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HISA is seeking public comment on proposed modifications to the Rule Series 5000 (Equine Testing and Investigation Standards) and 7000 (Arbitration Procedures) of its Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.

Trainer James Cassidy died Jan. 21 at his home in Monrovia, Calif., after suffering from heart disease. He was 80.

Thanks to a partnership with Britbet, 1/ST CONTENT's North American racing is available for pool betting by UK bettors across UK racetracks, in time for the Triple Crown contests, Travers Stakes at Saratoga, and Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The International Conference for the Health, Safety, and Welfare of Jockeys was hosted in Hong Kong Dec. 11-12. The conference featured presentations and panel discussions with leading experts in the field. A replay is now available.

The podium at the 55th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony was awash in Godolphin blue Thursday, with a homebred from that global bloodstock powerhouse, Sovereignty (Into Mischief), running away with both Horse of the Year and 3-year-old male championship honors.

Sovereignty's on-track tour de force included emphatic Grade I victories in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes, and those headline-grabbing wins helped to trigger a cascade of accolades for the colt's human connections.

Godolphin took home its sixth straight Eclipse recognition as outstanding owner and its fifth consecutive trophy as America's top breeder.

Plus, Sovereignty's trainer, Bill Mott, was voted the nation's top trainer for the fifth time at the Eclipse Awards, a feat that is ultra-impressive considering his hardware in that category now spans three full decades (1995, 1996, 2011, 2023 and 2025).

Sovereignty's Horse of the Year distinction, announced as the culminating honor during a two-hour ceremony Jan. 22 at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida, was the second such award in three years for the Godolphin/Mott team, joining Cody's Wish, who was Horse of the Year in 2023.

Mott has now trained Horse of the Year champions in four different years, with the mighty Cigar in 1995 and 1996 joining the recent two for Godolphin.

“First of all, I can't express how proud I am to be the one to hold this award,” Mott said while flanked by the Godolphin crew after the Horse of the Year announcement.

Trainer Bill Mott flanked by his assistants | NTRA

“I mean, it is so telling of the entire Godolphin team, his Royal Highness, [Godolphin founder] Sheikh Mohammed [bin Rashid Al Maktoum], what he's done for racing in this country and all around the world is just amazing,” Mott said.

“And being able to be part of winning his first Kentucky Derby, and another Horse of the Year, is just unimaginable, unexplainable, and I'm proud to be standing up here with the Godolphin team.”

As always, the acceptance speeches that stood out were the ones that reflected gratitude back on the horse.

“As a team, we will continue to do as we do and be who we are for the love of the Thoroughbred,” said Godolphin trainer Johnny Burke in accepting the team's outstanding owner award.

“Thank you to Sovereignty for the ride of a lifetime,” said Michael Banahan, Godolphin's bloodstock director, in collecting the 3-year-old male championship trophy.

Danny Mulvihill, the United States farm manager for Godolphin, focused on the unique Grade I Kentucky Oaks and Derby double that his team parlayed in the span of 24 hours last May after Sovereignty's off-the-pace winning Run for the Roses put the exclamation point on the previous-day's victory by fellow homebred Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) in the Oaks.

“For any of you guys that foal mares in the middle of the night and the [Derby and Oaks] dreams are alive when those foals hit the ground,” Mulvihill said, “well, I guess this year was our turn for both.”

Ted Noffey's connections | NTRA

The undefeated 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ted Noffey is aiming to make it two years in a row that an Into Mischief colt wins American's most important and historic horse race.

Even though Ted Noffey is the early Derby favorite for 2026 based on an unblemished 4-for-4 record in 2025 that he capped with an emphatic win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, a member of his ownership team at Spendthrift Farm said the group is too busy enjoying the ride to give much consideration to what recognition the colt's accomplishments might bring.

“Regardless of what he did [in 2025], we take nothing for granted, said Eric Gustavson, co-owner and president of Spendthrift. “It's always good to remind ourselves that we aren't here without the majestic horse.”

