Thoroughbred Daily News

Ocala Breeders' Sales Company has catalogued 816 horses for its 2026 March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, which will be held over three days March 10-12, the auction company said via a Tuesday press release.

Sessions will begin at 11 a.m. ET each day. Hips 1-272 will sell Mar. 10 with Hips 273-544 going Mar. 11 and 545-816 selling Mar. 12.

The under-tack show will run from Mar. 4-7 starting at 8 a.m. ET each day. Hips 1-204 are slated for Mar. 4 followed by Hips 205-408 Mar. 5, Hips 409-612 Mar. 6, and Hips 613-816 Mar. 7. The under-tack show and sale will be streamed live via the OBS website as well as the TDN, DRF, BloodHorse, and Past The Wire websites.

The 2025 March auction posted year-to-year gains in gross and average and was highlighted by the sale of Brant (Gun Runner–Tynan, by Liam's Map) who was purchased by Zedan Racing from the Eddie Woods consignment for an all-time OBS record price of $3 million after breezing in :9 3/5. Brant went on to capture the Grade I Del Mar Futurity and was an Eclipse Awards finalist for champion 2-year-old male.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Brant is featured on the back cover along with 2025 GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and Eclipse Awards finalist Bentornato (Valiant Minister–Her Special Way, by Put It Back), multiple Grade I winner White Abarrio (Race Day–Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief), and multiple Grade I winner Scottish Lassie (McKinzie–Bodebabe, by Bodemeister).

Other notable OBS March Sale graduates include Grade I winner and GI Kentucky Derby starter Sandman (Tapit), Grade I winner Argos, a graduate of the 2025 March Sale, fellow Grade I winners Gaming (Game Winner), Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy), Muth (Good Magic), and Velocity (Nyquist) and graded stakes winner Nooni (Win Win Win).

OBS will again offer online bidding during the March Sale. Buyers may go to the OBS website and register to gain bidding approval, then access the OBS Bidding Screen with their credentials. For complete information on registration and online bidding please go to the OBS website: obs-internet-bidding.

The iPad version of the catalogue can be accessed via the equineline Sales Catalog App. The App allows users to download and view the catalog, receive updates and results, record notes and provides innovative search, sort, and rating capability. For more information and downloads go to: equineline.com.

Current information about OBS sales, consignors and graduates is now also available via social media sites Facebook and “X”.

The post OBS Catalogues 816 For 2026 March Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Turfway Park Racing & Gaming will move its Wednesday and Thursday live racing cards to afternoon programs with a 1 p.m. ET first post in response to forecasted single-digit wind chills expected during the evening hours, the track said in a press release on Tuesday.

Officials will continue to monitor the latest forecasts, with Friday and Saturday's cards currently scheduled for their regular 5:55 p.m. first post.

Wednesday will mark the first day of live racing at Turfway Park since a winter storm and freezing temperatures forced the cancellation of six consecutive cards. The track maintenance crew was able to clear the racing surface Sunday, allowing training to resume Monday morning.

The post Turfway Moves Midweek Cards Up For Afternoon Start To Avoid Evening Cold appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

5. SISTER TROIENNE, GP, 1/31-11th, 1 1 16 miles (turf) (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-84
(f, 3, by Munnings-Dyna Passer, by Lemon Drop Kid)
O/B-Woodslane Racing (Ky). T-Brian Lynch. J-Mario Gutierrez.
Horses aren't machines, but don't tell Sister Troienne. The Sweetest Chant was her fifth straight victory, each looking exactly like the one before. She's the first foal to race from Dyna Passer, a decent sort and third in the Jockey Club Oaks. More significantly, Dyna Passer is a half-sister to multiple graded winners Wolfie's Dynaghost (Ghostzapper)–a $1.3-million earner–and Sadler's Joy (by Kitten's Joy)–a $2.6-million earner–the whole gang tracing back to Rene Wolcott and her unraced Woodslane foundation mare Dynaire (Dynaformer).

4. CANDY QUEST, TAM, 1/31-9th, 1 1-16 miles (turf) (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-85 (2nd)
(f, 4, by Connect-Candy Crush, by Candy Ride {Arg})
O-Glassman Racing. B-G. Watts Humphrey Jr. T-Mark Casse. J-Sonny Leon.
Solidly beaten by Aussie Girl (Ire) (see below) in the GIII Endeavour Stakes at Tampa, she had already proven her higher level stakes mettle with a triumph at Woodbine and another second at Kentucky Downs. Karl and Cathi Glassman, owners of now-retired GI Whitney winner Arthur's Ride (Tapit), bought Candy Quest as a yearling for $225,000 from Watts Humphrey at Keeneland September and turned her over to Casse, who knows the family: he trained her half-brother Frosted Over (Frosted) to two graded stakes wins at Woodbine in 2021-22.

Aussie Girl | SV Photography

3. AUSSIE GIRL (IRE), TAM, 1/31-9th, 1 1-16 miles (turf) (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure- 89
(m, 6, by Starspangledbanner {Aus})-Ravissante {Ire}), by Galileo {Ire})
O-Woodford Thoroughbreds. B-Airlie Stud (Ire). T-Will Walden. J-Ben Curtis.
From a quick glance of PPs, her form going into the Endeavour looked a complete jumble. But excluding the Suwanee River Stakes (she was wiped out on the first turn and pulled up), her three most recent Beyers on turf were a steady 90-89-88. That put her at the head of the class, exactly where she wound up by a 2 1/2-length margin. Woodford Thoroughbreds brought herover from Ireland probably for racing promise more thanpedigree page, although her third dam is Gorgeous (Slew o'Gold)–who the seasoned will recall as a top filly 35 years ago when she frequently butted heads with Bayakoa (Arg) (Consultant's Bid).

2. SNOWYTE, GP, 2/1-4th, 1 1-16 miles (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-93
(f, 4, by Good Magic-Snow Fall, by War Front)
O/B-Don Alberto (Ky). T-Danny Gargan. J-Irad Ortiz Jr.
Gargan thought highly enough of Snowyte to run her in the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies as a maiden, and as a 4-year-old she may finally be reaching her potential. On one hand, she caught a couple of breaks in this race: in a five horse field, odds-on favorite Clairita (Gun Runner) started last after a stumble and third choice Heavenly Sunset (Constitution) shed her rider leaving the gate. On the other hand, Snowyte did have to briefly eyeball the loose horse before continuing to a wire-to-wire 11 1/4-length victory that could be even stronger than her strong Beyer suggests.

