races, there gives you optimism,” Pletcher said.

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BBN Racing LLC has supplemented GISW Kilwin (Twirling Candy) to Book 1 of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock sale on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and the owners are offering a 25% interest in GSW Bracket Buster (Vekoma) during the second edition of the Keeneland Championship sale at Del Mar on Wednesday, Oct. 29, according to a press release from the auction company on Friday afternoon.

Consigned by Royal Oak Farm (Damian and Braxton Lynch), agent for BBN, 3-year-old Kilwin has four wins in eight starts led by a signature come-from-behind score in the GI Test Stakes at the Spa this past summer. At last year's inaugural Keeneland Championship sale, the filly RNA'd for $575,000.

Kilwin is a half-sister to GSW One Timer (Trappe Shot) and SW Just Basking (Arrogate). Her unraced dam is the Blame mare Spanish Star–a half-sister to GI Belmont Stakes hero Sir Winston (Awesome Again).

“Kilwin is an incredibly versatile performer who was precocious at 2 with a win in a million-dollar race on turf and the next year scored a Grade I victory on dirt at Saratoga with a heart-stopping performance to win one of America's most historic races,” BBN Racing Founding Partner Brian Klatsky said. “With her prowess on dirt and turf, she's a true collector's item.”

Also consigned by Royal Oak, a quarter stake in GI DK Travers Stakes runner-up Bracket Buster will be offered during Keeneland's sale at Del Mar. Last out, the 3-year-old colt won the GIII Oklahoma Derby as the odds-on favorite at Remington Park Sept. 28.

“BBN Racing purchased both Kilwin and Bracket Buster at Keeneland's September Yearling sale, and both horses are wonderful additions to our upcoming sales,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “We thank them for their tremendous support.”

Click here for the November sale catalogue and here for the Championship sale catalogue.

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Lael Stables's MGISW She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}), considered the top American runner to challenge the Europeans in GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Stakes, continued her steady pattern for trainer Cherie DeVaux by working a half-mile in :48 on Friday morning at Keeneland.

Drilling with stablemate & GSW Taking Candy (Twirling Candy), the 4-year-old logged her fifth Friday half-mile breeze since winning the GI E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 16, which offered the filly an automatic ticket to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.

“She has been working well, and I just need to keep her sound and happy,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said after the work.

She Feels Pretty is scheduled to work again here next Friday and then fly to Del Mar as part of a three-horse World Championships contingent for DeVaux, who collected her first championship score last year with More Than Looks (More Than Ready) in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile.

DeVaux's other runners are expected to be GISP Rebel Red (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf and GISW Vahva (Gun Runner) for the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The former worked a half-mile Friday morning over the local course's main track in :48.80 in company with SW Northern Invader (Collected).

Vahva–who will be offered in Book 1 of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock sale Nov. 4–is scheduled to work Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET.

“I was pleased with him this morning,” DeVaux said of Rebel Red, whose best finish in graded stakes this year was a second in the GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 9. “He has run some really good races and that puts him right there [with possible Breeders' Cup entrants].”

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St Elias Stable's Captain Cook (Practical Joke), a heartbreaking second at 20-1 in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga Aug. 23, will be favored to register a first career graded success in Saturday's GIII Perryville S. at Keeneland. Winner of the Withers S. in February, the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was making his first start for Todd Pletcher in the Allen Jerkens.

The field of six for the Perryville also includes GII San Vicente S. winner and Allen Jerkens third Barnes (Into Mischief) and GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty (Speightstown).

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ragtime (Union Rags), the 3-1 morning-line favorite in Keeneland's GII Lexus Raven Run S., is a neck away from a perfect four-for-four record. The Godolphin homebred was a too-good-to-lose second in the GI Test S. at Saratoga Aug. 2, then annexed the GIII Dogwood S. at Churchill Sept. 20. The full field of 12 also includes 'Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) and Simply Joking (Practical Joke), who both return following disappointing efforts in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 2.

Saturday's graded action also includes: the GII Sands Point S. at the Belmont at the Big A meeting and the GIII Ontario Derby at Woodbine, featuring a rematch between King's Plate S. winner Mansetti (Collected) and Prince of Wales S. winner Runaway Again (Hard Spun).

