Thoroughbred Daily News

Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), winner of the GI Diana Stakes in July, has been supplemented to Monday's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The 5-year-old mare will offered as a broodmare prospect as hip 225 through the Elite consignment.

“Excellent Truth is an exciting supplement to our November Sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “She has excelled at the highest levels in the United States and Europe, and her deep pedigree makes her an attractive broodmare prospect for breeding operations the world over.”

A group winner in France in 2023 and runner-up in the 2024 G1 Prix Rothschild, Excellent Truth was purchased by John Stewart's Resolute Racing for €1.6 million at the 2024 Arqana December sale. Transferred to the barn of trainer Chad Brown, she opened her stateside campaign with a runner-up effort in the Apr. 12 GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland and was second again in the GI Just a Game Stakes at Saratoga. She narrowly outbattled multiple Grade I winner She Feels Pretty to win the July 12 GI Diana Stakes.

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Live racing at Aqueduct has been canceled Thursday as a strong storm moves through the New York metropolitan area with forecasted high winds and heavy rain.

Current weather forecasts are calling for wind gusts exceeding 40 mph and up to two inches of rain as a result of Thursday's storm. The National Weather Service has placed Southern Queens under a coastal flood advisory beginning at 1 p.m.

Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcasting Thursday and live racing is scheduled to resume Friday with a first post time of 1:05 p.m.

The post Aqueduct Cancels Live Racing Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

by Steve Sherack & J.N. Campbell

DEL MAR, Calif. – A stallion share (2% interest) in leading young sire Not This Time brought $3 million from John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa to top the Keeneland Championship Sale held in the Del Mar paddock Wednesday evening.

The share was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Aaron and Marie Jones, as Hip 3. In a unique feature of the offering, the buyer receives all income from Not This Time's 2025 breeding season.

Not This Time is already the sire of nine Grade I winners, including champion 3-year-old colt Epicenter. Not This Time will be very well-represented by nine starters at this weekend's Breeders' Cup. He will command a $250,000 stud fee (S&N) at Taylor Made in 2026.

“He's a young sire, we have mares that will really suit him and we are investing in a prolific horse,” Sikura said. “The draw of (income from the 2025 breeding season) from this year was a major factor, too. There is nothing for sure in this business and you have to have a lot of luck if you're going to do this. It's not like he has to get any better, he just has to maintain what he has accomplished so far, and we think he's capable of doing that.

“Keeneland has done a great job with the hospitality and the setup–it's got a great feel,” Sikura added. “I think it's a sale that will build upon its success every year and could be the boutique sale of the year.”

A 20% interest in 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna–Sataves, by Uncle Mo), now retired to Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, was also acquired by Sikura's operation for $1 million. The interest was consigned by McPeek Racing Stables, agent for Richard M. Edwards, as Hip 6. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine, an absolute steal by Ken McPeek for $40,000 as a Fasig-Tipton October yearling, was campaigned in partnership by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc., McPeek's Magdalena Racing, Mark Edwards and breeder Judy B. Hicks.

“I bought 50% interest in her already, so being a majority owner in a mare like this one is special,” Sikura said. “Mark Edwards, the owner, had a great run with her. He's not a breeder, wanted to sell and that's why I bid. She's a wonderful mare and this increases my position in a really important one. The hope is she will be a significant producer. It's a great head start with a mare who was Horse of the Year, and one of the best fillies in the past 20 years. When they run, they run. She's got a lot of depth in her pedigree.”

Thorpedo Anna | Sarah Andrew

Sikura continued, “She's at the farm, so we increased our interest tonight. You hope to breed the best horses. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. We've had good luck with superior race mares who have become superior producers. Statistically the best race mares generally produce the best horses. It's still a tough business to be in. If you have bad luck that trumps everything.”

McPeek added, “Mark (Edwards) was never one to go for the long ride, and he'd rather put that money back into young horses by trying to emulate the success he's had. Everyone wants a racehorse, but some people don't want to breed horses, which is just different sides of the fence. She's going into the next stage of her career and the next stage of her life cycle. I think John Sikura was very interested in that other share and I think he's going to work to bring some other people in on it. I'll help him do that. He's got a group that he pulled together on the first half. And for me, I've handled Take Charge Lady, Swiss Skydiver, and I can give you a multitude of other Grade I-winning fillies, and I always encourage my clients to keep them. But that is part of this ride we are on and I'll keep going as long as I can. It's not about money at this stage. It's about the experience of creating, breeding, and finding the next great horse.”

Other highlights included: a 25% interest in GI Breeders' Cup Sprint 5-2 morning-line favorite Bentornato (Valiant Minister) (Hip 7), who was a fantastic second for trainer Jose D'Angelo in last year's renewal, brought $1 million from Michael and Jules Iavarone; a stallion share (2.5% interest) in WinStar Farm stallion Life Is Good (Hip 1) brought $1 million from Emerald Edge, agent; and a 25% interest in Breeders' Cup Sprint contender Mullikin (Violence) (Hip 9) brought $700,000 from RB Bloodstock, agent for Storyteller Racing. The latter offering was consigned by WinStar Farm, where Mullikin will stand in 2026.

Keeneland created the Championship Sale last year to be an opportunity for buyers to participate in the highest level while enjoying a festive event in the days before the Breeders' Cup.

“I think we had a proof of concept last year and we proved this year that it really, really works,” Keeneland's Tony Lacy said. “It's great to see everyone here who are people in racing or folks that want to get involved in racing. People were cheering and hugging each other, so the atmosphere was just what we were looking for with this experience. That's really what we are trying to build on. It's a party and let's have fun. Let's make dreams happen. It's not always about trying to make as much money as possible. It's about, how can we jazz this side of the business up a bit more? This is a social business we are in and it's about relationships. It's a social enterprise. Over the years everything has become very transactional and it needs to be fun. It's business, but the fun element was what we were after here.”

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The Breeders' Cup has released an outline of its safety and integrity protocols ahead of the upcoming championship weekend at Del Mar in a press release issued Wednesday.

Out-of-competition testing for the event began in July with the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit, in collaboration with the Breeders' Cup Veterinary Team, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, HISA, and the California Horse Racing Board, conducting OOC testing for banned substances of potential contenders.

Del Mar Track Superintendent Dennis Moore and Turf Course Superintendent John Beggin have worked closely with Dr. Mick Peterson, Program Director of the University of Kentucky Racetrack Safety Program, to ensure the most consistent racing surfaces possible at the track. Additionally, TurfTrax software has been employed to measure the condition of the turf track.

Beginning in early October, the Breeders' Cup Veterinary Review Panel has assessed the records of more than 220 potential contenders, including veterinary and treatment records, training and racing patterns, and physical examinations of select horses conducted by regulatory veterinarians in the applicable racing jurisdictions around the world. At the close of pre-entries Oct. 20, medical records for all domestic contenders were requested from HISA and reviewed by the Review Panel a second time. For international contenders, the previous 30 days of medical records were requested and submitted for review.

Mandatory 24-hour surveillance for all runners began at 11 a.m. PT Oct. 28 and every Breeders' Cup runner is subject to:

• Comprehensive on-site veterinary exams, including jog-up exams and the use of diagnostic technology as needed
• Additional physical examinations and the use of the AI-powered SLEIP app to analyze the horse's gait, at the determination of the Breeders' Cup Veterinary Team
• In-stall and on-track veterinary oversight during training and schooling
• Mandatory jog-up exams before entering any racing surface at Del Mar
• HISA-mandated pre-race veterinary examinations in the barn and veterinary monitoring of horses in the paddock and during warm-up on race day
• Extensive pre-race TCO2 testing, as well as post-race testing of the first four finishers along with other runners as designated by the stewards
• Observation of all other finishers cooling out as they exit the racetrack to determine if any aid or further assessment is required.