Super Corredora (Gun Runner), another Breeders' Cup victress (GI Juvenile Fillies), whose win on the final Friday of October has her connections dreaming of the Kentucky Oaks on the first Friday in May, elicited similar feelings from Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, a syndicate that is one of the filly's ownership partners.

“This is why we do what we do,” Finely said, summing up his elation in a concise but candid manner that most racetrackers can relate to.

Although a number of the Eclipse Award winners on Thursday were groups or individuals with a global footprint in the game, several were rooted more locally and modestly.

Team Book'em Danno | NTRA

A case in point is the team behind champion male sprinter Book'em Danno (Bucchero), a New Jersey-bred gelding who raced for a New Jersey-based partnership of friends and business acquaintances under the stable name Atlantic Six Racing.

“In this sport, you need a lot of luck, a lot of dedication, and an exceptional horse,” said Atlantic Six's managing partner, Jay Briscione. “Tonight we celebrate all three.”

Rich Mendez's family-and-friends partnership, Morplay Racing, is a co-owner of the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' and newly crowned champion female sprinter Shisospicy (Mitole).

Mendez wanted the sport's newer generation of participants to know that a trip to an Eclipse Awards podium like he had just made might not be as far a journey as it seems, even if you're just starting out.

“I come from absolutely nothing,” Mendez said. “Any young person that has dreams, [know that I am an example] that anyone can make it. If you work really, really hard and stay focused, you can make it.”

For a more detailed list of 2025 Eclipse Award winners, see TDN's additional coverage here.

The post Respect and Admiration for the Horse Carries the Evening at the Eclipse Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Sovereignty (Into Mischief) capped off yet another massive evening at the Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's far-flung Godolphin operation, capping the festivities at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, by being named America's Horse of the Year for 2025 by a wide margin.

It marks the second time in three years that a horse bred and raced by Godolphin stole the show, following on from Cody's Wish (Curlin), who took down top honors in 2023. Godolphin was also named outstanding owner and breeder Thursday evening, and largely for his work managing the big colt, Bill Mott earned his fiith Eclipse as outstanding trainer. He also called the shots on the career of Cody's Wish.

“First of all, I can't express how proud I am to be the one to hold this award,” said Mott, accepting the night's most-coveted trophy. “I mean, it is so telling of the entire Godolphin team, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. What he's done for racing in this country and all around the world is amazing. To be able to be part of winning his first Kentucky Derby and another Horse of the Year is just unimaginable, unexplainable. I'm so proud to be standing here with the Godolphin team: Michael (Banahan), Dan (Pride), the whole entire group.”

Though the racing public at large was denied the opportunity to see what Sovereignty could do against his elders when unfortunately withdrawn from the GI Breeders' Cup Classic early that week, there was no denying his brilliance over a six-race campaign that saw him win the first and third legs of the Triple Crown either side of a much-discussed and much-maligned decision to give the GI Preakness Stakes a miss.

If the objective was to have a relatively fresh horse for the second half of the season, it was certainly mission accomplished, as he was imperious in completing the Saratoga sophomore stakes double over the summer and by all accounts, would have been a very tough customer and favored in the Classic against the likes of Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and 'TDN Rising Stars' presented by Hagyard Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), Mindframe (Constitution) and Fierceness (City of Light) in the main event on championship Saturday.

Alas, it wasn't meant to be, some 201 members of the three voting blocs–the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) and Daily Racing Form (DRF)–were willing to cast a Horse of the Year vote in his favor. Sovereignty's name also appeared on the first line each of the 219 ballots (with one absention) for champion 3-year-old male, making him the evening's lone unanimous winner.

But for single votes cast for the impressive GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Gstaad (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Spendthrift Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Further Ado (Gun Runner), the latter ownership's 'TDN Rising Star' Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) would have also been a unanimous choice for champion 2-year-old male off a 4-for-4 season that was capped by success in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Oct. 31. The fillies' counterpart also supplied the champion 2-year-old filly in the form of Super Corredora (Gun Runner), who comfortably beat GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint victress and 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Cy Fair (Not This Time) by a count of 146-49.