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Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), the sire of 11 graded winners in 2025 (17 black-type winners in total), including three at the elite level, will stand the 2026 breeding season at Goncalo Torrealba's Three Chimneys Farm for a fee of $250,000 LFSN, the nursery announced Friday.

During another banner season for his offspring at the races, Gun Runner is the sire of 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Sierra Leone, who made this year's Whitney Stakes the third Grade I success of his career and who remains on track to defend his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in two weeks' time. Fellow 'Rising Star' Locked was imperious in romping to a daylight victory in the GI Santa Anita Handicap, while 'Rising Star' Brant, who topped this year's OBS March Sale on a bid of $3 million from Zedan Racing, became the most recent of his sire's 11 overall top-level scorers in September's Del Mar Futurity and figures one of the choices for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Gun Runner's influence was not just confined to the racetrack, as his youngest progeny continued to make headlines in the sales ring. According to TDN Sales Statistics, Gun Runner is the leading general sires of yearlings in 2025, with 49 sold from 56 through the ring for an average of $974,591. No fewer than 17 of his yearlings sold for pricetags in excess of $1 million and he made history at this year's Keeneland September Sale, becoming the first sire to account for the toppers in the four sessions comprising Books 1 and 2. A colt out of Grade II Adirondack Stakes heroine Thoughtfully (Tapit) topped the sale on a bid of $3.3 million from M.V. Magnier, White Birch and Winchell Thoroughbreds.

“Gun Runner is continuing to prove our dreams can become a reality,” Torrealba said. “Three Chimneys and our partners continue to breed our best mares to him which we believe will further his influence on the breed.”

Newgate (Into Mischief) will command a service fee of $17,500 in 2026.

“Into Mischief's son Newgate, who won the GI Santa Anita Handicap, competing among the best of his generation, defeating eight Grade I winners during his career, was extremely popular with breeders,” said Three Chimneys board member Doug Cauthen. “Newgate is one of the best-looking horses you will ever see,” added Cauthen.

Gun Runner's Grade I winner Gun Pilot enters his second season at Three Chimneys and will cover mares at $12,500.

“He is very much like his sire Gun Runner–scopy and strong,” said Three Chimneys Director of Stallion Nominations Rebecca Nicholson. “He bred a full book of mares in his first season, and we want to continue the momentum by offering great value on him.”

Volatile (Violence) is the sire of 10 stakes performers in 2025, 50% of which were graded performers, and will stand for a fee of $10,000. Among his leading earners this year are GSW and track-record setting 'TDN Rising Star' Tip Top Thomas, GIII Southwest Stakes winner Speed King, and promising 2-year-old Igniter, who is targeting the GII Remsen Stakes.

Rounding out the roster is Funtastic (More Than Ready) who hails from the family of Gun Runner. His top earner, Funtastic Again, captured the GIII Dominion Stakes at Woodbine. Funtastic will stand for a fee of $2,500 LFSN.

Three Chimneys has also announced that Sky Mesa (Pulpit) will be pensioned. Now 25, the son of Caress (Storm Cat), accounted for 80 stakes winners, 26 at the graded/group level, and four at the highest level–General Quarters, Perfec Alibi, Sky Diva and Uruguyan Group 1 winner Giulia.

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New York-bred 2-year-old filly Iron Orchard (Authentic), who ran her record to a perfect three-for-three with a victory in the GI Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 4, was sold to Larry and Karen Doyle's KatieRich Farms for $2.5 million as part of the Fasig-Tipton Digital Fall Flash Sale, according to release from the company late Thursday evening. Bidding opened on Oct. 10.

A romping debut winner in a restricted Saratoga maiden on July 3, the dark bay–whose most recent trip through a sales ring saw her bring $500,000 at this year's OBS April Sale–made it two straight with a 6 3/4-length success in the Seeking the Ante Stakes for state-bred juvenile fillies at the Spa Aug. 22. Just short of 5-2 for the Frizette, she covered ground on the turn and held on to take the one-mile event by a nose. Her earnings to date stand at $352,000.