A complete look at the Breeders' Cup's safety and integrity protocols can be found here.

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George Weaver has trained his share of talented fillies and mares, but few have shined quite like the two stable stars preparing to leave his shedrow. Grade I winners Dorth Vader (Girvin) and Sacred Wish (Not This Time) have been fixtures in the Weaver barn for several years, announcing their talent early and steadily building resumes worthy of millionaire status.

Sacred Wish made her final start with Weaver at Kentucky Downs this summer, while Dorth Vader will have one last dance for her connections at the Breeders' Cup before both mares head to the Fasig-Tipton 'Night of the Stars' Sale on November 3.

For Weaver, parting with the pair brings equal measures of pride and poignancy.

“When you decide to be a horse trainer, the goal is to get horses of their caliber,” he said. “They have been stable stars in our barn and when it's time for them to retire, it is a little bittersweet. We love them while we have them and we root for them when they go on to their next career.”

Sacred Wish has been a breakout performer for Black Type Thoroughbreds, who co-own the 5-year-old with Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher Dunn, and Anthony Spinazzola.

Spinazzola originally owned the daughter of Not This Time outright and the rest of the ownership group joined in after her eye-catching maiden win. She was then sent to Weaver with the goal of sending Black Type and their partners to their third consecutive Kentucky Oaks. A runner-up finish in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks left her just shy of qualifying, but what followed surpassed all expectations.

Over the next two seasons, Sacred Wish placed in nine graded stakes and proved her versatility with standout performances on both turf and dirt.

Maddie Mattmiller of Black Type Thoroughbreds said one of her favorite memories was Sacred Wish's runner-up finish in the 2023 GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Mattmiller and her husband, Jake Ballis, were on their way home from a family vacation, seated on the runway as the field loaded into the gate. They watched from their phones as the plane started to take off, not realizing the race stream was slightly delayed.

Maddie Mattmiller and Jake Ballis with Sacred Wish | Katie Petrunyak

“We were hoping we could get it in and we're frantically watching the stretch run,” she recalled. “We're screaming and the flight attendants don't know what's going on. All of a sudden Jake gets a call from George. We had no idea what had happened so George had to tell us that we got beat by a head. But that was a very thrilling performance and we were excited with how she ran.”

Sacred Wish made headlines the following year after switching to the turf with a breakthrough score in the 2024 GI Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar, where she defeated Grade I winners Gina Romantica (Into Mischief) and Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy). The victory marked not only Sacred Wish's first Grade I win, but also the first at that level for Black Type Thoroughbreds.

“For her to win a Grade I, it meant everything to us and our partners,” said Jake Ballis. “She has been our best horse by money earned and credentials. She's been very sound and never missed a day of training.”

“Sacred Wish is as honest as the day is long,” Weaver echoed. “She always gives one hundred percent. She loves being a racehorse.”

At Fasig-Tipton, Sacred Wish will sell as a racing or broodmare prospect as Hip 140 with Vinery Sales.

Sacred Wish wins the 2024 Matriarch Stakes | Benoit Photo

With earnings just short of $1.2 million, the 5-year-old is Not This Time's all-time leading female. Her dam Indian Wish (Indian Charlie) is a half-sister to the dams of Grade I winners Firing Line (Line of David), Bowies Hero (Artie Schiller) and Sharp Azteca (Freud).

“It's one of the deepest pedigrees and it's a pedigree that I myself am chasing,” noted Mattmiller. “It's full of Classic-type horses and Grade I producers.”

Mattmiller said that when Sacred Wish hits the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds, buyers will be just as taken by her physical presence as they will be by her on-paper credentials.

“She's tall, dark and beautiful,” she said. “She's got the leg, she's got the stretch and her conformation is there. She's precocious yet she was able to carry her speed, from winning at six furlongs on the dirt to being able to carry her speed a mile and an eighth. She's just one of those ideal types of mares and so I think she's going to appeal to a lot of people.”

Just as Sacred Wish inspired pride for her ownership group, Breeders' Cup-bound Dorth Vader has proven equally special for her connections.

The millionaire is a homebred for Ocala-based breeder John Ropes and her story began with a series of fortunate twists. Ropes had originally planned to send his mare Hardcore Candy (Yonaguska) to a different stallion in 2019, but after visiting Girvin, he changed course and bred to the sire in his first year at Ocala Stud. While in foal with Dorth Vader, Hardcore Candy suffered a serious health issue that at one point left Ropes uncertain if she would survive.

Against the odds, Dorth Vader arrived the next year. Because of her challenging start in life, she was given a meaningful name honoring Ropes's partner of seven years, Dorothy Harden. Dorth Vader went on to become Ropes's first-ever graded stakes winner—and later, his first Grade I winner.

“When she was younger, she trained herself,” recalled Ropes. “All she wanted to do was bullet works without asking. As she matured, she started to train properly. What makes any racehorse good is their heart and their willingness to win. She doesn't like to be in second place. She likes to win and she runs that way.”

Team Dorth Vader: George Weaver, John Ropes and Dorothy Harden | Katie Petrunyak

Originally trained by Michael Yates, Dorth Vader broke her maiden in her second start before scoring a pair of stakes wins in the Juvenile Fillies Sprint Stakes and the Sandpiper Stakes.

The Florida-bred's Cinderella story continued the following year when she captured the GII Davona Dale at 46-1 odds and carried Ropes to his first Kentucky Oaks, where she finished fifth. From there, she was transferred to George Weaver to take her talent to New York and she immediately delivered with a runner-up effort in the GI Acorn Stakes.

“That's when we really knew we had a racehorse,” Ropes noted. “She came in second by a nose to Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), who had won the Kentucky Oaks. One step further and we would have won.”

Dorth Vader earned her Grade I breakthrough almost exactly two years later in the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes, dominating over a sloppy track by nearly five lengths. Later this summer, the 5-year-old delivered another top-level performance when she went head-to-head with Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in a dramatic edition of the GI Personal Ensign. In the stretch, Dorth Vader and John Velazquez launched a strong run, bearing down on Thorpedo Anna and Brian Hernandez Jr. The two Grade I winners battled stride for stride in the final yards, with Thorpedo Anna edging her by a nose just as they hit the wire.

“Hernandez even told Johnny congratulations afterward because we were just in front after they crossed the wire,” said Ropes. “The photo showed us two to three inches behind. It was that close, so we had to feel good about the race. We were racing against the number one filly in America.”

“She ran huge that day and we felt like winners,” added Weaver. “Dorth Vader is very athletic and always has been. She covers ground easily, is a very forward filly and has matured over time. She's really stepped up her game this year and has been able to showcase how much she can run.”

Dorth Vader and Thorpedo Anna go head to head in the GI Personal Engisn Stakes | Sarah Andrew

Dorth Vader will make her final start for her current connections in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff as she looks to add one more highlight to an already remarkable run. Weaver reported that while he was “not crazy about” drawing the twelfth post position, Dorth Vader has settled in at Del Mar and is looking better than ever.

Ropes, along with the mare's namesake Dorothy, has been in Del Mar since Sunday, arriving at the track early each morning to watch the star homebred train. Ropes joked that he wished the 5-year-old's morning-line odds were a bit longer than 5-1—after all, she tends to deliver some of her best performances when flying under the radar–but he admitted those odds fairly reflect her current form.

“Right now she's the best that she's ever been, so we hope she shows her best on Saturday,” he said “We're looking for a win and I have no doubt she'll be right there.”

After the Breeders' Cup, Sacred Wish will head to Kentucky for the 'Night of the Stars,' where she will also be consigned by Vinery Sales and will sell as Hip 209.

