Thoroughbred Daily News

Tickets for Kentucky Derby Week and the entire Spring Meet at Churchill Downs Racetrack are set to go on sale Thursday at noon with an added day of racing to celebrate this year's Derby Week.

For the first time since 2010, Churchill Downs will return its meet opener and kickoff to Derby Week to the afternoon rather than running at night under the lights as was the case from 2011-25, the track announced Wednesday. Post time for Opening Day powered by LG&E and KU will be Saturday, April 25, at 12:45 p.m.

Additionally, Churchill Downs is bringing back Sunday to the Derby Week schedule for the first time in 15 years. Post time for the Sunday, April 26 program will be 12:45 p.m.

The 152nd Spring Meet at the historic Louisville racetrack will span nine weeks from April 25-June 28 over 44 racing dates. Kentucky Derby Week grows from six to seven days from April 25-May 2 with no racing on Monday, April 27.

“With the Spring Meet and Kentucky Derby Week kicking off in the afternoon and the return of Sunday racing on Derby Week for the first time in 16 years, we believe our strong racing product will be well received by the local community, horseplayers around the country and our horsemen,”said Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack.

Tickets for the 152nd GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Kentucky Derby on May 1-2 are available by visiting here or here.

The post Derby Week Opener Returns To Daytime And Will Feature Sunday Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The former director and chief executive officer of healthcare technology startup Biofourmis Holdings, Kuldeep Singh Rajput, was set to be charged in a Singapore court on Feb. 4 for his alleged involvement in a series of financial crimes, according to a statement released by the Singapore Police Force on Tuesday and reported by the Business Times.

The Business Times in Singapore identified the accused as Kuldeep Singh Rajput, the company's founder and former CEO, who stepped down from his role in August 2023.

Rajput was also the head of Gandharvi Racing, which has been active in racing and bloodstock globally in recent years.

The report states that police have said Rajput will face charges including falsification of accounts, fraud by false representation, and forgery for the purpose of cheating. According to investigations, Rajput allegedly instigated company staff to falsify invoices between Aug. 18, 2021, and Feb. 28, 2022, which purportedly showed that Biofourmis Singapore had provided nearly $16.5 million worth of services to Singapore's Ministry of Health.

Authorities said the services were not rendered. Rajput is also accused of making, and abetting the making of, false representations concerning Biofourmis Holdings and its subsidiaries between March and April 2022. In addition, he allegedly forged an employee stock option plan offer letter with the intent to deceive a bank in connection with a proposed funds transfer.

If convicted of fraud by false representation or abetting such an offence, Rajput faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years' imprisonment, a fine, or both, per charge.

The post Gandharvi Boss Set To Be Charged For Alleged Crimes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

In response to Maggie Sweet's powerful letter to the TDN–February 2, 2026, I would like to add my support–and my urgency.

The Jockey Club needs a paradigm shift, and so do Thoroughbred owners and breeders. The future of our sport depends on it.

Think of a stunning model–poised, admired, photographed from every angle. Now imagine that same model with a mouth full of rotten teeth. No matter how beautiful the rest of her may be, the illusion collapses the moment she smiles. Perception changes instantly. The image is damaged, and with it, her career.

That is the racing industry when aftercare is neglected.

Our sport is magnificent in its athleticism, tradition, and heart. But when the public sees horses without safe and dignified futures, the image fractures. We are forced to keep our “mouth closed,” hoping no one looks too closely. And when they do, the damage is swift and lasting.

Aftercare is not a side issue. It is not charity. It is the moral and reputational dental care of this industry–basic, necessary maintenance that preserves both life and image. If we had built its cost into the structure of our business from the beginning, we would not now be scrambling to defend our integrity.

Do we really want to watch the racing and breeding industries suffer irreversible harm because we failed to budget for responsibility?

It is time to act. The Jockey Club has made meaningful progress, but incremental steps are no longer enough. This is the moment for leadership–visible, collaborative, and industry-wide. Owners, breeders, tracks, and registries must work together to create sustainable, mandatory support for aftercare.

