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Darby Dan Farm has set 2026 stud fees for its roster of 11 stallions that will stand the upcoming breeding season, led by Blazing Sevens, Flameaway, and Dialed In, who will each stand for $10,000, stands and nurses. 

Multiple grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner Post Time will stand his first season at Northview Stallion Station near Chesapeake City, Md.

Letters to the Editor for BH Daily, Oct. 23

With seven 2-year-olds leading the way, Not This Time tops all sires with 10 horses pre-entered in this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Into Mischief and Gun Runner are tied with eight horses pre-entered.

Gains were seen across all metrics, with 271 head selling for $19,546,500. The average was up to $72,127, a 48% increase from last year's third session of $48,862, and a 38% increase from last year's total sale average of $52,392.

Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Oct. 22 a growth project called Victory Run, an exciting new structure on the first turn of the Churchill Downs racetrack between the First Turn Club and the Skye Terrace.

The Fair Hill leg of the Real Rider Cup enjoyed its new home on the schedule of events at the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory, concluding a gorgeous day of cross country where the Thoroughbred reigned supreme.

The outcome of Breeders' Cup World Championship races will set the value of Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Citizen Bull. Meanwhile, Justify continues to lead the Ashford Stud roster at $200,000.

New York-bred Horse of the Year My Mane Squeeze headlines Saturday’s Empire Showcase card. Coglianese Photo.

One of the biggest and best events on the New York racing calendar arrives Saturday with the annual Empire Showcase Day program.

The 11-race Showcase card features nine stakes, an increase from the previous eight with the addition of the $200,000 New York Turf Sprint Championship going 6 furlongs. All the other staples of Empire Showcase Day return, including the co-featured $250,000 Empire Classic and $250,000 Empire Distaff. All told the day will be worth $2,018,000 in purses.

Everything starts at 12:10 p.m. ET and the Sleepy Holly Stakes for 2-year-olds leads it off.

The team at The Saratoga Special and This Is Horse Racing also returns with another edition of The Empire Showcase Special to celebrate all things New York-bred. Here’s to a safe and successful event. Cheers.

Enjoy Showcase Day at Equestris Restaurant

New York-bred owners and breeders with entrants on the Empire Showcase card are eligible for a $60 discount per adult (ages 13+) and $30 per child (ages 3–12) for the Equestris Restaurant buffet.

Offering breathtaking views with floor-to-ceiling windows, Equestris is Aqueduct’s premier venue for horsemen, owners and breeders. The perfect place to experience the excitement of the day in comfort and style. Guests will enjoy a premium buffet while taking in the 11-race Empire Showcase Day card. Premium buffet includes tax and gratuity.

Reservations can be made through NYRA’s Horsemen’s liaison, Davis Klein at DKlein@nyrainc.com or via the NYRA website using promo code PADDOCK to activate the discount. For additional assistance, contact NYRA’s Horsemen’s Relations Department at (718) 659-2206.

 

Worth Repeating

“Empire Showcase Day is the premier fall championship event for New York breeding and racing. With nine New York-bred stakes on the card, including the addition of the New York Turf Sprint Championship, the day highlights the remarkable depth, talent and competitiveness of horses bred in the Empire State. We’re proud to partner with NYRA and the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund to showcase our leading horses, breeders, owners and connections who continue to elevate our program each year.”
Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.

“He’s a legend in the New York breeding ranks. We asked him to stay in, and he agreed and it’s worked out well. If things continue to work out, Iron Dome could be a top 5, top 10 horse [nationally] next year.”
L and N Racing’s Michael Levinson on Chester Broman, breeder and co-owner of Empire Classic contender Iron Dome

“He’s a great big horse and keeps his weight on. He’s been sound since Day 1. At Remington they said he weighed over 1,300 pounds, so a big horse like that it’s going to take him some time to get going. He’s probably a little smaller than Mr. Buff, but there’s a lot to him. He’s a big horse.”
Levinson on Iron Dome

Bank Frenzy returns for another run in the Empire Classic Saturday at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo/Chelsea Durand.