1. SYNTHETIC, FG, 1/31-6th, 6 furlongs (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-98
(f, 4, by Midshipman-Always Here Too, by Include)
O-Keith Plaisance. B-Clear Creek Stud and Theodore Brandon (La). T-Joseph Felks. J-Emanuel Nieves.
Louisiana-breds have been on a roll lately. The 7-year-old Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) has won 19 of 26 races and is getting better with age. Free Like a Girl (El Deal) recently met a tragic fate after retiring this year with a Bayou-bred record $2.56 million in earnings. Ova Charged (Star Guitar) ran a 113 Beyer two years ago and won 15 of 18 before also meeting an unfortunate demise. There have been others, too, and unbeaten Synthetic has now tossed her hat into that ring. Facing open company for the first time, she powered to a 9 1/2-length win in 1:08.65 to win for the fourth time in as many starts.

The post Five Fleet Fillies Of The Week, Jan. 26-Feb. 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Last week's news that juvenile champ and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) was off the GI Kentucky Derby trail because of bone bruising resulted in a No. 1 vacancy.

I went right down to deadline trying to figure out which of the top three listed below should be the new kingpin. I felt I could have made a cogent case for any of them being No. 1.

However, I also feel that from No. 4 on down right now it's a kaleidoscopic free-for-all to round out the Top 12.

The Derby prep races yet to come will far outweigh the value of those we've already seen. There are points-awarding stakes this Friday (Aqueduct, Oaklawn) and Saturday (Tampa Bay Downs and Santa Anita) featuring six of the contenders ranked below.

1) DESERT GATE (c, Omaha Beach–Theogony, by Curlin). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman; B-Twin Oaks Bloodstock (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $125,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $100,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $260,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-2-0, $246,000. Last start: 2nd Oct. 4 GI American Pharoah Stakes.

Among the races that never came to pass last year that I would have liked to bet on was the matchup of Desert Gate and Ted Noffey in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

The undefeated Ted Noffey still would have been favored over fellow 'Rising Star' Brant (Gun Runner), just like he ended up being in that Oct. 31 stakes.

But Desert Gate would have made for an intriguing third choice considering his final prep, the GI American Pharoah Stakes, was a lot better than the runner-up finish appeared on paper.

That showdown never happened, because this son of Omaha Beach missed the Breeders' Cup with a hock infection. Ted Noffey won the Juvenile and subsequent Eclipse Award honors.

Now that champ is sidelined and Desert Gate, last month's No 2-ranked contender, has been elevated to the top spot, edging out two other closely matched contenders.

Desert Gate will be in action Saturday, having drawn the rail for the one-mile GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.

This colt (125,000 KEENOV; $100,000 KEESEP; $260,000 OBSMAR) broke his maiden at first asking June 13 sprinting five furlongs under strong handling (86 Beyer).

Trainer Bob Baffert entered him next in the Aug. 9 GIII Best Pal Stakes over six furlongs, and pace-pressing Desert Gate delivered an 8 3/4-length blowout (79 Beyer).

In the Sept. 7 GI Del Mar Futurity, Desert Gate was second, a length behind his $3-million stablemate Brant, executing several in-race moves to get better positioning, then kicking clear to finish 3 1/4 lengths ahead of the rest of the pack (88 Beyer).

In the Oct. 4 American Pharoah, Desert Gate led as the 9-10 favorite and took pressure from the second fave. He put away that rival when headed, then repulsed a new stretch bid from a different foe. He got nailed at the wire by 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), losing by only three-quarters of a length (86 Beyer). He fought off multiple challengers and came up just short of victory.

Desert Gate has been let go at juicy odds of 59-1, 68-1 and 58-1 in the first three pools of the 2026 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW).

2) PALADIN (c, Gun Runner–Secret Sigh, by Tapit). O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, Brook T. Smith, and Summer Wind Equine, LLC; B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $1,900,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $184,250. Last start: WON Dec. 6 GII Remsen Stakes.

Paladin, at 2-for-2, is the only Top 12 contender to have won at nine furlongs. He'll go that distance again as the likely favorite in the Feb. 14 GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.

This $1.9 million FTSAUG son of Gun Runner took down Aqueduct's GII Remsen Stakes by two lengths (85 Beyer) Dec. 6.

Paladin has recovered from getting roughed up a bit in that win (hind-leg cut, lost right front shoe). Trainer Chad Brown has been breezing him at Payson Park in Florida, where Paladin has recorded five half-mile works since Dec. 28.

Brown doesn't ship many horses to New Orleans. Over the past five years, the majority of them (10/16) have been turf starters.

On the main track there during that time frame, Brown has saddled four colts in the Fair Grounds series of 3-year-old Derby preps. Sierra Leone (2024 Risen Star) was the only winner. Brown's three other sophomore starters on the Fair Grounds dirt since 2021 have been third (Zandon in the 2022 Risen Star and Tuscan Gold in the 2024 GII Louisiana Derby) and sixth (Septarian in the 2025 Risen Star).

Favored at 1.13-1 first time out, Paladin broke his maiden via disqualification in an Aqueduct one-turn mile Oct. 17 (87 Beyer), finishing just a head behind the horse who fouled him, the No. 9-ranked Renegade (Into Mischief).

Again well-backed at 1.88-1 odds in the Remsen, Paladin broke running from post two and settled in third along the inside behind dueling longshots. He worked his way closer starting at the half-mile marker, required some far-turn urging from Flavien Prat, but responded well and swept out to the five path for the drive. Paladin finished focused, this time opening up from Renegade.

3) NEARLY (c, Not This Time–Ib Prospecting, by Mineshaft). O-Centennial Farms; B-Wind Hill Farm (FL); T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-0, $249,900. Last start: WON Jan. 31 GIII Holy Bull Stakes.

If we were ranking Derby prospects exclusively among those who have made a start at age three, Nearly (Not This Time) would be the division's clear leader.

In this past Saturday's GIII Holy Bull Stakes, this $350,0000 KEESEP colt from Todd Pletcher's stable forced an overheated pace and drilled the favorite into defeat. Nearly had plenty left to swat back an off-the-turn closer before opening up to win by 5 3/4 lengths over a short-stretch configuration.

Nearly has now won three straight at Gulfstream by a combined 20 lengths. He clearly relishes the surface there, and it plays well to his speed-centric style.