The sales company's co-owner Matt Bowling said that offering a pair of Grade I winners at one auction is a unique opportunity.

“Both are A-plus physicals,” he said. “You don't see mares like these come to the market a whole lot so we're excited to be able to bring them over and represent their connections.”

Vinery Sales announced earlier this week that a portion of the proceeds of the sales of Dorth Vader and Sacred Wish, as well as 19-time stakes winner Free Like a Girl (El Deal), will go to charity. Dorth Vader will represent Starlight Children's Foundation, which offers Star Wars-themed programs to sick children in the hospital. A portion of the proceeds of Free Like a Girl's sale will be donated to St. Jude's Children Hospital. Sacred Wish will represent the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (More details here)

“We're really excited this year to have the opportunity to sell two special horses coming out of George Weaver's barn,” said Fasig-Tipton's Boyd Browning. “It's really cool when you think of how, as brilliant of a stallion as Not This Time is, Sacred Wish is his all-time leading money-winning female. She's demonstrated her ability on both dirt and turf, which is kind of indicative of what you see with Not This Time. To me, Dorth Vader is a really cool mare. She demonstrated great precocity and great speed as a 2-year-old. To see what she's accomplished this year as a 5-year-old has been really exciting and hopefully, she has one more big one in her coming up.”

The post Weaver Stable Stars Dorth Vader and Sacred Wish Set for Night of the Stars appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

1st-Horseshoe Indianapolis, $32,000, Msw, 10-29, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:46.54, gd, 2 3/4 lengths.
CONTRIBUTION (c, 3, Constitution–Gifting {SP}, by Street Cry {Ire}) broke as the narrow 2-1 second choice as the only first-time starter facing a field of far more experienced rivals in the mud Wednesday. Shifting sideways from the outside gate, he lacked any early speed and had only one runner beat around the clubhouse turn and into the backstretch while well off the pace through fractions of :24.24 and :48.37. Forced back and wider still behind race favorite Start to Win (Upstart) at the half-mile pole, Contribution re-rallied with an eye-catching move to circle the field around the far turn. On the lead as he straightened for home, he kept safely clear of the favorite to graduate by 2 3/4 lengths. An $850,000 yearling purchase for Resolute's John Stewart at Keeneland September in 2023, Contribution is out of a winning half-sister to GISW Streaming (Smart Stike) and to the dams of Canadian champion older dirt male Tyson (Tapit), MGSW Cezanne (Curlin) and MGISW and champion 3-year-old colt Arcangelo (Arrogate). This is the family of Better Than Honour, a prolific $14,000,000 FTKNOV broodmare responsible for another champion 3-year-old in MGISW Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), GSW/G1SP Casino Drive (Mineshaft) and GI Belmont Stakes winner Jazil (Seeking the Gold). Gifting has a 2-year-old Charlatan colt who was exported to Ireland last year and reported a colt by Army Mule this year before returning to Army Mule for 2026. Sales History: $850,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $19,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart
O-Resolute Racing; B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc & Stretch Run Ventures, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

The post Contribution A Debut Winner For Resolute At Horseshoe Indy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Every week, the TDN posts a round-up of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Among this week's rulings, trainer Marisa Monserrate has been banned 18 months after her trainee, Can't Beat Me, tested positive for the banned substance 2,5 Dihydroxybenzenesulfonic Acid after winning at Finger Lakes on July 14.

According to Equibase, Monserrate has been training since 2023, winning a total of 14 races from 124 starts. Monserrate was also fined $12,500. The suspension began Oct. 25.

Also this past week, seven different trainers have been charged with the alleged breach of rule 3510(d), “Refusal or failure without compelling justification to comply with any other provision of the Protocol (where such refusal or failure does not constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation).”

These alleged events happened a while ago, the dates ranging between Nov. 17, 2023 and Mar. 18, 2024.

When asked for more specifics, a HIWU spokesperson wrote that Rule 3510(d) “covers a broad range of potential violations that involve a Covered Person's refusal to cooperate and/or comply with their obligations as a Covered Person under the ADMC Program Rules.

“If it is found that a violation was committed, the specific conduct will be disclosed. HIWU cannot comment on additional details of these pending cases,” the spokesperson wrote.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Date: 10/28/2025
Licensee: Michael Troy Newton, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on October 29, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from St. Mary Margaret, who won at Belterra Park on 8/2/25.

Date: 10/27/2025
Licensee: Scott E. Young, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (Gastrogard)—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Chitoz's Blur on 9/23/25.

Date: 10/27/2025
Licensee: Doug O'Neill, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Glycopyrrolate—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Divine Wind on 9/21/25.

Date: 10/27/2025
Licensee: Maria Bowersock, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $1,000 ($500 for each Controlled Medication Substance); imposition of 3 Penalty Points (1.5 Penalty Points for each Controlled Medication Substance). Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Flunixin and Phenylbutazone—both class C controlled substances—in a sample taken from Nezuko on 9/12/25.

Date: 10/24/2025
Licensee: Fenneka T. Bentley, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Out-of-competition violation for the presence of Betamethasone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Tiger Paw, who won at Laurel Park on 7/14/25.

Date: 10/24/2025
Licensee: Marissa Monserrate, trainer
Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on October 25, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results obtained on 07/14/25 and 08/04/25, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $12,500. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of 2,5 Dihydroxybenzenesulfonic Acid—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Can't Beat Me, who won at Finger Lakes on 7/14/25.

Date: 10/22/2025
Licensee: Hugh McMahon, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on October 23, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Schrader, who finished second at Colonial Downs on 9/13/25.

Date: 10/22/2025
Licensee: Jose Puentes, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Trichlormethiazide—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Yes He Can, who won at Emerald Downs on 8/29/25.

Pending ADMC Violations
10/29/2025, Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Don't Listen, who won at Parx Racing on 10/1/25.

10/29/2025, Gustavo Rodriguez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (Gastrogard)—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Pistol Liz Ablazen on 9/26/25.

10/29/2025, Albert Michael Lenzini, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Altrenogest—a banned progestogen—in a sample taken from Oliver Tiz, who won at Emerald Downs on 8/31/25.

10/28/2025, William Blair, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Outrageously, who finished second at Horseshoe Indianapolis on 8/21/25.

10/28/2025, Erin Thompson, trainer: Pending violation for the possession of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and Adenosine 5-monophosphate (AMP)—both banned substances—for an event dated 7/8/25.

10/24 and 10/28/2025, Gary Sciacca, Chris Englehart, David Jacobson, Antonio Arriaga, Patrick Reynolds, Amira Chichakly and Rodolfo Rodriguez, trainers: Pending violations for the alleged breach of rule 3510(d), “Refusal or failure without compelling justification to comply with any other provision of the Protocol (where such refusal or failure does not constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation)” for events dated 3/8/24, 3/7/24, 11/17/23, 3/18/24, 3/8/24, 3/7/24 and 3/1/24, respectively.

10/23/2025, Adam Rice, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Little Lamb Chop, who finished third at Presque Isle Downs on 9/1/25.

10/23/2025, Felissa Dunn, trainer: Pending violation for the possession of Chlorpromazine and Propionylpromazine—both banned substances—for an event dated 5/27/25.

The post National Rulings, Oct. 23-29; Monserrate Banned 18 Months appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

BBN Racing's Kilwin (Twirling Candy) recorded perhaps the most dramatic Grade I win of the year in August, falling to her knees at the start of the GI Test Stakes before coming from seemingly nowhere with a relentless rally down the lane to just her nose in front on the line. BBN Racing, looking to capitalize both on the combination of that Grade I win and an expected hot marketplace, will offer the filly as hip 223 through the Royal Oak Farm consignment during Tuesday's Book 1 session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

“We are just thinking about whether this market is as hot as it seems to be and maybe we should see if we can maximize the price on her now while her Test performance is fresh in everybody's mind,” said BBN founding partner and racing manager Braxton Lynch.