“He’s doing great. I’m just very pleased the owners gave me the chance to back off a little bit [and target this race]. Day by day, we just keep him happy and healthy and hopefully everything goes good. He’s very happy.”
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez on Bank Frenzy, last year’s champion New York-bred older dirt male who runs in the $250,000 Empire Classic. He’s been off since the July 31 John Morrissey at Saratoga

“She was so brilliant as a 2-year-old and we were so excited. It’s been such a long wait to get her back to the races, so you just have to sit there and hope that she shows up. There’s no guarantees, but she was the champion New York 2-year-old filly and she showed up today.”
Trainer Linda Rice after last year’s champion With the Angels made a successful comeback Oct. 16 at Aqueduct

“She just breezed in :50 and galloped out in 1:02, and she looked pretty good. I babied her after the first race back when she finished second, and I didn’t breeze her for the second race [Athenia]. I think right now she’s where I want her to be.”
Trainer Jorge Abreu on Moonage Daydream, back to defend her title in the Ticonderoga after a fifth in the Athenia Sept. 14

“The New York breeding program is strong. He’s doing well and came out of his race really good. He’ll have one work in between, which will be (Oct. 26), and then he’ll ship to Del Mar on Saturday. All systems go as of right now.”
Trainer Will Walden on New York-bred Grade 1 winner Rhetorical, a major contender for next weekend’s Breeders’ Cup Mile

 

By the Numbers

92: New York-breds entered for Saturday’s 11-race Empire Showcase Day card at Aqueduct.

1.9 million: Dollars in stakes purses offered on Showcase Day.

7: Runners entered by trainer Mike Maker, including last year’s New York-bred Horse of the Year My Mane Squeeze in the Iroquois.

5: Entries apiece for trainers Jorge Abreu, Horacio De Paz and Linda Rice.

5: Runners bred or co-bred by Sequel Stallions/Sequel Thoroughbreds.

4: Runners sired by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds’ Solomini.

4: Runners bred or co-bred by Fred Hertrich III.

3: Entrants bred by Chester and Mary Broman.

3: Entrants bred by Lawrence Goichman.

3: War Dancer-sired runners in the New York Turf Sprint Championship – Twenty Six Black, Waralo and Dancing Buck.

704: Number of live foals projected for New York in 2025 by The Jockey Club, third most of any state.

4.8: Percentage increase in the number of New York foals in 2025 compared to 2024. The Jockey Club reported 672 foals in 2024.

2: States ranked in the top 10 of foal producers showing an increase from 2024 to 2025. New York and New Mexico, which showed a 0.8 percent gain, hold that distinction.

192: Mares bred in 2025 to Bucchero, tops in New York and 16th most in North America.

113: Mares bred in 2025 to New York-bred Horse of the Year Americanrevolution, second most in the state.

29: New York-based stallions who bred at least one more in 2025.

 

How to watch

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

 

As for the races …

Race 1. Sleepy Hollow Stakes. $200,000, 2-year-olds, 1 mile. Post time 12:10 p.m.
Kick things off with the first of nine stakes. Field of six entered includes Bravaro and Funny Cide Stakes runner-up Fourth and One, who finished second to Bravaro in Sept. 28 maiden race.

The Wine Steward, here winning the Fifth Season in late January at Oaklawn, returns to New York-bred company in the Hudson. Coady Photography/Renee Torbit

Race 2. Hudson Stakes. $200,000, 3-year-olds and up, 6 1/2 furlongs. Post time 12:41.
The Wine Steward returns to the state-bred ranks and shortens up looking for his first win since late January. Second in the John Morrissey going 7 furlongs at Saratoga, Grade 1-placed son of Vino Rosso could won his only other two tries against New York-breds back in 2023. Vettriano sports 4-for-5 record at Aqueduct. Hit the Post shortened up and shipped to Finger Lakes for much needed win last time. He could be a player taking on older horses for the first time.

Race 3. New York Turf Sprint Championship Stakes. $200,000, 3-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs, turf. Post time 1:12.
New event added to the lineup for 2025 attracts field of seven led by open stakes winners Senbei, Twenty Six Black, Dancing Buck and Bold Journey. Twenty Six Black won the Disco Partner on closing weekend at Saratoga before a third in the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint, while Bold Journey exits a runner-up finish in the Belmont Turf Sprint. Solid field also includes Waralo, the winner of three of four on the turf, with a second in his last start.

Race 4. Maid of the Mist Stakes. $200,000, 2-year-olds, fillies, 1 mile. Post time 1:43.
Field of eight includes Liberty’s Advance, runner-up in the Lady Finger Stakes in her debut last time out for Charlton Baker; Victory Hall, who brings 2-for-3 record and makes first start for trainer John Ortiz; and impressive Aqueduct maiden winner Letmecounttheways for trainer Mike Maker.

Race 5. Maiden claiming. $38,000, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 6 1/2 furlongs, claiming price $30,000. Post time 2:16.
Ten runners for short break in the stakes action.

Race 6. Mohawk Stakes. $200,000, 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/16 miles, turf. Post time 2:49.
First grass event of the day and group of eight and a main track only runner. Here’s hoping it stays dry and on the turf. With Rhetorical headed to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup it’s time for the locals to make some hay. Sounds Like a Plan has put together a strong season with 2-1-2 record in six starts, including back-to-back wins on the course for Horacio De Paz. Others in the mix have stakes experience, including Cab Calloway winner George Briggs, West Point third-place finisher Conman and Kingston third Itsallcomintogetha.