“She's a young, Grade I winner and there is plenty of upside there,” said Larry Doyle, who confirmed that Iron Orchard is being pointed for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Oct. 31. “She's a half-million dollar New York-bred, we vetted her from head to toe, she's very good-looking and she'll make a nice broodmare down the road.”

Doyle said that Danny Gargan, who consigned the filly as agent to the sale, will continue to train Iron Orchard in the near-term. In the immediate aftermath of the Frizette, Gargan was non-committal about going on to the Breeders' Cup.

“What a sale!,” enthused Leif Aaron, director of digital sales for Fasig-Tipton. “It has been a thrill to offer an undefeated Grade I-winning and Breeders' Cup-bound filly in Iron Orchard for her connections. We wish KatieRich the best of luck with her and will be rooting her on in the Breeders' Cup and beyond.”

The second of the two horses offered in the Fall Flash Sale was Haulin Ice (Coal Front), who punched her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with a victory in the GIII Princess Rooney Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Consigned by Taylor Made, the 4-year-old was unsold on a final bid of $875,000, but remains available for purchase post-sale.

“While we were disappointed to have not sold Haulin Ice, she is a quality filly and still available for purchase post-sale through our platform,” Aaron said.

Fasig-Tipton's next digital sale is the December Digital Sale scheduled for Dec. 4-9. Entries close Nov. 19.

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The two-minute win pool cutoff for computer-assisted wagering (CAW) bets that was implemented at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club over the summer in an effort to stabilize late odds fluctuations won't be in effect when the Southern California track hosts the Breeders' Cup Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, a spokesperson for the championships confirmed to TDN on Thursday.

Back on July 29, in response to growing clamor among non-CAW bettors about the outsized role that CAW players had in driving a spate of marked late odds changes at Del Mar during the first two weeks of the meet, Del Mar president Josh Rubinstein said in a press release that the implementation of the cutoff was “part of an overall effort to ensure an optimal wagering experience for fans on-track, at simulcast locations and those playing via our advanced deposit wagering partners.”

As TDN's Dan Ross reported at the time, the controversy involving CAW players typically surrounds the major edge they wield over regular gamblers because of their use of sophisticated technologies and specialized pool access that allows them to place massive wagers across nearly all pools in the final seconds of betting, as well as the attractive rebates offered to them that are unavailable to the average horseplayer.

Other tracks, like those run by the New York Racing Association (NYRA), have had similar CAW policies in place since 2021.

While Del Mar's cutoff only applies to win pools, (the most visible of all wagering pools), non-CAW horseplayers have hailed the decision as at least a step in the right direction toward mitigating the influence of CAW money.

When Santa Anita Park opened for its fall meet last month, it continued the two-minute cutoff that Del Mar had initiated on the same circuit.

On Oct. 16, when Rubinstein appeared before the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to discuss the track's licensure for the upcoming meet, CHRB vice chair Oscar Gonzales asked him if the CAW win-pool cutoff policy would extend into the track's upcoming late-fall meet that includes the Breeders' Cup championships.

“So that will continue for our fall meet,” Rubinstein said. “Related to the Breeders' Cup, that is a decision that they will need to make.”

Considering that the two-day championships are just two weeks away and that such a significant logistical decision had likely already been made, TDN reached out to the Breeders' Cup to get better clarity.

A Breeders' Cup spokesperson replied with the following statement, which was not attributed to any specific Breeders' Cup executive:

“Fortunately, due to the substantial liquidity in our multi-million-dollar wagering pools, the late odds fluctuations that frustrate horseplayers have not been an issue at the World Championships, including last year at Del Mar.

“In addition, the competitive nature of our races–with full fields of the best runners from around the globe–has historically provided recreational players with great betting value and opportunities for generous returns.”

On social media, non-CAW horseplayers have been opining and debating for weeks whether or not the two-minute ban at Del Mar would apply to the Breeders' Cup championships, with some bettors suggesting they might not wager on the races if no cutoff will be in effect.

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Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike) and his champion son Good Magic will stand the 2026 breeding season for $225,000 and $125,000, respectively, at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, the Lexington area nursery announced Thursday.

Curlin, who turns 22 in 2026, remains the only stallion to have supplied three Breeders' Cup winners on a single program and the only sire to account for four Eclipse Award winners in the same year. Good Magic, who was represented by a quartet of $1-million yearlings in 2025, is the sire of Classic winners Mage and his full-brother Dornoch from his first two crops.