A paradigm shift is not optional anymore. It is the price of preserving the sport we love.

Suzi Pritchard-Jones is the founder of the Byerley & Godolphin Conservation.

The post Letter To The Editor: In Response To Maggie Sweet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

With the announcement in early January that Elliott Walden would step down from his role as CEO of WinStar Farm in October, passing the torch to Gerry Duffy, a 20-year run at the company is coming to an end. Until 2005, when he took over as Vice President, Walden had trained horses for the organization. Under his management, the farm won the Triple Crown with Justify along with two Kentucky Derbies, three Belmont Stakes, five Breeders' Cups, and four Eclipse Awards. Walden hand-picked Duffy to take over the reins, praising both his organizational and people skills. Walden sat down to talk to the TDN about what he loved about the job, what he'll miss, and what's next for the 62-year-old.

SF: As I understand it, Gerry starts on April 1st and then you will be with him until October, but talk to me about that transition and how that will work out.

EW: It was a well thought-out plan and we just wanted to have time with Gerry to pass this baton. He's coming aboard on April 1 as President. I'm going to be CEO, and he's going to hit the ground running with the main personnel on the farm. They're going to report to him, and then we're going to work side-by-side for six months and he's going to see the strategic side of things, when we go to buy horses, et cetera. We chose October 1 so that we could get through the September Sale. And then I'm going to consult for nine months.

SF: What led you to this decision?

Trainer Todd Pletcher with Walden | Jon Siegel

EW: It was really about timing; more WinStar's timing than my timing at my age and where I am in life. I could have gone another four or five years, barring any health or any type of issue, but we have talked amongst ourselves about what's next for WinStar as far as the Troutt family goes, and we're seeing Preston Troutt (Kenny's son) really step up in a big way and he's coming alongside Kenny and showing the same interest. So building a team around Preston was the main impetus of this, and Gerry is the right age for that. We had a transition at a couple of other key positions. Jack Mullikan stepped down a couple years ago and handed the baton off to Michael Holmes, who's a real star in the CFO role. And Gerry was at the point where he wanted to come back. He was still in Abu Dhabi, but his family decided to stay here, and that always changes things.

SF: So after October 1st, what happens for you? What do you do on October 2nd?

EW: I don't know. That's the exciting thing about it. I get to figure out some things to do. I'll probably consult in some way, and I've had a lot of calls on that, but really I'm just being open to what God has in store for me. I'm excited about that. I've always been a planner. I've always been an organizer. It's worked well for me to this point, but in this next phase I really don't know, and so it's allowing me an opportunity to grow my faith in that. And you know what? I don't have everything figured out, but I'm excited about it because with our children growing and Will doing so well in the business as a trainer, it's exciting to see that allow a little more time to be able to focus on that and to support him and our other kids in the endeavors that they have as well.

SF: Could you see yourself going back into some sort of training role?

EW: No, I don't think so. That would be getting right back into the day-to-day grind, and one thing I am looking forward to is the opportunity to be able to do some different things. From the time I started on the racetrack, I've worked 45 years basically six or seven days a week, and so the opportunity to be able to do some different things is exciting to me. So I don't see myself training.

SF: Are you the kind of person who can see themselves retiring, or do you need a purpose?

Will and Elliott Walden | Jon Siegel

EW: Oh, definitely a purpose. I'm not going to sit on the couch. There are going to be opportunities that come up and I'm already starting to think about some of those. But right now, I don't have anything scheduled because I'm still a hundred percent all-in to give Mr. Troutt and the Troutt family my focus.

SF: What was the highlight of your time at WinStar?

EW: The Triple Crown is an easy one. That's pretty incredible to do, and just to think about the history of that accomplishment and that it hasn't been done but 13 times, that's pretty overwhelming. I tried to win the Kentucky Derby twice as a trainer and got beat a neck both times, so really, I think being a Kentucky guy, winning the Kentucky Derby twice with WinStar is right there.

SF: How does your family feel about this transition? Does your wife worry you're going to be around too much?