Ted Noffey | Breeders' Cup/Eclipse Sportswire

For the fourth time in the space of just five years, a Charlie Appleby-conditioned son of Dalham Hall Stud's magnificent Dubawi (Ire) provided Godolphin with the Eclipse statuette for champion turf male. 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Notable Speech (GB) endured a bit of a frustrating run in Europe in the first part of 2025, but that all changed in his last two starts of the preparation, including a fast-finishing victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile to improve on a somewhat unlucky third in the same event 12 months prior. It was coincidentally a fourth win in five years in that race for Godolphin-bred and -raced sons of Dubawi. Rebel's Romance (Ire), the reigning Eclipse turf champion, was a distant second in this year's balloting.

Up-and-coming trainer Cherie DeVaux was represented by the first champion of her burgeoning career when Lael Stables' She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) took home the hardware in the turf female category, with Grade I victories north and south of the border. She received 151 of the 220 first-place votes, outdistancing the 3-year-old filly who defeated her in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}), who tallied 36 votes.

Outside of Sovereignty and Ted Noffey, the next most-dominant divisional winner was D J Stables' Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) who attracted all but 37 of the votes to earn champion 3-year-old filly honors. Equally adept on the turf and on the dirt, the homebred defeated GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Shisospicy (Mitole), who picked up 24 votes to finish a clear second.

The latter was also third behind She's So Pretty in the turf female category, but was not denied her own moment in the spotlight when her connections accepted the Eclipse Award for champion female sprinter. Her wire-to-wire tour-de-force in the Turf Sprint earned her top honors over Splendora (Audible), the convincing winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

The older dirt male divisions, both short and long, were the subject of many a heated discussion across social media since the Eclipse finalists were announced on Jan. 4. In the older dirt male division, the voters ultimately decided that Forever Young's historic victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic was the most convincing piece of form in a division which never truly yielded a leader over the course of the season. In the end, the voting was surprisingly decisive, as the G1 Saudi Cup winner received 117 votes to the 50 for the reigning champion 3-year-old colt and defending Classic winner Sierra Leone.

The male sprint division tossed up the evening's closest contest, but by a count of 115 to 82, Eclipse voters rewarded Atlantic Six Racing's Book'em Danno (Bucchero) for his consistent body of work from March through to the end of August, a stretch which included an unprecedented sequence of victories at Saratoga, among them the GI Forego Stakes. His absence from the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint proved no detriment, as he outpointed Bentornato (Valiant Minister), who posted a pair of towering Beyer Speed Figures in his two starts–including in the Sprint–but was penalized for the abbreviated campaign.

Book'em Danno | Sarah Andrew

Similar to its male counterpart, the 2025 dirt female division was characterized by unpredictability and the lack of a dominating presence. 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) was not the same animal that was anointed Horse of the Year and champion of her generation during these ceremonies 12 months ago, but a pair of elite-level successes which took her career total to seven earned her a third statue, this one for champion older dirt female. 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Scylla (Tapit) finally put it all together in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, but was soundly defeated into second in divisional balloting.

In the battle for champion steeplechase horse, Riverdee Stables' Cool Jet (Ire) (Jet Away {GB}) was also rewarded for his consistency, romping from on or near the pace in the Commonwealth Cup in May, the Mariann de Tejada Memorial in October and the Noel Lainge in early November.

On the heels of yet hugely successful year in the saddle, Flavien Prat picked up his second straight Eclipse Award as outstanding journeyman jockey, while Pietro Moran landed the Eclipse for outstanding apprentice in a season highlighted by a victory in the King's Plate.