Kilwin was acquired by the racing partnership for $225,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and quickly repaid that investment when winning the $1-million Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs in just her second start. She was second behind GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint contender Shisospicy in the GIII Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs in May before moving to the main track for the first time to win the Leslie's Lady Stakes in Louisville. That effort earned the bay filly a trip to Saratoga.

“It was such a surreal feeling,” Lynch said of Kilwin's victory in the Test (video). “It was hard to see exactly what happened from where we were watching. We were disappointed that she was that far back and had seemingly come out of the gate very slowly. It wasn't until after the race that we found out that she went down on her knees and somehow Jose [Ortiz] stayed on. But I think it was about 10 to 15 seconds of, 'Well that was a waste of a trip to New York.' And then she gathered herself and you're kind of going well, she is catching them up, but I still had no idea that she was even going to hit the board until midway down the stretch. Then we could see she was flying and it was like, 'Oh my gosh, we might pick up a stakes placing.' The last five strides, we were just thinking, 'This is crazy.' Afterwards, I was thinking, wait a minute, am I cheering and we didn't win? Because I don't think that happened.”

Braxton Lynch leads Kilwin into Saratoga winner's circle | Sarah Andrew

Following her Test win, Kilwin returned to the Kentucky Downs turf only to be a well-beaten eighth in the Sept. 6 GII Music City Stakes.

“I don't know if you just want to call it a bounce after she had just put in such a big effort in New York,” Lynch said of the Music City effort. “And maybe she is better on dirt. That's the other conclusion that we came away with. She is two-for-two on dirt. As good as she was as a 2-year-old on the grass, I think she probably maybe always should have been on dirt.”

Kilwin was a supplemental entry to the November sale and will be offered as a racing or broodmare prospect.

“If she RNA's or something, we would definitely race her next year,” Lynch said. [Trainer] Rusty [Arnold] has every intention of trying to stretch her out next year. I think that was our plan if we do end up with her, we will probably try two turns. He doesn't see that that is going to be a problem for her.”

The first BBN Racing syndicate was formed in 2019 and the partnership has already developed a heady resume. Kilwin isn't even the group's first Grade I winner by Twirling Candy. The group's first iteration included 2019 GI Belmont Oaks winner Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy). Owned in partnership with Ashbrook Farm, the filly won six of seven starts–including four graded events–before selling for $1.95 million at the 2020 Keeneland November sale.

Other graded performers to carry the BBN colors are Hidden Stash (Constitution), who took the partners to the 2021 GI Kentucky Derby, Core Values (Honor Code), 2022 GII Clark Stakes winner Trademark (Upstart), Mo Stash (Mo Town), and Sweet Cherry Pie (Twirling Candy).

Lynch, who founded BBN Racing along with Brian Klatsky and Brendan O'Brien, credits the entire team with the group's success. Bo Bromagen serves as bloodstock consultant and, in addition to Arnold, BBN has horses with trainer Vicki Oliver.

“I think it's got to start with the team we have selecting yearlings,” Lynch said of the group's success. “We have–I wouldn't say a very limited budget, but we are cost conscious when we are at the sale. So we bid on a lot of horses, we get outbid on a lot of horses, and then we just try to find those horses that fit into our wheel house.”

She continued, “A lot of the credit has to go to our trainers. They have done a phenomenal job bringing these horses along and making it a fun experience for our partners. And I think, obviously, the third factor is that the purses in Kentucky have gone up every year since we have been buying. That's been a huge part of why we participate only with Kentucky-breds.”

The BBN Racing team was in action this fall putting together its fifth class of yearlings. Despite a competitive and record-breaking sales season, Lynch said she was happy with the group's purchases.

“We bought 10 yearlings this year,” she said. “And somehow or other, time will tell if we were smart or not, but we ended up with just about the exact same average price that we have always ended up with. Obviously, we did get outbid on several, but we found what we think are pretty good horses that might have fallen through the cracks. Like I said, time will tell.”

With those yearlings still waiting in the wings, Kilwin will take center stage for BBN Racing at Keeneland next week.

“I hate to call it 'a test the market' because I don't think that's fair,” Lynch said of Kilwin's trip through the sales ring. “The market being as strong as it is right now was probably the main factor of trying to do this.”

The single Book 1 session of the Keeneland November begins Tuesday at 2 p.m. Subsequent sessions begin at 10 a.m. and the auction concludes Nov. 11, with session eight immediately followed by session nine during the final day.

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Tapit (Pulpit), the number one active sire in North America by Grade I winners (34) and graded stakes winners (106) and a perennial leading broodmare sire, will stand the 2026 breeding season for $185,000 at Gainesway in Lexington, the farm said in a release Wednesday morning.

The rising 25-year-old, whose progeny have amassed earnings of over $220 million to date, is in line for a third straight title as leading North American broodmare sire and remains a commercial standout. According to the Keeneland website, Tapit's 19 yearlings sold for an average of $556,684 (including one post-sale transaction) and was led by a filly out of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Sharing (Speightstown), that sold for $1.5 million to Whisper Hill Farm, long a supporter of the stallion.

McKinzie (Street Sense) will command a fee of $75,000 in 2026, pending the results of the Breeders' Cup. Himself a four-time Grade I winner at the races, McKinzie has been represented by three elite-level scorers from his first crop, including recent Pennsylvania Derby hero Baeza, a $1.2-million KEESEP yearling and among a select field of nine for Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Scottish Lassie and 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Chancer McPatrick have also succeeded at the highest level and each makes an appearance in at Del Mar this weekend. McKinzie is also the sire of three 'Rising Stars' from his second crop–Golden Tornado, Big Dom and Dr. Kapur.

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard and two-time Grade I winner Locked (Gun Runner) is the newest addition to the Gainesway stallion roster and will begin his career at $35,000. Winner of the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at two, he took a Grade I-quality renewal of the GII Cigar Mile Handicap last year, defeating the likes of Grade I winners Book'em Danno (Bucchero) and Mullikin (Violence) in the process. His signature victory at four came in the prestigious GI Santa Anita Handicap, where he romped home by a record-setting 8 1/2 lengths, good for a 109 Beyer Speed Figure.

Olympiad (Speightstown) was represented by his first crop of yearlings this season, led by a pair of horses that sold for $400,000 each. He will cover mares at $20,000 in 2026.

Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music) will serve mares at $10,000 on the heels of a successful yearling sales season. The sire of 25 six-figure yearlings in 2025, the most among first-crop sires standing for $20,000 or less, Drain the Clock had the highest return on investment (7.74 times initial stud fee) of any first-crop stallion through the Keeneland September Sale.

A quartet of stallions will be covering their second books of mares next season. Muth (Good Magic, $30,000) bred 185 mares in his first book, while Arrogate's top-earning son Seize the Grey ($25,000) was mated to 196 mares. Charge It (Tapit, $12,500) was one of the most popular freshman covering sires in 2025, having served 235 mares, and the list is completed by Tapit Trice (Tapit, $10,000).

GAINESWAY STUD FEES — 2026

Charge It (Tapit), $12,500

Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music), $10,000

Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein), $15,000

Locked (Gun Runner), $35,000

McKinzie (Street Sense), $75,000

Muth (Good Magic), $30,000

Olympiad (Speightstown), $20,000

Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), $7,500

Seize the Grey (Arrogate), $25,000

Tapit (Pulpit), $185,000

Tapit Trice (Tapit), $10,000

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DEL MAR, Calif. — Sovereignty (Into Mischief), the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $7-million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, will be scratched. The news was first reported by Daily Racing Form's David Grening.