EW: No, no. She's completely supportive and this is an opportunity for me to support her. She's supported me for so long in these two roles, moving around the country and being gone a lot, so this is an opportunity for me to give back to her.

SF: WinStar really came of age under your guidance, becoming a true global brand. What are you going to miss the most about it? Is it the people? Is it the day-to-day coming in the office?

EW: The highlight of WinStar for me has been the team, and that starts at the top. Kenny has been an incredible boss and leader. He has entrusted us to execute, but it starts with his desire. He's an example of what makes a farm like WinStar successful, and you see it in other farms as well, and that's first and foremost a very proactive owner. I think a farm of this magnitude needs a proactive owner, whether it's John Magnier at Coolmore, Kenny Troutt at WinStar, or B. Wayne Hughes at Spendthrift. I don't think you accomplish all that we've accomplished without somebody who has their eye on the ball. And with that, he's also entrusted us to make the decisions.

So working for him has been a real honor and a blessing, and what's so exciting about the future for WinStar is that Preston is starting to step into that role. Kenny's still going strong, but we're all getting a little older, and that's part of why we made the decision we made. Preston is a very impressive young man. For WinStar to survive over the next 25 years, they need a Troutt at the helm, and Preston's going to be that guy when Kenny is ready.

SF: Is there anything I haven't asked you that you'd like to say?

EW: We just had our annual managers' retreat. This was our 25th, and it just reminded me how much I'm going to miss this team. They are exceptional. I feel good that we're handing a really accomplished, professional team off to Gerry in a way in which we can make sure that WinStar Farm does not miss a beat. We have a bright future with the young stallions that we have coming up, starting this year. Life is Good and Nashville have their first runners this year, and Constitution is rolling. I'm excited about what Preston, Gerry, David, Natanya, and the whole team can do for the next 25 years. I'm going to miss working with the quality of these horses, but I would anticipate that I'm going to be around some quality horses in the future.

The post Q and A: A New Chapter for Elliott Walden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Purses for 3-year-old and upward maiden special weight (MSW) races at Keeneland Race Course ($110,000) and Churchill Downs ($120,000) are projected to remain level this spring compared to the same seasonal race meets in 2025.

Executives from both tracks disclosed those spring 2026 figures during the Feb. 3 Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) advisory board meeting.

Keeneland's non-juvenile MSW purses had been $100,000 each April between 2022 and 2024 before getting bumped up to $110,000 last year.

Churchill Downs has carded non-juvenile MSW races for $120,000 during its April-June meet since 2022.

Although MSW purse levels do not tell the entire story about how healthy a track or a circuit's racing is, they are often cited within the Thoroughbred industry as a useful barometer that indicates the class of horses a track can expect to attract.

The KTDF is funded by three-quarters of 1% of all money wagered in the state on both live Thoroughbred races and historical horse race gaming, plus 1% of all money wagered on Thoroughbred races via inter-track wagering and whole-card simulcasting. That money, along with funding from each track, goes to pay purses in the state.

At Tuesday's meeting, the KTDF advisory board approved the recommendation of allotment requests that the Keeneland and Churchill purse estimates were based on. The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation still has to vote on final approval of the funding at a subsequent meeting.

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The Commerce Committee in the Florida House of Representatives reported favorably Feb. 3 on the controversial decoupling bill backed by Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs that would allow either track to cease live racing while retaining their respective casino and card-room privileges.

The vote appeared to be 15-9. The decision was largely split along party lines, with the “no” votes cast by Democrats and only two Republicans splitting off from the “yes” votes to oppose the bill. (One voice vote was inaudible during the roll call; the Florida legislature's web page for the bill had not posted the official tally prior to deadline for this story.)

Tuesday's thumbs-up on decoupling by the Commerce Committee joins a 10-5 favorable vote passed by the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee Jan. 14.

With both of both of HB 881's assigned committees now reporting favorably, the bill can be scheduled for floor consideration and a vote by the full House membership.

A nearly identical companion bill has been filed in the Florida Senate. It has been referred to three committees, but has yet to be scheduled for any debate in that chamber.