A total of 240 ballots were distributed to members of the three aforementioned voting blocs, of which 220 (91.7%) were returned. In voting that concluded Jan. 1, 2026, Eclipse Awards voters cast their ballots to rank the top three horses and individuals in each Championship division on a 10-5-1 point system. This voting established the top three finalists in each division, whose names were released on Jan. 4, 2026. The Eclipse Awards are determined by first-place votes only.

The post ‘Sovereign’ Rule: Sovereignty A Runaway Winner of HOTY, Champion 3YO Male appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Godolphin homebred 3-year-old Sovereignty (Into Mischief) has been named the 2025 Horse of the Year.

In the final award of the evening, the Champion 3-Year-Old Colt added the ultimate prize to a 2025 campaign which saw him win five of six starts including three Grade I's.

Beginning the year with a win in the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream, he was defeated just once when second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby. He would go undefeated from there, piling up wins in the GI Kentucky Derby, the GI Belmont Stakes, the GII Jim Dandy Stakes and the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes.

From six starts, he earned $5,692,020.

Sovereignty is Godolphin's second Horse of the Year in the last three years, joining Cody's Wish in 2023.

The post Sovereignty Named 2025 Horse of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) have been named Best Turf Male and Female.

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Notable Speech, owned and bred by fellow Eclipse winner Godolphin, also won the GI Rogers Woodbine Mile Stakes, finishing his year with back to back wins on North American shores.

She Feels Pretty won three of five starts for trainer Cherie DeVaux in 2025 including the GIII Modesty Stakes, the GI New York Stakes and the GI E. P. Taylor Stakes. She finished runner up in her other two starts for owner Lael Stables.

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The Eclipse Award for Older Dirt Male and Female have gone to Japan's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and last year's Horse of the Year, Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna).

Forever Young, who returned to Del Mar in 2025 to win the GI Breeders' Cup Classic after coming up just short in 2024, also won this year's G1 Saudi Cup and ran third in the G1 Dubai World Cup, his only non-winning effort across his four starts for trainer Yoshito Yahagi and owner Susumu Fujita.

The 2024 Horse of the Year, Thorpedo Anna ran six times in 2025 for trainer Ken McPeek and an ownership group that includes Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc. (J. G. Sikura), Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek), Mark Edwards and Judy Hicks. She won the GI Apple Blossom Stakes and the GI Personal Ensign Stakes, earning $1,597,250 across her six starts.

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Bill Mott, who brought along Champion 3-Year-Old Male Sovereignty (Into Mischief) to wins in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, and Travers, has been been given the Eclipse Award for Best Trainer.

In addition to Sovereignty, Mott also trainer 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Scylla (Tapit) to a win in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff.

From 662 starts, Mott finished out 2025 with a record of 106-85-97 and earnings of $17,165,020.

This is Mott's fifth Eclipse Award; he was previously honored in 2024, 2011, 1996 and 1995, 1996.

The post Mott Earns Fifth Eclipse Award For Best Trainer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Also honored in these same categories for 2024, Godolphin has been given the Eclipse Award for Best Owner and Best Breeder during Thursday night's ceremony.

Godolphin both bred and raised 2025's GI Kentucky Derby winner and Champion 3-Year-Old Male Sovereignty (Into Mischief) along with GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro).

They also picked up top-level wins with homebred Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

As owners, Godophin earned more than $22,395,556, the best year to date for the royal blue silks.

The post Godolphin Doubles Up As Best Owner And Breeder appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The 9-year-old Cool Jet (Ire) (Jet Away {GB}) has been named the Eclipse Award Steeplechase Horse.

Trained by Jack Fisher and owned by Riverdee Stable, Cool Jet won three of six starts in his sixth year of racing, picking up victories in the GI Commonwealth Cup Stakes, the GIII Mariann de Tejeda Memorial Stakes and the GIII Noel Laing Stakes.

He also hit the board at both Blue Ridge and during the Foxfield Spring Meet in the Good Night Shirt Hurdle Stakes.

He finished the year with earnings of $190,500 across those six starts.