The GI Kentucky Derby, GI Belmont Stakes and GI DraftKings Travers S. hero spiked a fever Monday evening after breezing four furlongs earlier that day. Treated with an anti-inflammatory, there was an outside chance that the Godolphin homebred could still make the race. That ended on Tuesday afternoon.

“If it didn't go away, we were going to have a problem,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “And it didn't go away. “(Assistant trainer) Neil (Poznansky) called me (Tuesday afternoon) and said it had jumped back up. We retreated him and, at that point, it's not even a conversation. (Sovereignty) made the decision. That is what we said from the beginning–if he re-spiked, he would be out.”

Sovereignty's defection leaves a field of nine for the Classic. Last year's Classic runner-up and 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Fierceness (City of Light) is the revised 5-2 morning-line favorite.

“Yes, I feel sorry for him and, frankly, my staff. Everybody was excited about it,” Mott said. “And the fans. I really think this horse was a fan favorite at this point and I feel badly that they are not going to be able to see him participate. I think a lot of people were really looking forward to seeing him run and seeing that race with him in it.”

pic.twitter.com/9muy6nghmz

— Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 29, 2025

Sovereignty will ship to Kentucky when it is deemed that he is well enough to travel. Future plans for Sovereignty are still to be determined.

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Juan Hernandez, Phil D'Amato and Spendthrift Farm were the leading jockey, trainer and owner, respectively, during the Santa Anita Autumn Meet which concluded Sunday, Oct. 26.

It was a ninth jockey's title at Santa Anita for Hernandez, who posted 28 wins from 92 runners (30.4%) and was also tops among jockeys with eight wins in stakes company and $1,707,338 in purse earnings. Umberto Rispoli was runner-up in the standings on 19 winners from 79 mounts ( 24.1%).

Among Hernandez's biggest wins at the meet were 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Explora (Blame) in the GII Oak Leaf Stakes and closing-weekend scores aboard Test Score (Lookin At Lucky) in the GII Twilight Derby and Warming (Global Campaign) in the GIII Autumn Miss Stakes.

“I'd like to thank all the trainers and owners again, for all the support they give me. They trust me to ride their horses,” said Hernandez, a 33-year-old native of Veracruz, Mexico.

D'Amato was taking down his eighth crown as top trainer at Santa Anita, with highlight victories in the GII John Henry Turf Championship with the evergreen Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) and Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy) in the GII Rodeo Drive Stakes. D'Amato saddled 13 winners from 54 starters (24.1%).

“I love it here,” D'Amato said in a winner's circle ceremony Sunday. “We focused on having a big second half of 2025 and it has worked out thus far. Hopefully it continues to Santa Anita Winter. I always tell everybody you are only as good as your help. I've got super assistants at Santa Anita, at Los Alamitos and in Kentucky. It is a total team effort, from good help all the way down. I'm only as good as my help. You can see I have some great people behind me and they make it easy for me every day.”

Spendthrift was represented by four winners from seven starters, highlighted by the GIII Chillingworth Stakes won by their 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), a leading chance in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Racing resumes at the Great Race Place with the start of the 2025-2026 Classic Meet on Friday, Dec. 26.

The post Hernandez, D’Amato, Spendthrift Top Santa Anita Autumn Standings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Aqaareb, an 8-year-old mare by Bernardini, brought top price of $260,000 at the conclusion of the Inglis Digital October (Late) Sale on Tuesday.

Consigned by Paramount Sales, she went to Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, which has bases in England and the U.S.

Her first foal to race is a placed Amjaad (Nyquist), who will race in the Dubai barn of trainer Doug Watson during the upcoming U.A.E. racing season. She also has foals by Street Sense, Good Magic, and Cody's Wish.

The mare was offered in-foal to currently leading Freshman sire, Yaupon.

Aqaareb is out of the stakes-winning Unbridled's Song mare Muhaawara, making her a half-sister to Grade III winner Shagaf, and a half-sister to stakes-placed Munqad and stakes producers Gharbeya and Mahasen. Her second dam is the multiple Grade I winner Habibiti, putting her in the extended family of Breeders' Cup Marathon winner Eldaafer.

“It's a great, easy-to-use platform,” Blue Diamond Stud general manager Ted Voute said about buying with Inglis Digital USA. “Mr. Al Sagar in Kuwait had picked out this beautiful Bernardini mare himself and was following the action online. I was able to bid from the comfort of my home in the United Kingdom. We were approved a credit limit easily this morning. Inspection of the mare by Cian Gahan, our farm manager at our Stonereath division (in Paris, Ky.), was very easy and informative. It was a very slick transaction.”

Glen Hill Farm secured the second- and third-highest-priced offerings of the day, going to $70,000 for the broodmare Azm (Tapit), and landing the racing/broodmare prospect She's Fire (Flameaway) for $60,000.

Azm was bred by Glen Hill in Florida before selling her as a weanling for $1.1 million. Her dam, Marketing Mix, was a multiple Grade I winner for Glen Hill.

After finishing third in her lone career start, the 10-year-old has produced two winners from her first two foals to race. She was offered in foal to Oscar Performance.

Azm is a half-sister to stakes-placed Global Brand, and her extended page features GISW Contredance and GSWs Skimble and Shotiche.

Paramount Sales consigned Azm, as agent. Along with sale-topper Aqaareb, the Paramount consignment sold eight horses for a combined $470,000.

“We were optimistic about our consignment going into this sale with such a quality group,” said Paddy Campion, account manager at Paramount Sales. “When the catalog went live, we were really encouraged at the level of interaction from buyers, and now we could not be more pleased with the outfits that stepped up to get these mares.”

She's Fire, winner of the 2023 Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Juvenile Stakes at Presque Isle Downs in 2023, entered Tuesday's sale off a front-running allowance optional claiming win at the same track on Oct. 23.

Campaigned by Divine Light Healing Ministries and trainer Kevin Rice, the 4-year-old was available for inspection with consignor Gail Rice at Grand Oaks Training Center in Reddick, Fla.

Bred in Kentucky by Bill Adair, Phyllis Adair, and Connie Brown, She's Fire is out of the winning Flatter mare My Wish List.

“Glen Hill Farm is excited to buy a couple of horses from the Inglis Digital USA platform,” said owner Craig Bernick. “She's Fire is likely to head to Australia, as she's a 2-year-old stakes winner and will cross with most of the stallions down there.

“Azm is a mare that we bred and sold as a foal, and we are thrilled to have her back,” Bernick continued. “She's in foal to Oscar Performance, who is perhaps the best turf sire in the U.S., and we may breed her right back to him next year if the foal is nice.”

In total, Tuesday's Inglis Digital USA October (Late) sale saw 43 horses change hands for a combined $720,500.

The buying bench was just as diverse, with 34 unique winning bidders from the 43 lots that sold during Tuesday's sale.

“We had great participation from top to bottom,” said Inglis Digital USA CEO Kyle Wilson. “When you bring some unique things to market, everyone will show up. We're pleased with the results.”

Offerings that finished under their reserves on Tuesday are still available to purchase on the Inglis Digital USA website. Visit the site's “Catalog” page and click on “Make An Offer” next to the available horses.

Entries are now open for the Inglis Digital USA December Sale, and they will be taken through Monday, Nov. 24. The catalog will be released on Friday, Nov. 28, and bidding will close on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

To enter a horse in the December sale, register as a bidder, or make a bid on an RNA horse from the October (Late) sale, visit www.inglisdigitalusa.com.