Decoupling, which means separating legal requirements to host pari-mutuel racing from gaming privileges, is hardly new to Florida.

In 2025, a similar version of decoupling ended up getting passed in the House but not the Senate.

Testifying before the committee on Tuesday, Lonny Powell, the chief executive officer of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA), estimated that he has appeared before the Florida legislature in 12 of the last 14 years in an effort to keep decoupling from happening.

Since 2021, all other forms of pari-mutuel gaming in Florida (greyhound and Standardbred racing, plus jai alai) have ben decoupled. Thoroughbred racing remains the lone exception.

This latest version attempts to provide a “runway” in terms of timing that would require Gulfstream and Tampa to give notice of racing suspension as of July 1, 2027, with racing required to continue for at least three years after that notice of intent got filed.

Presumably, according to the bill's Republican sponsor, Rep. Adam Anderson, that would be enough time for Thoroughbred owners, breeders and other industry stakeholders to legalize and build a new racetrack somewhere else in the state and come up with a way to fund its purses and operation.

Six members of the public-all related to various ownership, breeding and auction organizations based in Florida-testified against the decoupling bill on Tuesday.

No members of the public testified in favor of decoupling.

Three representatives spoke against it, with two testifying in favor, including Anderson, the sponsor.

Powell's comments about the potential adverse impacts of decoupling were blunt. But he also tried to get the politicians to realize that the FTBOA and other stakeholders have a Plan B in the pipeline.

“There is nothing in this bill that's really good for the horsepeople. There's nothing that gives us confidence. There's nothing that gives us hope. The horsemen and the horsewomen, the breeders and the owners and farms, with decoupling, face the ultimate devastation of their industry,” Powell said.

“But I do want to come here with, once again, a solution, because we heard you last year. We've got to figure out a way to make this issue just move on, and we've got to get our breeders back where they have some confidence in breeding these championship Florida horses,” Powell said.

“We do have the only existing permit allowed by law [for a track to be] located in Marion County [that the FTBOA secured in 2011] for this very purpose, in case the racetracks rolled back their racing dates,” Powell said.

Back in December, when speaking at the Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, Powell had unveiled a plan to enter into a “mutually exclusive, multi-year agreement” with “a Delaware registered entity” to try and bring a new racetrack in or near Ocala to fruition.

Two months ago, Powell identified that group's two principals as Philip Levine, who served as mayor of Miami Beach from 2013 to 2017, and John Morgan, a billionaire attorney based in Florida who is best known as the founder of the personal injury law firm Morgan & Morgan and who has active involvement in various Thoroughbred partnerships.

“What the challenge is, right now, the way this is designed, is the tracks get to exit [the racing industry] for free, not paying any tab,” Powell told the committee Tuesday. “In fact, they shut off all the revenue to everybody. [So] we now have to assume the economics of the horse side and the track side to get this done…

“And I am quite confident that we'll be before you next session with a proposed solution that could very well make winners of everybody around the table. That's one of the best ways to get things done, and that's what we're working on,” Powell said.

Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, the committee's Democratic ranking member, said she has two “massive issues” with greenlighting decoupling.

One has to do with potentially putting horse people out of their livelihoods at a time when many Floridians already have hardships related to affordability.

The second relates to overstepping the local wishes of Broward County voters, 57% of whom she said back in 2005 approved gaming at Gulfstream only because it was a licensed facility that already took horse bets.

“Thoroughbred racing is an important part of our economy,” Hunschofsky said. “And I find it very difficult to reconcile when we're in the Commerce Committee, and we're here to support small businesses, [and when] we're having people struggling with the economy right now, struggling to find work, [we] have legislation in front of us now that will literally decimate an industry, an industry that's part of the history here in Florida.”

As for the local control, Hunschofsky put it this way: “So now, the state wants to come in and say, 'Okay Broward, you made a decision based on [allowing gaming at a racetrack].' And now we're going to change the rules of the game, and we're not going to go back to the residents of Broward and say, 'Hey, do you still want to have gambling [at Gulfstream] if they take away the Thoroughbred racing?'”