Army Mule (Friesan Fire) is set to be represented in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf by the undefeated Ground Support and will return to $25,000 for the 2026 breeding season, up from $20,000 this past year. From his 133 winners to date, no fewer than 20 have struck at the stakes level, with Ground Support the most recent of his four graded scorers.

Former 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was 'the most popular horse ever' to retire to Hill 'n' Dale and his fee remains at $30,000 for 2026. A stud fee for Charlatan (Speightstown) will be determined at a later date.

“Our goal has always been to offer the best stallion value in the breeding business,” said Sikura. “We feel our 2026 fees will allow breeders to be competitive with the progeny of our stallions. Despite a very robust auction market, we have held our fees to provide value.”

The remainder of the Hill 'n' Dale stud fees for 2026 are as follows: Kantharos (Lion Heart, $10,000); Loggins (Ghostzapper, $5,000); Maclean's Music (Distorted Humor, $30,000); Violence (Medaglia d'Oro, $30,000).

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Whisper Hill Farm homebred JUST ALOOF (f, 2, Justify–Aloof {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) came running late down the center of the Aqueduct turf course to take her debut Thursday. The 8-1 shot, who spent much of the race in a mid-pack fifth, had to fan out wide with a quarter-mile left but rallied to get by race favorite and stablemate Market Hours (Practical Joke) in the final yards for the win. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0.

O/B-Whisper Hill Farm; T-Chad Brown.

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The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) on Thursday approved a slate of 2026 Thoroughbred race dates that will closely resemble the state's 2025 schedule.

Over the last decade or so, hammering out the state's annual race-dates calendar has usually been a long, controversial and often argumentative process that gets drawn out over many monthly commission and sub-committee meetings, with stakeholders often testifying and advocating for hours on end and some entities not pleased with their eventual allotments.

But with the demise of the entire Northern California racing circuit, and Southern California's two remaining main tracks–Santa Anita Park and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club–seemingly satisfied with the current template, the CHRB on Oct. 16 compressed that entire decision-making process into just two minutes, with zero public commentary and a unanimous 4-0 decision that approved the schedule that had been presented to the board.

“Southern California, for the first time, actually, since I started this job in 2020, has agreed on a calendar,” said the CHRB's executive director, Scott Chaney, prior to the vote. “It will largely mirror what this year looked like, with the exception of the Breeders' Cup week [at Del Mar in 2025], which will revert back to Santa Anita, as is normally the case.”

Bill Nader, the president and chief executive officer of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, submitted a letter included in the meeting packet that stated his organization supported the proposed schedule.

After the vote, at the general public commentary session near the end of the meeting, longtime California horse owner George Schmitt gave an update on initiatives of the company called Bernal Park Racing that he had formed with the owner/breeder John Harris, who died this past summer.

Earlier in 2025, Bernal mounted an unsuccessful bid to secure race dates in Northern California with the aim of putting together an organization to make personnel and a day-to-day racing infrastructure services available to any fair in the state that wanted to use those resources to run a meet.

“Since I was last with you, you know that my partner, John Harris, died,” Schmitt said. “The last time I was with John, I promised John that I would continue to do what he and I were working on to bring horse racing back into the county fairs in Northern California.”

With no Northern California racing in 2025, Schmitt cited a siphoning-off of California-bred horses to nearby states like Washington and Arizona, and what he said was the “lowest number of mares bred in the history of California since we started keeping track of how many mares are bred.”

Schmitt said that the number of mares bred is “barely over 1,000. In large part, in my opinion, it's because breeders in Northern California have decided [not to] breed their mares this year. We need to figure out a way to bring horse racing back into the county fairs in the North, in my opinion, so that people with lesser horses don't feel obligated to ship them [out of state].”

Schmitt said, “I think that we need to take a look at what happened this year in California. I know that the handle was up somewhat in Southern California. But if you look at the total state, there was no handle in Northern California. [Statewide] handle is way down by almost all the money that has been typically bet in Northern California at the fair races.