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Pete Williams made the decision to keep Distorted d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) in training another year when she finished a close-up fourth in the Tom Benson Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds Mar. 22, only to completely change his mind just a week later when the 4-year-old filly's half-brother Tappan Street (Into Mischief) won the GI Florida Derby. Instead, Williams chose to send Distorted d'Oro to visit Tappan Street's sire Into Mischief and he has now made the difficult decision to offer the mare at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale Monday in Lexington. She will go through the ring as hip 207 with the Nicky Drion Thoroughbreds consignment.

“This is really bittersweet,” said Williams, a real estate developer who began building his MKW Breeding commercial broodmare band just four years ago. “This all has to do with the business and we are in a business. This isn't a hobby and you have to make some crappy decisions sometimes. It's a business and you are trying to make money and you want to at least try to pay for your operation.”

The MKW Breeding band currently numbers 17 head and includes Midnight Snack (Distorted Humor), a half-sister to Grade I winner Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), and Mo Town Mayhem (Uncle Mo), a full-sister to multiple graded winner Souper Hoity Toity, while a pair of young runners waiting in the wings include recent maiden winner Malibu Muse (Malibu Moon).

“We bought probably seven or eight of those as broodmares or broodmare prospects and the others have been developed through our racing program,” Williams said of the band. “If we think we can buy fillies right that we like–I call it buying broolings. I have a list of broodmare sires and I am looking for those pedigrees. I wanted a Blame broodmare. And instead of finding a Blame broodmare, we bought a yearling filly by Blame last year. I loved her pedigree, she's a full-sister to a graded stakes winner. And hopefully, we can make that pedigree even better, but if we can't, it's already good enough to send to the breeding barn. That's kind of been the overarching business plan.”

Williams purchased Distorted d'Oro for $325,000 at the 2023 OBS April sale. The mare is out of graded winner Virginia Key (Distorted Humor), a half-sister to graded winners Grace Adler (Curlin) and Pyrenees (Into Mischief). She hit the board in four of eight starts–including a third-place effort in the Searching Stakes at Laurel last year–with three wins.

“She was a hard-knocking filly, she didn't have that incredible turn of foot, but man if you watch the races she won, she would go inside on the rail, she had what it took to race,” Williams said. “She ran in a stakes at Fair Grounds and Jose Ortiz rode her. She just missed getting third by a nose and ran a hard-knocking race against some pretty good horses. I am not in this racing thing, it's either black type or it's not, so I asked Jose, 'If I race her in her 4-year-old year, is she going to put more black-type on her pedigree?' and Jose said, 'Absolutely, let her race this year.' I left there with that decision made.”

Bloodstock agent Alistair Roden and Pete Williams | Fasig-Tipton

And then Tappan Street–still the only horse to defeat Sovereignty this year–put himself in contention for the GI Kentucky Derby with his Florida Derby victory.

“By the end of the week, I had kind of changed my mind,” Williams said. “Obviously, the family is already crazy good, but then he wins that and I said, 'OK, let's retire her.'”

Williams continued, “You know how anytime you get a call from a trainer, or someone at the farm, you just look at the phone and think, 'oh, crap.' So I called Stidham and I said, 'Hey Mike, you know how you always call me with bad news? Well, I am calling you to tell you to ship Distorted d'Oro to Kentucky.' And he said, 'I get it. It's a business and you have to make the best business decision.' So I made what I thought was the best business decision that I could make.”

Williams admitted his yearling sales result were disappointing this fall and that helped him make the decision to put Distorted d'Oro in the Fasig-Tipton catalogue.

“We had a nice Curlin filly and what I thought was a very nice Nyquist filly that I really planned on selling very well,” he explained. “One of them didn't get the interest we were looking for and we kind of knew where we were heading, so we just scratched her and sent her to Margaux to train and race or possibly, I guess, a 2-year-old sale. And then this Nyquist filly did not sell close to where we wanted her to sell.”

Asked what it would be like to watch Distorted d'Oro go through the sales ring at Fasig-Tipton Monday, Williams admitted, “I won't be happy. I really feel like she is the kind of mare you can make $10 or $12 million out of over her life. I looked through the [Fasig-Tipton catalogue] Saturday night and obviously there are some really good pedigrees in there and there are some really talented racehorses, but when I look at her family, as a buyer myself, this is what I would be looking to buy.”

Still in the early stages of his breeding operation–and despite any setbacks–Williams said, “I am excited about what I do. Real estate development has been my business, so I am used to not getting good news all the time. No one ever calls and tells you we are going to finish this project early and it will cost less money. It's always the opposite. Everything always costs more than we thought. So I've got the mentality to take the bad news in this business.”

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Horseshoe Indianapolis in 2026 will stick with the same dates template that has largely been in place since 2023: A mixed-meet racing schedule of 123 dates from Apr. 7 to Nov. 13, with 117 Thoroughbred programs and six for Quarter Horses.

The only time Horseshoe Indy veered from that schedule recently was in 2024, when the track added a 124th racing date to start the season in April on an afternoon when the track was in the path of totality for the rare total solar eclipse that captivated North America.

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission approved the '26 dates unanimously at Tuesday's monthly meeting.

“We worked hard with our horsemen on this calendar,” Eric Halstrom, the Horseshoe Indy general manager, said at the Oct. 27 meeting. “I know all of you are aware of the HISA [Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority] impact on our racing. And to stay at 123 days is actually a real accomplishment. Our [HISA] fees next year will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $3.5 million. Half of that comes out of our purse fund.

“To stay at 123 days took some real work, and we moved some days around here and there [to] keep those purses where they need to be,” Halstrom said. He did not cite specific purse levels for next year's meet.

Halstrom said the track faced a dilemma regarding the scheduling of its signature race, the GIII Indiana Derby, which he said seems to fit best on the first Saturday of July.

“That happens to be July 4 [next] year,” Halstrom said. “We agonized over this one for quite a while, thought about it, and we're going to move that to the week after [the holiday, to July 11] and try not to fight July 4 [when] a lot of people have other things going down.”

Halstrom said the handle on Indiana Derby day has gone from “a shade over $4 million” in 2019 to “approaching $10 million” in 2025.

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DEL MAR, CA – As Breeders' Cup hopefuls continue their final preparations in the early morning hours for racing on Friday and Saturday, the Del Mar paddock will transform into an auction ring for the second annual Keeneland Championship Sale on Wednesday evening.

Last year, a share in Horse of the Year Flightline (by Tapit) was the headliner when it went for $2.5-million. Once again looking to create a high-energy atmosphere, Keeneland has put together a robust slate of offerings, which include fractional interests in three racehorses currently in-training–two are intended for the Breeders' Cup on Saturday. Stallion shares and breeding rights will take center stage.

The catalogue includes:

– A 25% fractional interest in Jose D'Angelo trainee Bentornato (Valiant Minister) (Hip 7), who is considered a leading contender in the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint on Saturday. The 4-year-old Florida-bred ridgling was the runner-up in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Sprint to Straight No Chaser (Speightster) and was last seen winning the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes where he earned a 108 Beyer. The interest is consigned by D'Angelo, agent.

– A 25% interest in GISW & million-dollar earner Mullikin (Violence) (Hip 9), who is also a contender for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Owned by WinStar Farm, the dark bay ran third in last year's race. The 5-year-old was the first-top level winner for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. Plans are to retire Mullikin after the Breeders' Cup and he will stand the 2026 season at WinStar.