Nearly's winning Beyer figure of 98 for the 1 1/16-miles Holy Bull and the 97 he earned winning a Jan. 2 seven-furlong allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream both rate as the top two Beyers for any 3-year-old so far in 2026.

Visually, Nearly looked good under pressure. He went blitzingly fast yet finished with aplomb.

But the pace profile of the 1:44.52 Holy Bull was so exaggeratedly fast early/slow late (quarter-mile splits of :22.82, :23.14, :24.36 and :27.10, final sixteenth in :7.10) that it's hard to get a handle on how well Nearly might fare at longer distances against better competition.

It's also reasonable to wonder just how much of a home-court advantage he gains from Gulfstream. His only previous race on a different surface was a last-place run in his Aqueduct debut that left his connections baffled.

The Mar. 28 GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream is next.

Nearly | Lauren King

4) COMMANDMENT (c, Into Mischief–Sippican Harbor, by Orb). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Lee Pokoik (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $485,000 RNA Wlg '23 FTKNOV; $475,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTSAUG; $500,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $165,459. Last start: WON Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man Stakes.

Commandment, who dominated the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream by 6 3/4 lengths with a 91 Beyer Jan. 3, will target the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes there Feb. 28 for his two-turn debut.

This son of Into Mischief ($485,000 RNA FTKNOV; $475,000 RNA FTSAUG; $500,000 KEESEP) has been slightly slow from the gate in his first three races, but not alarmingly so at this point in his development.

Commandment makes up the difference by settling into a comfortable rhythm, even when covered up in traffic, and has shown he can split horses without hesitation when asked to.

Prior to winning the Mucho Macho Man under confident handling, Commandment rallied from 11th to get fourth going six furlongs in his 82-Beyer Keeneland debut Oct. 4.

Stretched to seven furlongs at Churchill, this Brad Cox trainee won going away by 5 1/2 lengths.

Six horses have since run back out of Commandment's Nov. 1 maiden victory, but none managed better than fourth in their next starts.

However, Commandment's Oct. 4 race has yielded some key performers: Runner-up Rockies Balboa (Girvin) lost his next start but then won back-to-back races at Gulfstream by a combined 10 3/4 lengths. Third-place finisher Gallivant (Into Mischief) won Keeneland's Bowman Mill Stakes by six lengths Oct. 25 while still a maiden. Sixth-place finisher Mesquite (Union Rags) broke his maiden at 4-5 odds at Churchill, then was second, beaten only three-quarters of a length, in the Jan. 17 GIII Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds.

5) BUETANE (c, Tiz the Law–Taboo, by Forestry). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Merriebelle Stable, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $150,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG; $1,150,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $148,000. Last start: 2nd Jan. 10 GII San Vicente Stakes.

Buetane was second best as the 1-2 beaten favorite in the Jan. 10 GI San Vicente Stakes. But considering he hadn't raced since finishing second behind Ted Noffey in the Sept. 1 GI Hopeful Stakes-and considering he was not hammered on for run by Juan Hernandez in the late stages of the San Vicente when it was evident he wouldn't catch the leader-that two-length defeat sprinting seven furlongs shouldn't be held against him.

We'll get a better read on Buetane ($150,000 FTSAUG; $1.15 million OBSAPR) in Friday's 1 1/16-miles GIII Southwest Stakes, his two-turn debut.

Trainer Bob Baffert had cross-entered this son of Tiz the Law in both the Southwest and last Saturday's Holy Bull Stakes, but scratched out of the Gulfstream race.

Leaving the gate in the San Vicente, Buetane broke in and bumped the eventual winner, So Happy (Runhappy). He was last in the field of five down the backstretch and got second run at the lead in deep stretch after So Happy collared a tiring pacemaker at the eighth pole. Buetane finished up ridden out but by no means fully extended in an effort that upped his last-race Beyer by 10 points to 92.

Joel Rosario, who is based at Oaklawn, gets the call in a jockey change. He's ridden only sparingly for Baffert over the past four years, with just 10 mounts since the start of 2022. But the most recent one was a winner, with Baffert and Rosario teaming for victory with Goal Oriented in the Grade I Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on opening day of the 2025-26 meet.

6) LITMUS TEST (c, Nyquist–Study Hard, by Malibu Moon). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $875,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-0-1, $350,188. Last start: WON Dec. 13 GII Los Alamitos Futurity.

Litmus Test, an $875,000 FTSAUG colt by 2016 Derby winner Nyquist, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Friday's Southwest Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile prep got rescheduled from this past Saturday, when winter weather wiped out a weekend's worth of racing at Oaklawn.

With five lifetime races at age two, including three at two turns and two in Grade I stakes, this Bob Baffert trainee has a broader foundational base than many of his Top 12 counterparts.

Litmus Test has enough speed to be a pace-pressing threat, but being right up on the lead isn't a requirement for this colt to fire his best shot.

Although he was third, then fourth, behind the now-sidelined Ted Noffey in both the GI Breeders' Futurity Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Litmus Test really wasn't in the same league as that eventual divisional champion back in October.

But his 1 1/4-length clawback score over five rivals in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 13 did put Litmus Test the same Beyer ballpark (96) as the division's fastest horses so far in 2025-26.

Litmus Test | Benoit photo

7) SCHOOLYARDSUPERMAN (c, Practical Joke–Tizlegal by Tiznow). O-Hit The Bid Racing Stable and CMNWLTH; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC; T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $150,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $295,000 RNA 2yo OBSMAR. Lifetime record: 3-1-1-0, $63,750. Last start WON Dec. 6 AQU Maiden Special Weight

This big, strapping gray from Chad Brown's stable will attempt to win Friday's nine-furlong Withers Stakes at Aqueduct coming off an 86-Beyer, 5 3/4-length wiring of a one-turn-mile maiden special weight field there Dec. 6.

Brown has won the Withers twice, with Risk Taking in 2021 and Early Voting in 2022. Both of those colts then had two-month layoffs until the GII Wood Memorial Stakes and then started in the GI Preakness Stakes.

Risk Taking (who is still in training as an allowance-level steeplechaser) was seventh in the Wood and eighth in the Preakness. Early Voting ran second in the Wood and won the Preakness.

This son of Practical Joke (150,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $295,000 RNA OBSMAR) clipped heels and fell in his favored Sept. 13 debut over 6 1/2 furlongs, then returned Oct. 26 to finish a pressing second at the same distance as the 4-5 favorite.