The post Cool Jet Honored As Best Steeplechase Horse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

New Jersey-bred Book'em Danno (Bucchero) and Breeders' Cup winner Shisospicy (Mitole) won top Male and Female Sprinter at the Eclipse Awards.

A winner in four of his five starts in 2025, Book'em Danno finished his year with three straight wins all at Saratoga in the GIII True North Stakes, the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes and the GI Forego Stakes for trainer Derek Ryan and owner Atlantic Six Racing.

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Shisospicy went undefeated on American shores after February for trainer Jose D'Angelo, winning the GIII Mamzelle Stakes, the GII AGS Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs and beating the boys in the GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint .

The post Book’em Danno, Shisospicy Named Best Sprinters appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Already an Eclipse Award winner from last year, Flavien Prat has gone back to back and has once again been named Best Jockey.

His 2025 campaign of 1,256 starts earned a record of 309-234-188 with earnings of over $40,460,428.

His picked up wins aboard Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the GI Whitney Stakes and was named the Leading Rider for Keeneland's Spring meet. He also set a new NYRA record for wins on a single card, earning seven wins on the final day of the Belmont the Big A meet on Nov. 2.

He also won a pair of Breeders' Cup races with Nysos (Nyquist) in the Dirt Mile and Splendora (Audible) in the Filly and Mare Sprint.

The post Flavien Prat Goes Back To Back As Best Jockey appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) has been named the top 3-Year-Old Male and GI Alabama Stakes winner Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) as top 3-Year-Old Filly in their respective categories at the Eclipse Awards.

Beaten just once in 2025 when second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby, Sovereignty wrapped up his year with wins in the Derby, the GI Belmont Stakes, the GII Jim Dandy Stakes and the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes, earning more than $5,600,000 in six starts for owner/breeder Godolphin and trainer Bill Mott.

Nitrogen began her year on the turf but easily found her footing on the dirt as well, racking up five graded stakes wins over both surfaces culminating in her victory in the GI Alabama Stakes at Saratoga for trainer Mark Casse and D.J. Stable. She finished her season second behind older fillies in both the GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes and the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

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Pietro Moran has been named the Eclipse Award winner for best Apprentice Jockey.

After launching his career in Canada in 2023, the 20-year old was named a Sovereign Award finalist for Apprentice Jockey in 2024.

His 2025 campaign included wins aboard Mansetti (Collected) in the King's Plate, becoming the third youngest jockey in history to win the race. He finished the year with a record of 863-140-117-139 and earnings of $6,083,835 and a winning percentage of 16%.

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Breeders' Cup winners Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) and Super Corredora (Gun Runner) were honored as Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Male and 2-Year-Old Female respectively Thursday night to open the 55th Annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ted Noffey put together an undefeated juvenile campaign for owner Spendthrift Farm, winning the GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful Stakes and the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity before defeating Mr A.P. (Honor A.P) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

Having just broken her maiden less than three weeks prior when she entered the gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Super Corredora took the field gate to wire in an 8-1 upset for trainer John Sadler and owners Spartan Equine Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, Robert Gardiner and Michael Olszewski.

The post Ted Noffey, Super Corredora Claim Juvenile Eclipse Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's OBSOnline January 2026 Sale, which will overlap the in-person OBS Winter Mixed Sale, has 16 horses catalogued. The online auction is scheduled for Jan. 26-30, while the Winter Mixed Sale will take place Jan. 27.

Among the horses catalogued for the digital auction is a 2-year-old Collected filly out of MGISW Tough Tiz's Sis (Tiznow). The half-sister to GSW Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute) is consigned by McKathan Bros. and will be hip 403.

Seven of the offerings breezed or galloped during the optional under-tack show held at OBS Jan. 22, including an unnamed 3-year-old Good Magic colt out of Mrs. Appeal (Successful Appeal), who is a full-sister to GSW Closing Argument. Consigned by Champions of the Future, the colt breezed three-eighths in :35 2/5 and will appear as hip 406 when the catalogue is released Friday, Jan. 23.