As is customary, the bill's sponsor, Anderson, was allowed the last word before the legislation  came up for a committee vote.

Just like he has at previous hearings, Anderson-in what must have seemed like a mind-boggling paradox to Thoroughbred stakeholders-portrayed himself as a proponent of Florida's breeding and racing industries.

After thanking the committee's legislators for offering up only “light questions” related to his bill, Anderson said that he was “especially encouraged by some of the testimony about the industry starting to work on actionable solutions, and that's what we want to see happen.

“I think all of you in front of me here know that I'm committed to this industry, committed to the racing community,” Anderson said. “I'm a lover of the animal. I'm a lover of the race. I've been involved in the racing industry for the better part of a decade. I want to see it thrive. But I want to see it thrive independently. Because we value free-market principles.”

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Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), who earned over $2.6 million spanning a career which saw him win both the GI Jaipur Stakes and the GI Fourstardave Handicap twice each, was represented by his first foal on January 23rd when a filly was born out of the multiple stakes-placed mare Sustainable (Forestry). The filly was bred by Carlos Cleto.

“You can see from this photo, an outstanding foal,” Cleto said. “Casa Creed was an 'iron horse' who won four Grade I's and showed up every race. A very exciting stallion.”

Casa Creed is standing in Kentucky at Mill Ridge Farm for $8,500 LF and is part of the Ride Together Incentive Program where the registered breeder of a live foal earns a free season if the resulting offspring wins a straight maiden race as a 2-or 3-year-old.

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Austro-Canadian billionaire and prominent racing owner/breeder Frank Stronach will face a sexual assault trial later this week in Toronto that will be decided solely by a judge, according to a report from the BBC.

The article states that 93-year-old Stronach, one of Canada's richest men, has been charged in relation to more than a dozen historical sexual assault allegations that span nearly a half-century.

Stronach has pleaded not guilty to the 12 Toronto charges, and has denied all of the allegations against him.

Prosecutors have split his case into two separate proceedings, with a second trial in nearby York Region scheduled for later in the spring. The Toronto trial was set to begin Tuesday, but has since been delayed to Thursday.

He faces a total of 18 offences involving 13 complainants, according to prosecutors.

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A total of 367 of the world's top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds became eligible to compete in the 2026 Triple Crown series during the early nomination phase, which closed Monday, Jan. 26, Churchill Downs said in a press release on Tuesday.

This year's early nominees span the globe and include several horses that have already made an impact on the 'Road to the Kentucky Derby', led by graded stakes winners 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Further Ado (Gun Runner), 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Golden Tempo (Curlin), 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), Litmus Test (Nyquist), Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map), Nearly (Not This Time) and Paladin (Gun Runner).

International representation included 37 horses from Japan, led by Godolphin's Pyromancer (Jpn) (Pyro), winner of the Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse .

Eleven fillies were nominated including: Bella Ballerina (Street Sense), Belle of the Barn (Street Sense), Counting Stars (Honor A.P.), Dancin in Old Town (Tapit), Energy Issei (Jpn) (Mozu Ascot), Goldmunze (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}), Perfect Town (Speightstown), Ten Time Top (Jpn) (Nadal), Tokai Ma Cherie (Jpn) (Drefong), Unnatamsa (Jpn) (Pyro) and Zany (American Pharoah).

When it comes to the sires of nominees, Not This Time tallied 16. The other stallions who left their mark include: Gun Runner (15), Into Mischief (14), Nyquist (14), Constitution (13), Maxfield (12), Curlin (11), Liam's Map (10), American Pharoah (9), Quality Road (9), Street Sense (9) and Tapit (8).

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher led all trainers with 31 nominees, followed by Bob Baffert (23), Chad Brown (22), Brad Cox (21) and Daisuke Takayanagi (14).

Last year, there were 373 early nominees and another five late nominations.

Click here for a complete list of Triple Crown nominees.

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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”.

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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.

The post Letter to the Editor: What Will Our Legacy Be appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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.

The post Charlatan’s Forced Entry Romps to Maiden Score at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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}).

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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.

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