The stretch to a mile benefitted Schoolyardsuperman, who was allowed to drift up to 3.61-1 odds for career start number three. He handled pace pressure down on the inside and drew off under strong urging.

8) LIBERTY NATIONAL (c, Maxfield–Virtuoso, by Awesome Again). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O-Brookdale Racing, Inc. & Fern Circle Stables; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Sales history: $525,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0, $90,675. Last start: 2nd Dec. 20 Gun Runner Stakes.

At first glance, Liberty National's 80-Beyer, runner-up try as the beaten 13-10 favorite in the Dec. 20 Gun Runner Stakes doesn't resonate as a productive effort.

This closer from Kenny McPeek's barn was afforded a fairly quick early tempo, yet the field chased home a caving pacemaker in a tepid fourth quarter of :26.30 and a dawdling last sixteenth in :7.48, with that latter fraction representing the slowest final half-furlong of any points-awarding 1 1/16-miles Derby prep in at least the past 3 1/2 seasons.

But look beyond the abbreviated chart comment of “rallied inside, short,” and you'll see that this $525,000 KEESEP colt got sideswiped leaving the gate by the eventual winner, then gained good ground up the fence and ended up galloping out several lengths in front of the field after the wire.

Considering that McPeek has described Liberty National as a large-framed colt with an “aircraft carrier body type,” plus a pedigree that suggests longer distances could be more to his liking, his under-the-lights experience when facing winners for the first time might not be as poor a stepping stone as it seems on paper.

Liberty National is entered in Friday's rescheduled Southwest Stakes with a 10-1 morning line and a gate seven draw in a field of 14.

9) RENEGADE (c, Into Mischief–Spice Is Nice, by Curlin). O-Robert Low, Lawana L. Low, and Repole Stable; B-Robert Low & Lawana Low (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales history: $975,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-0-2-1, $79,000. Last start: 2nd Dec. 6 GII Remsen Stakes.

Although still a maiden, this $975,000 KEESEP colt has kept good company in New York.

Renegade was third behind a 17 3/4-length winner at Saratoga in his Aug. 16 debut. He finished a head better than No. 2-ranked Paladin, but was disqualified for stretch interference, in a one-turn-mile maiden special weight win Oct. 16. He then was second, beaten two lengths by Paladin in the Dec. 6 Remsen Stakes.

This son of Into Mischief from Todd Pletcher's stable is expected to be entered Wednesday for this coming Saturday's Sam F. Davis Stakes going 1 1/16 miles.

Pletcher told DRF.com last week that a possible path to Louisville for Renegade might include the GI Arkansas Derby Mar. 28 if he runs well at Tampa.

10) IRON HONOR (c, Nyquist–Orenica, by Blame). O-St. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence and Cathi Glassman; B-Mike Freeny and Pat Freeny; T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $230,000 Ylg '24 KEEJAN; $475,000 Ylg KEESEP. Lifetime Record 1-1-0-0, $46,750. Last start: WON Dec. 13 Aqueduct Maiden Special Weight.

Iron Honor, a May 1 foal by Nyquist, has been breezing at Payson Park since a 95-Beyer debut win at Aqueduct Dec. 13. The second- and third-place finishers out of that six-furlong sprint both came back to win their next starts.

In that win, Iron Honor ($230,000 KEEJAN; $475,000 KEESEP) tracked, engaged the favorite, then edged away to a 1 1/2-length score.

Brown said in January that, “He's a horse that mentally needed time to come around, but now I'm seeing the best of him.”

11) GOLDEN TEMPO (Curlin–Carrumba, by Bernardini). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O/B-Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $183,000. Last start: WON Jan. 17 GIII Lecomte Stakes.

Golden Tempo, a Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stables homebred son of Curlin out of a Bernardini mare, won the Lecomte Stakes in last-to-first fashion, letting loose with a three-furlong run while weaving through the pack prior to diving down to the inner rail to prevail by three-quarters of a length (81 Beyer).

Trainer Cherie DeVaux ended up running one-two in the Lecomte, as stablemate Mesquite (Union Rags) came flying six wide to complete an exacta of the race's two favorites.

DeVaux said the plan will be to keep Golden Tempo and Mesquite separated on the Derby trail from here on out.

“I don't feel either one of them is even close to their top yet,” DeVaux told TDN the day after the Lecomte. “We have time. Going into a race like the Derby, you want them peaking at that time. Also, in these races, you always want to win, but if they run a big number then they are probably going to regress the next time they run. Showing improvement each time and getting there and winning is the best-case scenario.”

Golden Tempo winning the Lecomte | Hodges Photography

12) MY WORLD (Essential Quality–Quebec, by Into Mischief). O-Robert V. LaPenta & Madaket Stables LLC; B-Cove Springs, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MSW, 4-3-0-0, $217,750. Last start: WON Jan. 3 Jerome Stakes.

My World (Essential Quality), a hard-trying gray who has won two straight one-turn-mile listed stakes at Aqueduct, is being sent overseas in search of yet another one-turn-mile engagement.

This one's far more ambitious than either the five-horse Nashua Stakes or the four-horse Jerome Stakes: The G3 Saudi Derby Feb. 14 carries a $1.5-million purse and 30 Kentucky Derby qualifying points (15-9-6-3).

This $350,000 KEESEP colt has punched above his weight, so to speak, like when bullishly bouncing a rival off the inside rail to make a winning move in the Nashua, or when becoming emboldened after brushing with the heavily favored runner-up in deep stretch of his Jerome score.

But My World also has caused some of his own in-race adversity by lugging in and not being fully focused. His connections have stated that although the colt has grown up a bit, there is still room for improvement.

So after having recently shipped from New York to Florida, My World will now have to fly to Riyadh and then back, presumably in time for another points-earning prep if he is to stay on the Derby trail.

That's a big ask for a lighter-framed horse who needs to be a bit more mentally dialed in. But My World's tenacity has been appealing enough to keep him on the Derby radar for now.

The post TDN Derby Top 12: February Kicks Off With Four Stakes, Six Ranked Contenders appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Racing has a legacy to rectify before it can look to the future.

The “Racing in 2036” series struck me for its lack of perspective from the aftercare segment of the industry. Post-racetrack life for our equine athletes was mentioned a few times, but only in a cursory manner. And certainly without any accountability.