“I'll be back. I am working with significant sponsors for horse racing in Northern California. I am working with five county fairs. You all know Sacramento has destroyed their track and has decided they'll never run again. But there still are five racecourses and county fairs that are willing to run. I'm trying to get them all together. I hope to have everything done by the end of this month, and be with you next month requesting dates for the county fairs in the North again…

“I know everybody's going to say, 'Where's the money coming from?'” Schmitt said. “Well, I don't think I need to do more than tell you I have the money, and I will do that before I come before you. I still have significant amounts of money in Bernal Park Racing, because John and I put it in, and it's just sitting there…

“Let's figure out how to get this industry working all over the state of California again,” Schmitt said.

The approved 2026 calendar is below, listed in blocks of dates and not actual racing days.

Santa Anita: Dec. 17, 2025-June 16, 2026.

   LA County Fair at Los Alamitos: June 17-July 7

   Del Mar: July 8-Sept. 8

   Los Alamitos: Sept. 9-22

   Santa Anita: Sept. 23-Nov. 3

   Del Mar: Nov. 4-Dec. 1

   Los Alamitos: Dec. 2-15

CHRB vice chair Oscar Gonzales and commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Brenda Washington Davis and Peter Stern all voted in favor of the 2026 dates package.

CHRB chairman Gregory Ferraro, DVM, and commissioners Thomas Hudnut and Damascus Castellanos were not present at the meeting.

The post With California Down To a Single Circuit, ’26 Dates Allotment Sails Through CHRB appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A memorial service honoring veteran horseman Al Pike will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Lexington, Kentucky. A reception will follow.

Pike, a perennial leading 2-year-old consignor and pinhooker, passed away on July 26, 2025 at the age of 70 after a battle with cancer.

Those wishing to speak in memory of Pike at the service are asked to contact Mark Toothaker at 859-421-0151.

The post Al Pike Memorial Sunday at Fasig-Tipton appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Precious Dixie (Bernardini), the dam of leading GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hopeful Final Score (Not This Time), is one of two new supplements to the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale to be held Tuesday, Nov. 4 in Lexington.

Consigned to the sale by Taylor Made, the 11-year-old mare is offered in foal to Muth and is a daughter of the Grade II-winning and Grade I-placed turf distaffer Princess Haya (Street Cry {Ire}), herself the dam of GSW & GISP Lady Kate (Bernardini) and of the Irish Group 2-placed $1.8-million Keeneland September grad Bernard Shaw (Into Mischief).

In his two most recent trips to the post, Repole Stables' Final Score won the Aug. 28 GIII With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga and the GII Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 5.

Also added to the sale is Singsational (Audible), whose half-brother Mad House (Vekoma) won the GII Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx on Sept. 20 and is a candidate for the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint. Singsational is consigned by Baldwin Bloodstock, agent.

Keeneland will accept supplemental entries to Book 1 right up until the start of its November Sale. A total of 3,084 horses are catalogued for the auction, which will take place over eight sessions through Tuesday, Nov. 11. The Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale is set for Wednesday, Nov. 12.

The post Dam Of BC Juvenile Turf Hopeful Final Score Supplemented To Keeneland November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Dr. Kapur (c, 2, McKinzie–Ava's Kitten, by Kitten's Joy), a game second after setting a fast pace in the Travers Day maiden at Saratoga Aug. 23, ran to the money as the 4-5 favorite with a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' performance at Keeneland Thursday.

The Ken Ramsey homebred was hustled to the front from his outside draw, but was hounded to his inside through an opening quarter in :22.47. He began to get some breathing room on the far turn and leveled off nicely in the stretch while kept to task by Irad Ortiz, Jr. to graduate by 2 3/4 lengths. Chip Honcho (Connect) was second.

The final time for seven furlongs was 1:23.71.

Highlighted in our 'Second Chances' series, Dr. Kapur is named after the surgeon who performed Ramsey's kidney transplant last year.

Dr. Kapur is the fourth 'Rising Star' for Gainesway sophomore sire McKinzie and is out of Ramsey's stakes-winning and graded-placed homebred Ava's Kitten (Kitten's Joy). Ava's Kitten made all 13 of her career starts on grass and her full-brother Real Solution carried Ramsey's famed red-and-white silks to wins in two of the top grass stakes in the country, the GI Arlington Million and GI Manhattan S.

Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0.

Owner: Kenneth L. Ramsey
Breeder: Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey
Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.

Dr. Kapur is much the best in race 6, followed by #2 Chip Honcho and #6 Fuzzbuster pic.twitter.com/cEuSVSKG0w

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 16, 2025

The post McKinzie’s Dr. Kapur Earns ‘Rising Star’ Honors Second Out at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Edited Press Release

The catalogue for the second Keeneland Championship Sale, to be held in the Del Mar paddock the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 29, is now available for viewing by clicking here. The sale features a curated selection of elite racehorses, breeding stock, stallion shares and breeding rights.

The live auction for the Championship Sale will commence at 6:30 p.m. Pacific time. Attendance is by invitation only, with bidding available in-person, online and by phone.

The auction's interactive catalog–featuring photos, videos, speed figures and detailed information about each entry–is available at Championship.Keeneland.com.

The Championship Sale features these offerings:

• Lifetime breeding right to millionaire and Grade 1 winner Constitution, sire of multiple Grade I winner and GI Breeders' Cup Classic candidate Mindframe, exciting young sire Tiz the Law and others. The leading son of Tapit at stud, Constitution stands at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. Randy Gullatt consigns the lifetime breeding right.

• Stallion share in GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner and $4.5 million earner Life Is Good, who also stands at WinStar. The multiple Grade I-winning son of Into Mischief was represented by his first crop of yearlings at Keeneland's recent September Yearling Sale, where they commanded prices of $1.25 million, $1.025 million, $725,000, $700,000, etc. The 2.5% fractional interest is consigned by Christie DeBernardis, agent.

• Stallion share in Mindframe, multiple Grade 1 winner and leading contender for the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 1. He is scheduled to enter stud at historic Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, in 2026. The 2% fractional interest is consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent.

• Stallion share in Not This Time, which includes the income associated with this share from his 2025 breeding season. Already the sire of nine Grade I winners, he is the leading sire of black-type winners in 2025 with 22 and second by graded stakes winners with 12. He stands at Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The 2% fractional interest is consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

• Lifetime breeding right to leading sire, champion and GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, who stands at Darley in Lexington. He leads all sires with 10 Grade I performers in 2025 including Cavalieri, Argos and Velocity. Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent consigns the lifetime breeding right.

• 20% ownership interest in 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, now retired to Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. In three racing seasons, Thorpedo Anna won 12 races in 16 starts, including the 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff among 10 graded stakes, and earned $5.4 million. Out of the Uncle Mo mare Sataves, she is from the family of Grade/Group 1 winners Eskendereya and Balmont. The 20% fractional interest is consigned by McPeek Racing Stables, agent for Richard M. Edwards.

• 25% ownership interest in Bentornato (Valiant Minister), a leading candidate for the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint. Never off the board in 10 career starts, the six-time winner has earned more than $1.2 million. A narrow second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar last year as a 3-year-old, Bentornato enters this year's championships off a career-best 5 1/4-length victory at Churchill Downs. Jose D'Angelo, agent, is consigning the 25% fractional interest.

The post Keeneland Championship Sale Catalogue Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

4th-Belmont The Big A, $85,360, Alw, 10-16, (NW1$X), 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.46, ft, 2 1/2 lengths.
WITH THE ANGELS (f, 3, Omaha Beach–Sister Margaret, by Pulpit), unraced since November 2024, returned a winner in her 3-year-old debut Thursday at Aqueduct. A perfect four-for-four as a juvenile, she was named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' off an 11 1/2-length debut win before racking up three straight stakes wins all against fellow New York-breds. Facing open company for the first time Thursday and racing with the addition of Lasix, the heavily-bet 1-5 favorite was caught in traffic on the run down the backstretch and sat fourth while boxed in along the rail into the turn through fractions of :22.65 and :46.31. Still need room as the top flight turned for home, With the Angels finally tipped out inside the final furlong and once clear, burst away decisively to win this come-back effort by 2 1/2 lengths over fellow Rice-trained stablemate Sarir (American Pharoah). One of 24 stakes winners for Omaha Beach, With the Angels is a half-sister to Maggy's Palace (Palace Malice), SP, $269,646.  Sister Margaret has a yearling Twirling Candy colt who RNA'd for $120,000 at SARAUG this year and foaled a Street Sense colt before returning to Omaha Beach for 2026. Sales History: $65,000 Ylg '23 SARAUG; $350,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: MSW, 5-5-0-0, $331,650. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers LLC and Sanford H. Robbins LLC; B-Joseph DeRico (NY); T-Linda Rice.