Not This Time | Sarah Andrew

Potentially the most sought after stallion share on offer is a 2% fractional interest, consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Aaron & Marie Jones LLC, in the red-hot Not This Time (by Giant's Causeway) (Hip 3). The sire of nine Grade I winners and a stud fee of $250,000, the Taylor Made resident is the #2 'General Sire' this year with more than $19-million in progeny earnings. Keeneland reported that the purchaser will receive all income associated with this share from the 2025 breeding season. Last week, Taylor Made's Travis White spoke with TDN's Bill Finley about the opportunity.

Other stallion shares in the catalogue include a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' presented by Hagyard in Life Is Good (by Into Mischief) (Hip 1), consigned by Christie DeBernardis, agent, and MGISW Mindframe (Constitution) (Hip 2), consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent. The 4-year-old, who will stand at Claiborne in 2026, will make his final appearance at the racetrack in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday.

Lifetime breeding rights in Constitution (by Tapit) (Hip 4), the property of Randy Gullatt, and Nyquist (Uncle Mo) (Hip 5), consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent, will also be part of the bidding.

Last but not least, a 20% fractional interest in recently retired Horse of the Year and broodmare prospect Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) (Hip 6) is consigned by McPeek Racing Stables, agent for Richard M. Edwards.

“We've designed this as a party with a sale and I think now that we proved ourselves last year, people really understand the concept which is exciting because the goal has always been to combine the social aspect with the importance of the Breeders' Cup,” Vice President of Sales at Keeneland Tony Lacy said. “We have some outstanding offerings. The Not This Time share is really unprecedented and it gives unique access to the stallion. The chance to own a piece of Thorpedo Anna makes this sale diverse and we are looking forward to it.”

Attendance to the Championship Sale is by invitation or request with both buyers and sellers individually invited to attend. Qualified, registered bidders may participate in person at the event, remotely via Keeneland's online auction platform or by phone with a Keeneland representative.

The Championship Sale event will begin at 5 p.m. PT. The sale will begin at 6:30 p.m. PT. Click here to view the online catalogue.

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The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has released a new campaign advocating for passage of a bill that would repeal a wagering tax as part of legislation passed by Congress earlier this year, the NTRA announced Tuesday.

As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law July 4, there was a tax change regarding wagering losses–reducing the deduction from 100% to 90%.

In response, Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr has introduced the WAGER Act (Winnings and Gains Expense Restoration Act), new legislation which would restore the deduction back to 100%.

“While there were many victories for our sport in the legislation passed this summer, we noted at the time that work needed to be done to repeal the language that would effectively tax horse players on phantom income. This provision will have a negative impact on our customers who fuel a $36 billion industry responsible for nearly half a million jobs, thousands of small agribusinesses, and millions of acres of open working space,” said Tom Rooney, President and CEO of the NTRA.

Barr, Chairman of the Congressional Horse Caucus, added, “I'm working right alongside NTRA, Breeders' Cup, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, The Jockey Club, and all our Thoroughbred horse racing advocates to reinstate the full deduction for wagering. Estimates say this could reduce track handles by 5-8%. I'm going to keep pushing the WAGER Act to restore this full deduction so that our industry can flourish.”

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Johannes (Nyquist–Cuyathy, by Congrats), the winner of the GI Shoemaker Mile as well as five other graded stakes on the turf, will begin his stallion career at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky., following a final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, the farm announced Tuesday.

The 5-year-old enters this year's Breeders' Cup with nine wins in 15 starts and earnings in excess of $1.2 million. Of those nine wins, eight wins have come in stakes company, and six were against graded stakes competition.

A nine-length maiden special weight winner sprinting 6 furlongs in 1:08.47 as a 2-year-old at Santa Anita Park, Johannes then kicked off his sophomore campaign with dominant victories in the Baffle Stakes and the Pasadena Stakes, also at Santa Anita.

Johannes, a homebred for Joe and Debby McCloskey, started his four-year-old season with a breakthrough graded victory in the GIII American Stakes at Santa Anita Park, running the mile in 1:32.08. From there, he posted Beyer Speed Figures of 100 or greater in six of his next seven starts, beginning with a victory in the GI Shoemaker Mile, his first Grade I effort.

Johannes would go on to win five of six starts that year, adding the GII Eddie Read Stakes, GII City of Hope Mile Stakes, and GII San Gabriel Stakes. His only defeat that season came in the Breeders' Cup Mile, where he was by three-quarters of a length, tying a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103.

Johannes comes into this year's Breeders' Cup Mile having once again secured a “Win and You're In” berth by virtue of his victory in the City of Hope Mile with a 100 Beyer. He has won races at six furlongs in 1:08.47, 6 ½ furlongs in 1:13.07, one mile in 1:32.08, and 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.50.

“When I think of Johannes, instant acceleration comes to mind,” said Tim Yakteen, who trains for the McCloskeys. “He is a superior miler that has sprint speed as well as a wicked finishing kick. He moves like a cat and has a fantastic disposition around the barn. He's a trainer's dream.”

The Kentucky-bred Johannes is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Congrats mare Cuyathy, who has produced four winners from four foals to race. The McCloskeys bought Cuyathy, their first horse, for $50,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. “Johannes has given us the journey of a lifetime,” said Joe McCloskey. “He possesses the heart and determination that is rare, and we were so blessed to have watched him grow into a phenomenal racehorse. We will miss seeing him in training, but we can't wait to see how beautiful and fast his babies will be.”

Cuyathy's produce also includes the multiple stakes winner Sea Dancer (Mastery) and stakes-placed Sea Runner (Gun Runner), as well as Soaring Angel (Knicks Go), who broke her maiden on debut at Del Mar in July. Cuyathy is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Join in the Dance, as well as the dam of Grade II winner Elm Drive and stakes winner Mother of Dragons.

“Johannes is a very talented horse that has been on our radar for a while now,” said Claiborne's President Walker Hancock. “His father Nyquist has proven to be an elite sire, but he doesn't have a son standing in Kentucky yet, which makes Johannes that much more appealing. He is a beautifully made horse with a strong pedigree.  His dam is by Congrats, his second dam is by Devil's Bag and his third dam is by Danzig, so he has Claiborne genetics all throughout his page. The McCloskeys are wonderful people that operate in an old school breed-to-race way that resonates with us. It's a great fit and we couldn't be more excited to debut Johannes alongside Mindframe. I think breeders are going to love what these two new studs have to offer.”

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Godolphin's GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), looking to cap an historic sophomore campaign, drew post six and was promptly installed the 6-5 favorite for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.

“No complaints about that,” trainer Bill Mott told Brittney Eurton at the post position draw held Monday afternoon in the Del Mar paddock. “There is some speed inside and it gives him a good opportunity to see what is unfolding in the race.”

Since his win in the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty has added victories in the GI Belmont Stakes, GII Jim Dandy Stakes and GI Travers Stakes, looking more dominant with each start.

“It's all been positive,” Mott said of the colt's progression. “I think he's gone the right way mentally, and physically he is stronger. His races have gotten faster as the year has gone on. He will need to improve a little bit to get the job done here.”

One of the strongest Classics in recent memory also includes last year's defending champion Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who will break from post seven and is 8-1 on the morning line, as well as last year's runner-up Fierceness (City of Light), who drew post one and is 4-1 on the morning line, and third-place finisher Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who drew post five and is 6-1 on the morning line.

In addition to Sovereignty, the sophomore class is also represented in the Classic by GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin), who drew post nine and is 10-1 on the morning line, and GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Baeza (McKinzie), who drew post two and is 15-1 on the morning line.

“It's a very competitive field,” said Mott. “I think it's a great race. You have the 3-year-olds against the older horses. There are arguably the three top 3-year-olds that have been around all year, and they are taking on the first three finishers of the Breeders' Cup from last year. So it's going to be a great race.”