Thoroughbred aftercare is chronically underfunded despite the creation of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) in 2012. Aftercare organizations founded before the TAA was created have been underfunded for decades. Programs that predominantly follow the sanctuary model continue to care for horses born long before the industry attempted to establish a funding and accrediting body. These horses raced before the retrain/rehome model became widely available and, with fewer post-race options, they were often pushed too far and became unfit for other athletic careers. These horses are at a higher risk of landing in dangerous, often fatal situations.

They are The Legacy Herd.

Private sanctuary-model organizations cannot continue to carry the load of their care without broad support from the racing industry. There is often debate about who is responsible for these horses years after they ran their last race. For The Legacy Herd, the answer is all of us. Shaming and blaming are not long-term solutions. We were not aware enough, educated enough, responsible enough 25 years ago when we bred, sold and raced these horses. Now is the time to right that wrong.

Establishing a sustainable source of adequate funding can be done. Currently, consignors to all sales at the three major auction houses are required to pay 1/20 of 1% of the final sale price, which is donated to the TAA. Buyers at those sales have the option to contribute the same. From self-reported statistics, these three auction houses handled over $1.4 BILLION dollars in sales in 2025. Assuming all buyers opted in to the contribution, only $1.4 million was donated to be shared among the 87 organizations accredited by the TAA. Imagine if we changed that to 1/2 of 1%–those 87 organizations would be splitting over $14 million dollars, a portion of which could be earmarked for The Legacy Herd.

The vision of “Racing in 2036” that I share below is possible. But only if the major players in the industry commit to the thousands of horses who make up OUR Legacy Herd via a properly funded aftercare system that values all retired racehorses regardless of their ability to sustain another athletic career. Those of us in the trenches will never solve this alone. If you walk away from this letter with one impression, let it be this: the Thoroughbred industry is only as sustainable as its aftercare policies.

In 2036, waitlists at aftercare organizations have been eliminated. The majority of Thoroughbreds who don't retire to the breeding shed are responsibly retired to a retrain/rehome facility. These horses are sound enough to participate in a second or third athletic career because they were retired when it became apparent they didn't have a dignified future as a racehorse, not because they were injured. When these horses age out of athletic careers, they move on to sanctuary facilities, where they participate in Equine Assisted Services that utilize the unique qualities of the Thoroughbred to create pathways for healing and growth while living their lives in peace and safety. The minority of retiring Thoroughbreds who aren't used for breeding and aren't sound enough to continue in an athletic vein go directly to the sanctuary facilities and begin what may be the most important work of their lives as teachers and healers. All of this is automatically funded by The Racing Industry, so the burden doesn't fall too heavily on the shoulders of one sector and a sustainable source of support is guaranteed for these horses. Aftercare is no longer seen as charity, but as simply part of a racehorse's life cycle. This is the legacy to which we should aspire.

   Don't let this letter sit on the shelf alongside so many of its predecessors. If you are an innovative leader call me at (518) 226-0028 or email me at maggie@trfinc.org. We have work to do.

Maggie Sweet is the Executive Director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, the county's oldest and largest aftercare organization which provides lifetime care for retired racehorses at a network of farms in partnership with correctional facilities.

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Edited Press Release

The catalog for the 2026 Inglis Digital USA February Sale is now online, featuring 45 entries and numerous opportunities to make last-minute additions to broodmare bands before the start of the breeding season.

Bidding is currently open for the February sale, and it will run through Friday, Feb. 6, with the first lot closing at 2 p.m. ET and each successive offering hammering in three-minute increments.

The auction offers horses and one stallion season available for inspection in eight different states, giving potential buyers a local option practically anywhere in the U.S. The latest catalog features offerings based in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Virginia.

Included among the catalog is a strong trio of broodmare prospects from the consignment of Last Laugh Stables. Those horses are available for inspection at Clearbrook Farm in Paris, KY.

Jeanie's Faith (Algorithms) is a half-sister to the unbeaten 3-year-old So Happy (Runhappy), who turned heads in the GII San Vicente Stakes on Jan. 10 at Santa Anita Park, and is being pointed toward the Southern California leg of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Hailing from a strong branch of the Leverett Miller breeding program, Jeanie's Faith is out of a daughter of Blame, who has emerged as a top broodmare sire, and her extended family features the Grade I winner Silver Wagon.

Also consigned by Last Laugh Stables is broodmare prospect Six O Three (Runhappy), a half-sister to Five G (Vekoma), winner of last year's GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and Cash Run Stakes. Tracing back through the breeding program of prominent stable Courtlandt Farms, Six O Three is out of the winning Quality Road mare Triumphant from the family of Grade I winners Golden Treat and Bet Twice.

Ginas Serenade is a stakes-winning daughter of Maclean's Music being offered as a racing or broodmare prospect. Her page is rich with black type, including Grade I winner Honey Ryder, Grade II winner Dominus, and Grade III winner Epic Ride.

Pregnant mares in the catalog offer in-utero foals by Goldencents, sire of GI Kentuky Derby winner Mystik Dan, leading California sire Grazen, New York's King for a Day and popular young stallion Pappacap.

“We're thrilled to begin our second full year in operation,” said Inglis Digital USA CEO Kyle Wilson. “I encourage all of our customers to take a look at this catalog, as there are some exciting opportunities on offer.”

Interested parties must register for an account on the Inglis Digital USA website and request a bidding limit in order to place bids.

The post Inglis Digital USA February Catalog Goes Live appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

FORCED ENTRY (f, 3, Charlatan–Violent Times {SW, $228,701}, by Violence) contested the pace before fading to last in her six-furlong debut over the lawn Jan. 11. Moving to the main track and stretching out to a mile in this second start, the 7-2 shot sprinted out to the early lead and was shadowed by favored Wolf Hill (Upstart) down the backstretch through a quarter in :23.05 and a half in :47.07. She skipped clear nearing the stretch and sailed home unchallenged to graduate by 7 1/4 lengths. Wolf Hill trailed her home in second. Forced Entry was a $375,000 KEESEP yearling purchase. Violent Times produced a colt by American Pharoah last year and was bred back to Constitution.

“Eight lengths with the breaks on.”