Welcome back, champ! With the Angels, bred by Joseph DeRico and foaled at River Valley, coasts out of traffic to take her sophomore debut. Prat aboard the unbeaten #NYbred for @LindaRiceRacing, Winning Move, John Oxley, @Lady__Sheila, Rideau Racers, and Sanford Robbins. pic.twitter.com/WCC4eOiAil

— NYTB (@nytbreeders) October 16, 2025

The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ With The Angels Returns A Winner In 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

3rd-Keeneland, $110,000, Msw, 10-16, 2yo, 7f, 1:23.84, ft, 3 lengths.
CONFESSIONAL (c, 2, Essential Quality–Speedy Vanessa, by American Pharoah) outran his 12-1 odds to graduate first out Thursday and become the 10th winner for his freshman sire (by Tapit). Wide of the speed from his outer draw, he stalked just off frontrunning Grand Slam Sam (American Pharoah) past the half-mile pole. Pushing past that rival into the stretch, he opened up three lengths to the wire. 'Insight' runners Colossus (Constitution) and Our Forefathers (Constitution) finished sixth and eighth respectively. Speedy Vanessa, purchased for $280,000 at KEENOV last year in foal to Yaupon, is a half-sister to GI Central Bank Ashland winner Karlovy Vary (Dynaformer), herself the dam of MGSW/MGISP Mean Mary (Scat Daddy) and GSW/GISP Bye Bye Melvin (Uncle Mo). The Yaupon filly she produced this year will return to the KEENOV ring next month while Speedy Vanessa is due back to Life Is Good. Sales History: $160,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $63,085. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Steve Landers Racing LLC; B-Breed First LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

#10 Confessional takes race 3 with Axel Concepcion aboard, # 11 Grand Slam Sam and #1 Corona de Oro follow pic.twitter.com/VsJLaqcFKb

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 16, 2025

The post Confessional A Debut Winner At Keeneland For Essential Quality appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Blue Grass Farms Charities (BGFC) sixth annual Relics and Rarities from the Bluegrass Region online auction will begin at noon ET Oct. 23 and run until 7:00 p.m. ET Oct. 26 with a preview starting Oct. 16 which will showcase halters worn by top Thoroughbreds, Kentucky Bourbon and other unique items, the organization said in a press release on Thursday.

“We are excited about the items for this year's auction, but most especially sterling silver bracelets made with horsehair from seven amazing Thoroughbreds,” said BGFC Executive Director Julie Kwasniewski. “Bracelets were made by local jeweler Beth Johnson, of Paris, Kentucky, using hair from Cody's Wish, Goodnight Olive, Gun Runner, Rachel Alexandra, Silver Charm, Tapit and Zenyatta.”

According to the release, Godolphin will serve as this year's presenting sponsor. Auction proceeds will be used for the charity's annual 'Festival of Christmas' which is Dec. 3.

Click here to access the auction items.

The post BGFC Relics And Rarities Auction For Charity Starts Oct. 23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The announcement of the pre-entered fields for the 2025 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 9 a.m. Pacific time (12 p.m. ET) and will also be streamed live at www.breederscup.com. The list of the pre-entered fields will also be available on the Breeders' Cup mobile app, Facebook, X and YouTube.

Pre-entry is the first of a two-step process for all owners intending to start a contender in one of the 14 Breeders' Cup World Championships races. The entry stage then takes place on Monday, Oct. 27, when post positions are also drawn. The pre-entry announcement will be hosted by FDTV's Todd Schrupp and Christina Blacker.

The Breeders' Cup will take place on Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

The post Breeders’ Cup Pre-Entries To Be Announced On FanDuel TV, Streamed Live on BC Website appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.