The OBSOnline sale will feature 2-year-olds and horses of racing age, with bidding kicking off Jan. 26 at noon ET and closing Jan. 30 at noon ET.  Visit obsonline.com for more information.

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The $1.25 million GI Apple Blossom Handicap has joined the roster of prestigious North American races for the 2026 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, Breeders' Cup Limited and Oaklawn Park said in a joint release on Thursday.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races, the winners of which receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.

Offering an automatic berth into the $2 million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom Handicap for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up will be the first Breeders' Cup Challenge race in the Distaff division this year.

“The Apple Blossom Handicap has a long-standing reputation as one of the premier races for fillies and mares in North America,” Chief Racing Officer for Breeders' Cup Limited Dora Delgado said. “Its inclusion in the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series underscores the race's championship quality and strengthens the pathway to the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. We are proud to welcome Oaklawn Park and the Apple Blossom into the 'Win and You're In' program as part of our continued commitment to showcasing elite racing on the road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships.”

“This is a tremendous milestone for Oaklawn and for one of the most prestigious races in American racing,” said President of Oaklawn Louis A. Cella. “The Apple Blossom Handicap has long been a championship-caliber event, and earning Breeders' Cup 'Win & You're In' status reflects the quality of our racing product and the elite horses that continue to compete here. This designation further solidifies Oaklawn's place on the world stage as a premier destination for top-level Thoroughbred racing.”

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the pre-entry and entry fees to the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff for the winner of the Apple Blossom Handicap (a $60,000 value). The nominator of the winning horse will receive a $10,000 award, provided the horse is nominated before the Challenge race.

All Breeders' Cup Challenge winners also receive travel benefits to the World Championships: $10,000 for starters based outside of Kentucky in North America and $40,000 for international starters based outside of North America. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 19, 2026, to receive the rewards.

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Trainer James Cassidy died Wednesday at his home in Monrovia, California after suffering from heart disease. He was 80.

Born Aug. 21, 1945 in New York City, Cassidy got his start working with show horses at the age of 12. He would later transition to racehorses and in 1975, Cassidy took out his trainer's license. He then spent more than a decade working as an assistant for such top Eastern-based trainers as Joe Canty, Frank Whitely and Charles Sanborne before striking out on his own.

Cassidy's first starter as a trainer came Oct. 2, 1989 at Belmont Park, according to Equibase statistics. In late 1993, after only a handful of runners in New York, Cassidy moved his training operation to Southern California. He won his first-ever race at Hollywood Park Dec. 12, 1993, with the claiming horse Royal Torrent (His Majesty).

Cassidy continued to operate a small stable at Santa Anita up until his death. His final starter who he also owned was Pure Chaos (Sir Prancealot {Ire}). The filly ran Jan. 11 at Santa Anita and finished third in a maiden special weight.

Cassidy won 442 races in his career while compiling $30,715,582 in purse earnings. His final win came Apr. 25, 2025 at Santa Anita with Princess Snow (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) for owner-breeder DP Racing.

Notable horses from the Cassidy barn were Grade I-winning millionaires Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet), The Usual Q.T (Unusual Heat) and Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Appluase {GB}); and millionaire Grade II winner Moscow Burning (Moscow Ballet).

Cassidy also served multiple terms as president of California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT), an organization that represents the interests of Thoroughbred trainers in the state.

“Jim just loved horses. Period,” said Alan Balch, executive director of California Thoroughbred Trainers. “From the first time I met him, that's what stood out to me. He had his early experience on Long Island with show horses, and we had that in common when I first met him in connection with CTT. And he loved the Yankees, he always wore that cap proudly.”

Cassidy served as president of the CTT in 2009 and again from 2012 through June 2019.

“Jim had a special knack with fillies and mares, and the records prove it,” Balch said. “He served the backstretch community as a whole tirelessly, through both the Gregson Foundation and his CTT leadership.”

Details on services will be announced at a later date.

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