#2 FORCED ENTRY an impressive maiden winner in Race 2 at @santaanitapark. A riding double for @JJHernandezS19 on the daughter of Charlatan out of stakes winner Violent Times. pic.twitter.com/XZ3YdqYH0s

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 1, 2026

2nd-Santa Anita, $70,000, Msw, 2-1, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:38.28, ft,  7 1/4 lengths.
FORCED ENTRY (f, 3, Charlatan–Violent Times {SW, $228,701}, by Violence) Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $42,500.
O-Michael Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; B-Stoneriggs Farm (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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Jockey Junior Alvarado, regular rider for 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, is expected to return to action Thursday at Gulfstream Park after being shaken up late on Saturday's GIII Holy Bull Stakes program.

The 39-year-old, replaced on his three scheduled mounts Sunday, took off his final two mounts Saturday, both in stakes, after being thrown to the turf by Multiverse (Practical Joke), who clipped heels on the first turn in an optional claiming allowance for 4-year-olds and up. Multiverse was not injured.

Agent Mike Sellitto said Sunday that Alvarado, who was transported to the hospital following the spill, received stitches on his knee but was otherwise unharmed. He was cleared to ride Sunday but took the afternoon off to further his recovery.

Alvarado won earlier on Saturday's program aboard 5-year-old Roar Ready (Do the Roar) for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. and was second on Patrick Biancone-trained Redland Rebels (Uncle Chuck) in the Kitten's Joy Stakes.

Entering Sunday, Alvarado ranked fourth with 26 wins and third with more than $1.7 million in purse earnings from 145 mounts at the Championship Meet, which began Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27. Among his victories are Destino D'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) in the GII Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, Grand Job (Justify) in the GII Inside Information, Knightsbridge (Nyquist) in the GIII Mr. Prospector and GIII Fred Hooper and Layabout (Laoban) in the Tropical Park Derby.

Alvarado is named in four of 10 races Thursday including Godolphin homebred Spirit of Hope (Street Sense), a 4-year-old half-sister to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish making her career debut, in a Race 6 maiden special weight going one mile on the main track.

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When a flight carrying several American-based Saudi Cup contenders departs Florida Monday, Magnitude (Not This Time) will not be on it, trainer Steve Asmussen told DRF on Sunday.

The 4-year-old Winchell Thoroughbreds runner, who won the GII Clark Stakes last November, spiked a fever Sunday and would not ship out of his Fair Grounds base as planned.

Magnitude registered his most recent work at Fair Grounds, covering five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.40 (1/18) on Jan. 29.

Winner of last season's GII Risen Star, the colt also annexed the Iowa Derby, finished third in the GI Travers Stakes and was runner-up in the GI Pennsylvania Derby in September.

In his Clark victory, Magnitude most notably bested last season's G1 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Ire}).

The post Magnitude to Miss Saudi Cup Due to Illness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Freshly anointed champion juvenile filly Super Corredora (Gun Runner), GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies fourth-place finisher Meaning (Gun Runner) and GSP Nimah (Gun Runner) were among a sextet of 3-year-old fillies nominated to next weekend's Las Virgenes Stakes who recorded timed workouts Sunday at Santa Anita.

Super Corredora worked four furlongs in :48.0 (13/84) for trainer John Sadler. The bay was last seen winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Working five furlongs on Sunday, Meaning completed the task in 1:01.60 (30/71). Nimah, who was third in the GII Starlet Stakes in December, worked five furlongs in 1:00.6 (5/71) for Baffert. The $550,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select yearling purchase is campaigned by Zedan Racing Stables.

Sunday's workers also heading to the Las Virgenes includes SW Cee Drew (Cistron) (4f :50.20 70/84) and Fortunate Truth (Authentic) (4f :50.20, 70/84), both trained by Dan Blacker; and Wild Like the West (Into Mischief) (4f :49.40, 26/33) for trainer Richard Baltas.

Baffert also worked 3-year-old colts GISP Plutarch (Into Mischief) and GI Hopeful runner-up and TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard Buetane (Tiz the Law), who are both nominated to Saturday's GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Buetane, a $1.15-million OBS Spring Sale juvenile purchase, is also entered in this Friday's GIII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. Buetane worked four furlongs in :47.80 (8/84), while Plutarch, who broke his maiden last out on turf Nov. 30 at Del Mar, worked six furlongs in 1:12.2 (1/6).

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Centennial Farms' Nearly (Not This Time) was no worse for wear at Palm Beach Downs Sunday morning after an impressive victory in Saturday's GIII Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream.

“He came back well,” Todd Pletcher said. “He was feeling frisky [Sunday] morning.”

Making his two-turn and stakes debuts in the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds, Nearly stamped himself as a leading prospect for this year's GI Kentucky Derby. It was his third straight victory at the Hallandale Beach oval.

“We thought it was a really strong performance.  He put himself in a good spot. They were going pretty quickly early on, but it seemed like he was in a good cruising speed,” Pletcher said. “We liked the two-turn stretch-out. It was pretty much what we were hoping for.”

The dark bay debuted with a sixth-place finish in his Oct. 26 debut at Aqueduct before posting a pair of overpowering victories at Gulfstream, including the most recent in a seven-furlong allowance optional claimer on Jan. 2.

“I haven't had a chance to sit down with anybody to talk about what we're doing for sure. I don't like making any decisions immediately after a race. One of the things we talked about was [Saturday's] race was his third race in a relatively short period, but we wanted to give him some two-turn experience and he handled that,” Pletcher said. “Now that he handled that, we're probably in a position where we can give him a little extra time for the next one.”

Among most likely scenarios, Nearly is more likely to train up to the GI Curlin Florida Derby on Mar. 28 at Gulfstream rather than return in the 8 1/2-furlong GII Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 28.

“Since he's 3-for-3 at Gulfstream, I think the Florida Derby would be a logical target, but we'll see how he does and how he bounces back, which will kind of dictate what we do,” said Pletcher. “I would say once we have that discussion, that's probably the most likely scenario.”

Pletcher-trained Audible, winner of the 2018 Holy Bull before going on to win the Florida Derby in his next start, finished third in that season's Kentucky Derby.

Pletcher has saddled eight winners of the Florida Derby.

Conversely, Albert Ciuffetelli, Steffani Brennan, Shining Stables LLC, BAG Racing Stables and Paul Braverman's Bravaro (Upstart), who finished second in the Holy Bull, is likely to return in the Fountain of Youth, according to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. The New York-bred was closest in pursuit of the dueling pacesetters and held well in the stretch to finish second.

Bravaro, undefeated in two starts in New York-bred company at Aqueduct, last raced when winning the Oct. 25 Sleepy Hollow Stakes.