Before Monday's draw, trainer Todd Pletcher he admitted he was hoping for anything but the rail for Fierceness, who ducked in from his inside draw before going on to win the GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August.

“The difference now is that Johnny [Velazquez] knows that he made that mistake in the last start in the Pacific Classic here, so he will hopefully be ready if he were to think about doing it again,” Pletcher said after Fierceness drew the one hole once again Monday. “I think it was just his first time and he did what a lot of horses do, kind of moved towards the open space. Fortunately, he was good enough to overcome it.”

Of the depth of this year's Classic field, Pletcher added, “It doesn't get better than this. It's a super field. Everyone has been looking forward to it. Hopefully, everyone shows up healthy and ready to go.”

The complete Classic field, in post position order with morning-line odds, is: Fierceness (City of Light), 4-1; Baeza (McKinzie), 15-1; Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), 20-1; Contrary Thinking (Into Mischief), 50-1; Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), 6-1; Sovereignty (Into Mischief), 6-5; Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), 8-1; Mindframe (Constitution), 10-1; Journalism (Curlin), 10-1; and Antiquarian (Preservationist), 15-1.

Godolphin's Rebel Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will look to become just the third horse to win three Breeders' Cup races when he attempts a three-peat in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Saturday. The 7-year-old gelding breaks from the rail in a field of 14 and is 5-2 on the morning line, but he will face a strong challenge from 8-5 morning-line favorite Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who was a narrowly beaten second in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Oct. 5. The 3-year-old filly will break from post eight.

Rebel's Romance | Sarah Andrew

Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo), most recently winner of the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, is the 9-5 favorite while facing 12 rivals in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. She drew post eight Monday. From the East Coast, Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) will look to make amends for her narrow defeat in the GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes while breaking from the rail as a 4-1 shot on the morning line.

Of the 10 horses entered in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, three have already won a championship race. White Abarrio (Race Day), who won the Classic in 2023, will look to become the second horse (following Knicks Go), to record the Classic/Mile double when he breaks from post 10 in the 10-horse field. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) breaks from post seven and defending Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast) breaks from post six.

The Dirt Mile field also includes last year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents), who breaks from post four.

Another 2024 winner looking to defend his Breeders' Cup title Saturday is Sprint winner Straight No Chaser (Speightster), who faces 13 rivals and breaks from post 12.

Hometown favorites line up next to each other in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, with Johannes (Nyquist), second in the race last year, breaking from post seven, and Formidable Man (City of Light) breaking from post eight.

In the five Breeders' Cup races that make up Future Stars Friday, trainer Aidan O'Brien has a pair of morning-line favorites who both drew the outside in their respective races. Precise (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) drew post 13 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and stablemate Gstaad (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) drew post 14 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. O'Brien will also saddle likely GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint favorite True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never), who drew post nine of 12.

Ted Noffey | Sarah Andrew

In a match-up of East meets West, Spendthrift Farm's Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) drew the outside post eight for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, while Zedan Racing Stables' Brant (Gun Runner), a $3-million OBS March purchase, will break just to his inside in post seven. Both colts were tabbed 'TDN Rising Stars presented by Hagyard' following impressive debut victories and both are undefeated.

In what could be a big weekend for Spendthrift Farm, the operation will also be represented by GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies hopeful Tommy Jo (Into Mischief), who drew post five of nine Monday; and by Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), who drew post four in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

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Between travelers en route and those already on grounds, Distaff contenders put in their final preps in advance of the World Championships this weekend and connections provide their thoughts on how their charges are doing.

Multiple Grade I winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was out on track Monday morning at Del Mar to work four furlongs in :49.80 (5/5) with Neil Poznansky up for the ride. According to his connections, it was all by design and all systems are go.

“He went easy. He had an extended gallop and then he just stretched his legs a little down the lane,” said Poznansky. “It felt like an open gallop. Before he has wanted to go off a little aggressive and then he will go and spit the bit and go about his way.”

“Today he was very even and [drug] me along and when he turned for home, he actually grabbed the bit again. He is very smart.”

“I don't like to use the word maintenance work because everyone uses that so I am not going to use that,” said Mott. “We know the horse is talented, and we just want to keep him fit and let him do enough where he is happy and let him stretch his lungs out a little bit and have him ready for Saturday.”

“I liked what I saw today. We'll see if we take him out tomorrow [Tuesday morning]. We don't want to get him too high. Sometimes, just getting him out there and moving around a little is good…same as any athlete, I guess.”

One of Japan's top hopefuls for Breeders' Cup Classic glory, Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) cantered one lap around the track Monday and schooled in the paddock. He will breeze Wednesday, Oct. 29 with rider Ryusei Sakai in the saddle.

“I flew into L.A. last night, and it is the first time on him since his final domestic gallop,” said Sakai. “I got a great feeling, and he is definitely in good shape. I will ride his breeze on Wednesday.”

Of the Distaff workers, Argentinian Group 1-winner Sarawak Rim (Arg) (Remote {GB}) posted her first breeze at Del Mar since arriving from Keeneland, and clocked four furlongs in :48.80 (4/5) with Geovanny Vences in the saddle for trainer Ignacio Correas. The filly joined the conditioner's barn in July and has only impressed since then.

“Oh yes. [The work] was a beauty; perfectly done,” said Correas. “I don't know about anybody else, but it looked great to me.”

In the Bill Mott barn, MGSW & MGISP Scylla (Tapit) breezed four panels in :46.60 (1/5) with blinkers on with Neil Poznansky in the irons. Despite the time, Mott said he was quite pleased with the move.

“People might worry it's too fast for her,” he said. “It is fast, but she can do that. Neil thought she was doing it within herself. She was carrying him along; he didn't ask her. He said he took another hold on her as she turned for home. If she had gone 49, I would have been pleased.”

“We had the blinkers on her today, and I think she had her game face on when she went to the track. A lot of times galloping, she will mess with us a little bit, but she knows when it's workday. She has put in works like that before so it's not totally unusual. With her, it's a sign she is doing good.”

Team Japan reports that Alice Verite (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) will breeze Wednesday, Oct. 29 with her jockey Kyle Frey in the irons. She spent Monday hand walking in the parade ring.

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The 12th running of the Bing Crosby Season at Del Mar will kick off Thursday, Oct. 30 and run through Sunday, Nov. 30 with opening weekend featuring the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the track announced Monday.

The 16-day program will host 20 stakes races worth more than $3-million in purses. In addition to the two-day Breeders' Cup event worth more than $34-million across 14 Grade I stakes, the seaside oval will also contest six of the 20 black-type races in the first three days of the meeting–one on Thursday, four on Friday as part of the undercard, and one on Saturday. The 2024 edition of the World Championships held 'Where the Turf Meets the Surf' set a new global wagering record of $203.7-million.

After opening weekend, the Del Mar season will conclude with the return of the FanDuel Racing Turf Festival featuring seven turf stakes–six of them graded–worth $1.3-million in purses on closing weekend Nov. 28-30. Barring this coming weekend, all Fridays will offer seniors free admission, free program and a free seat, while Sundays are “Free & Fun Sundays,” offering all Diamond Club members free admission, free program and a free seat, alongside half-off Michelob ULTRA, Brandt Beef hot dogs and sodas at concession stands.

“Having the Breeders' Cup return to Del Mar is an honor we don't take lightly,” said David Jerkens, senior vice president of racing. “Kicking off our fall season with the World Championships is a tremendous way to begin, and we look forward to carrying that momentum through the FanDuel Racing Turf Festival on Closing Weekend.”

The remaining four weeks will offer eight-race cards on all weekdays and nine-race cards on all weekends. First post on all racing days will be 12:30 p.m. A list of special events held throughout Bing Crosby Season can be found here.

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