“We wanted him to show up around two turns off the layoff, and he did,” Joseph said. “He's a very nice horse and should move forward off that race.”

Bravaro's sire Upstart captured the 2015 Holy Bull before finishing second in the Fountain of Youth and the Florida Derby.

Joseph raised the possibility that Chris Fountoukis' Solitude Dude (Yaupon), whom he saddled for a 3 3/4-length victory in the seven-furlong Swale Stakes could join Bravaro in the Fountain of Youth.

“Nothing yet as far as we're we'll go. If he did stretch out it would be the Fountain of Youth,” Joseph said.

Undefeated Solitude Dude, a debut winner at Gulfstream last November, won Tampa's six-furlong Inaugural Stakes on Dec. 6.

“I think he's an upper-level talent. Two turns is a question mark, but I think he's an upper-level talent,” Joseph said.

The post “Feeling Frisky”: Nearly Feeling Good After Holy Bull Win, Likely to Train Up to Florida Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Jockey Florent Geroux, based at Fair Grounds this winter, is expected to shift his tack to Santa Anita this week, according to the DRF on Sunday.

According to DRF, the rider is set to arrive in California on Thursday and is scheduled to ride on Friday.

Representing Geroux during his California sojourn, Matt Nakatani is also the agent for Umberto Rispoli, recently sidelined after falling during a race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24.

“I went to visit [Rispoli] in the hospital,” Geroux told DRF Sunday morning. “We talked it over. I decided to jump on the opportunity.”

Explaining the decision for the move, Geroux added, “Business has been a bit slow at the Fair Grounds. I'm winning, but I'm not riding a lot.”

Geroux, who out of limited occasions has won four Grade I races at the venue, will be riding full-time for the first time at The Great Race Place.

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The winning Florida-bred 3-year-old filly Ifyousaidso (Cajun Breeze) topped the 2026 OBSOnline January Sale for 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age when she sold to Dare to Dream Stable Management LLC for $110,000 Friday. Consigned as hip 402 by breeder Shadybrook Farm, Ifyousaidso is a full-sister to multiple stakes winner Cajun Casanova and stakes-placed Full Disclosure. On the board in all four lifetime starts, Ifyousaidso is a winner on both dirt and turf. She last worked Jan. 29, going three furlongs in :36 3/5 at Gulfstream Park.

Overall, the OBSOnline January sale grossed $297,400 with 14 horses sold and two RNAs. The 14 to sell averaged $21,243 with a median of $13,000.

The second-highest priced horse to sell was the sophomore colt Bruno (Independence Hall), who was purchased by Rising Sun Racing Stables for $40,000. Jose Munoz consigned him as hip 412. The half- brother to MSP Heldish (Great Notion) breezed a half mile in :47 1/5 during the optional under-tack show.

The top 2-year-old of the sale was a bay Collected filly out of MGISW Tough Tiz's Sis (Tiznow). Consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales as hip 403, the half-sister to GSW Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute) sold for $22,000 to E-Class Racing.

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Nearly (Not This Time), an impressive winner of two straight by a combined 14 1/4 lengths, will make his two-turn debut in Saturday's GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park.

The Centennial Farms colorbearer earned a field-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure defeating three rivals in an optional claimer going seven furlongs at Gulfstream most recently Jan. 2.

Produced by a winning Mineshaft mare, Nearly worked a bullet four furlongs in :48.59 (1/25) at Palm Beach Downs Jan. 24.

He is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, which offers 20-10-6-4-2 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

“Everything to us indicates that (two turns) should be to his advantage,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He's always trained like a horse that wanted more distance and he's got the pedigree to do it, so we're excited about stretching him out.”

Cannoneer (Into Mischief) was a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' in the nightcap on the Stars of Tomorrow II card at Churchill Downs last out Nov. 29. Owned in partnership by St. Elias Stable and breeder Stonestreet Stables, the $1.75- million Keeneland September graduate delivered a 7 1/4-length maiden tally at second asking going seven furlongs that day, good for a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Brad Cox trains.

Pin Oak Stud's rail-drawn Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) makes his first start since delivering a smart, last-to-first victory in the GIII Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs Oct. 26.

“We gave him a planned vacation at Pin Oak Stud, and they kept him ticking over for us until the beginning of December, at which point he came down here,” trainer Riley Mott said. “He hasn't missed a beat.”

Buetane (Tiz the Law), runner-up in last summer's GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful S. and the GII San Vicente S. Jan. 10, has been scratched in favor of next Friday's postponed GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park.

Gulfstream's 12-race program will feature five stakes races for 3-year-olds, including the GIII Forward Gal S., a seven-furlong prep for the Kentucky Oaks (20-10-6-4-2).

'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' On Time Girl (Not This Time), last seen powering home first in the Fern Creek S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 29, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for her sophomore debut. Her Cox-trained stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Sneaky Good (Into Mischief) made it two-for-two in the Sandpiper S. at Tampa Dec. 6.

Last term's GIII Adirondack S. winner Mythical (St Patrick's Day) concluded her juvenile campaign with a pair of wins in the Florida Sire Susan's Girl S. Oct. 18 and FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl S. Nov. 29, respectively. The latter was her first attempt around two turns.

Saturday's graded action also includes: the GII San Pasqual S. and GIII Megahertz S. at Santa Anita; and the GIII Tampa Bay S. and GIII Endeavour S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

The post Pletcher ‘Excited About Stretching Out’ Nearly in the Holy Bull appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) approved a new three-year racing contract between Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (IA HBPA) and the Iowa Quarter Horse Racing Association (IQHRA).

The approved agreement establishes the framework for a 76-day mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse race meet at Prairie Meadows, continuing a collaborative partnership among all three organizations. Under the terms of the agreement, the annual racing season will begin on Kentucky Derby Day and conclude on the final weekend of September. The mixed-meet format allows for both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing to be showcased throughout the season, supporting a diverse group of participants and fans.

“This three-year agreement is an important step forward for Prairie Meadows and Iowa racing,” said Brian Ohorilko, president and CEO of Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. “We're excited to continue working with the IA HBPA and the IQHRA to provide consistency, strengthen our racing program and build on the momentum of our mixed meet over the next three seasons.”

IA HBPA President Dave McShane added, “We are very pleased to move forward under this three-year contract and appreciate the dedication shown by Prairie Meadows and the IQHRA to finalize a contract. This agreement provides consistency for our horsemen and allows everyone involved to focus on delivering a strong 76-day mixed meet that benefits the racing industry in Iowa. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Prairie Meadows and our Quarter Horse partners to build on the success of this meet.”

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After announcing in December at the Global Symposium on Racing in Tuscon, Arizona that it would be taking steps to limit Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW play) within the coming months, NYRA announced Friday that the new rules will go into effect on Feb. 5.

Calling the measures new “guardrails,” NYRA revealed at the Arizona symposium that all CAW play will eventually cease at one minute to post in all pools. CAW players can still bet after the one-minute time limit, but they will be restricted to six bets or fewer during that time frame. According to the NYRA press release, “CAW activity is defined by NYRA and its peer tracks according to the speed of wager execution. NYRA considers wagering to be CAW activity when that speed exceeds six bets per second.”

NYRA, which has taken steps in the past to prevent large, last-second drops in the odds in the win pools, said this is another step that will benefit the retail horseplayer.

“As such, NYRA will institute a comprehensive approach to the management of CAW activity for the benefit of horseplayers.” the statement read.

“This policy reflects the importance of modernizing pari-mutuel wagering to address the technology-driven evolution of high-speed wagering,” said David O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. “Reducing odds volatility will increase pricing transparency and improve the wagering experience for horseplayers in New York and across the country.”

O'Rourke signaled his intent to work on the CAW problem when he spoke in Arizona.

“What I'm saying here is we draw a line now, we start measuring what's going on within that period of time, and then we start looking at other things,” he said at the time.

NYRA owns a 20 percent stake in the Elite Turf Club, which includes some of the largest CAW players in the world as its customers. (The Stronach Group, which operates Santa Anita and Gulfstream, owns the other 80 percent). But that has not kept NYRA from taking steps to protect the everyday players, many of whom are believed to be disappearing because they cannot compete against the many advantages given to the CAW players.

Since 2021, CAW teams have been prohibited from placing batch bets in the win pool within two minutes of the race start. That has dramatically cut down on the phenomenon of the odds of horses plummeting in the win pool after the start of the race. The current win-pool policy will remain in effect. CAW players have also been completely banned from the Late Pick Five and the Pick Six. NYRA also eliminated jackpot provisions in their Pick 6. As the carryovers build up in jackpot-style wagers, CAW teams often make huge bets into the pools and were often able to take home the bulk of a pool that built up as regular horseplayers were making losing bets that led to the large carryovers.

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With the maintenance team scheduled for an annual track refresh Feb. 7-8, there will be no live racing at Los Alamitos Race Course on either day, the track announced via release.

The maintenance project will begin following the conclusion of morning training Wednesday, Feb. 4. To provide the Los Alamitos staff with enough time to complete the comprehensive refresh of the one-mile dirt oval, the track will be closed for training Feb. 5-9. Training will resume Tuesday, Feb. 10, and live racing will return Saturday, Feb. 14.

The annual procedure is an integral component of Los Alamitos' ongoing efforts to maintain the highest safety standards for both horses and riders. The project will be conducted under the guidance of Dennis Moore. For the 2026 racing season, Los Alamitos has further strengthened its Inclement Weather Policy and Track Maintenance Program. To ensure maximum protection of the surface during wet-weather conditions, the track will no longer open for morning joggers when the surface has been sealed and Los Alamitos is racing on that night.

While live night racing is paused, Los Alamitos will remain open for daytime simulcasting. Please note there will be no night simulcasting from Feb. 6-8.

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Frigid weather across the country claimed its latest program as Laurel Park was forced to abandon the remainder of their Friday card after the first race as well as postpone the Saturday and Sunday cards.

Saturday's ten-race program, highlighted by the Spectacular Bid Stakes for 3-year-olds and the Xtra Heat Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, has been moved to Wednesday, Feb. 4. Sunday's nine-race program has been moved to Thursday, Feb. 5.

Laurel Park will run a Wednesday through Sunday schedule next week. The first post time is 12:00 pm ET. The track and the Maryland Jockey Club OTB network remain open for simulcast wagering.

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The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has released revisions to the stakes schedule as well as a plan for additional race days to account for the weather-related cancellations at Aqueduct, the group announced via press release.

In addition to NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB), will request approval from the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) to conduct four additional days of live racing Wednesday, Feb. 11, Thursday, Feb. 19, Thursday, Feb. 26 and Thursday, Mar. 5.  An additional card for Feb. 4, which was previously approved by the NYSGC, was drawn this past Thursday with live racing set to resume at the Big A on Wednesday, Feb. 3 with a 1:10 p.m. Eastern first post.

The four stakes initially slated for Saturday, Jan. 31 will be brought back Friday, Feb. 6. These include the Withers Stakes, a 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifier; the Toboggan; the Ruthless; and the Ladies Stakes. The card will also include the previously rescheduled Interborough Stakes. Entries for the Feb. 6 program will be taken Saturday, Jan. 31.

Overnight races carded for Jan. 31 will come back as extras for Feb. 6 and beyond, while races carded for Feb. 1 will be brought back as extras for the proposed makeup day of Feb. 11. Races in the existing Condition Book will be used for live racing scheduled from Feb. 12-15.

NYRA will provide an updated Condition Book to cover the period of Feb. 19 through Sunday, Mar. 8. Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcast operations Friday through Sunday.

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Winner of the 2024 GI Churchill Downs Stakes and now a young stallion at Three Chimneys, Gun Pilot (Gun Runner–Bush Pilot, by Smart Strike) was recently represented by his first foal, a colt. Bred by Tommy Wente's St. Simon Place in Lexington, the bay colt is out of the winning mare Just Life (Honor Code), a half-sister to GSP Electability (Quality Road) from the extended family of GISW and sire Lion Heart.

“He's a big colt with a lot of bone,” said Wente of the new arrival. “The first thing that struck me was how much he looked like his sire–big and strong. I bred four mares to him last year, and when they come out looking like this, you've got to go back.”

A millionaire and Three Chimneys homebred, Gun Pilot won five races and placed in another five, including the GI Forego Stakes. He will stand the 2026 season at Three Chimneys for $12,500.

“Gun Pilot is very much like Gun Runner–scopey, strong, and a great mover but with a bit more size and substance than his sire,” said Three Chimneys Director of Stallion Nominations Rebecca Nicholson. “Progeny by sons of Gun Runner have been in high demand, and with Gun Pilot entering his second year at stud, he represents a great opportunity for breeders to access this highly sought-after sire line.”

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