Kay Cup takes on seven other fillies and mares in the Empire Distaff. Coglianese Photo/Chelsea Durand.

Race 7. Empire Distaff Stakes. $250,000, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 1/8 miles. Post time 3:21.
Vehemente, Kay Cup and Valtellina – the first three finishers in the Fleet Indian – take on older foes in co-featured event. Boxed Win, the winner of her last two starts including the Jack Betta Be Rite Stakes Oct. 13 at Finger Lakes, leads the older contingent that also includes multiple stakes winner Bernietakescharge.

Race 8. Iroquois Stakes. $200,000, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 6 1/2 furlongs. Post time 3:53.
Multiple graded stakes winner and 2024 New York-bred Horse of the Year My Mane Squeeze looks to rebound from eased finish in Grade 1 Ballerina in late August at Saratoga. Buck Butler’s homebred daughter of Audible has won three of five at Aqueduct, including three stakes during her juvenile and sophomore campaigns. Strong field also includes last year’s Empire Distaff runner-up Sterling Silver and multiple stakes winners Sunday Girl, Stonewall Star and Stone Smuggler.

Race 9. Ticonderoga Stakes. $200,000, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles, turf. Post time 4:24.
Moonage Daydream returns to defend title that helped her lock up champion New York-bred turf female honors last year. Chris Larsen’s homebred Candy Ride mare comes in with a second to fellow Ticonderoga contender Awesome Czech in the Yaddo and a fifth in the Athenia last month. Awesome Czech sports strong record this year – 2-1-2 in five starts – and looks for her own title. Spinning Colors figures to bring her front-running game again from the rail with new rider Dylan Davis.

Albany winner Iron Dome looms large in the Empire Classic. Coglianese Photo.

Race 10. Empire Classic Stakes. $250,000, 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles. Post time 4:53.
The headliner and co-feature closes the stakes portion of the card. Iron Dome dominated three starts at Saratoga, including the Albany, then finished a good second in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby. Now the 3-year-old son of Into Mischief returns to native state for return engagement against older foes Bank Frenzy, Doc Sullivan, Chief Liam and others.

Race 11. Maiden special weight. $80,000, 3-year-olds and up, 1 mile, turf. Post time 5:22.
Field of 10 closes the card. Will it finally be graduation day for New York Scrappy, Askingforafriend, Oat Coutour and Inspeightofcharlie, who have all come close at least once? Or will Dormello rebound from disappointing run at 5-2 in debut in mid-August at Saratoga Race Course? Answer some questions and make some dinner money.

The post The 2025 Empire Showcase Special appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Edited Press Release

Darby Dan Farm has set 2026 stud fees for its roster of 11 stallions that will stand the upcoming breeding season, led by Blazing Sevens, Flameaway, and Dialed In, who will each stand for $10,000 S&N.

Blazing Sevens, winner of the stallion-making GI Champagne Stakes at two and runner-up by just a head to subsequent Eclipse Award-winning champion older male National Treasure (Quality Road) in the GI Preakness Stakes, hails from the first crop of leading sire Good Magic.

Blazing Sevens broke his maiden at Saratoga in his career bow, winning by 6 1/4 lengths and earning 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard status. Also at two, he finished a rallying third in the GI Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga and overcame a troubled start in the Champagne, covering ground on the far turn before drawing off to win by 3 1/4 lengths for trainer Chad Brown. Demand for Blazing Sevens was strong in his debut season at stud. He displayed excellent fertility, breeding 139 mares and his first foals will arrive in 2026.

Flameaway is making a major impact as a stallion and is a leading cumulative third-crop sire this year. A multiple graded stakes-winning son of the prolific Scat Daddy and his only son at stud to win stakes at two, three, and four, Flameaway is represented by Bear River, victorious in the $2-million GII Kentucky Turf Sprint Stakes and a candidate for next weekend's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. In his “Win and You're In” Kentucky Turf Sprint Stakes score, Bear River set all the pace and defeated a contentious international field while sizzling six furlongs in a swift 1:07.71.

Flameaway is also represented this year by 2-year-old filly Amada Mila (Chi), a Group 1 winner in her native Chile; and Dark Saffron, who became the first 3-year-old in history to defeat elders in the $2-million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse. Among the horses Dark Saffron vanquished in that lucrative fixture was champion sprinter and last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Dialed In has been a leading sire since earning the title of champion freshman of 2016. He continues to sire top-tier runners, highlighted in 2025 by Whatchatalkinabout, who showed his grit with a determined victory in the GIII John A. Nerud Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A ahead of a third in the GII Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland. Overall, Dialed In is the sire of 76 black-type horses, 29 stakes winners and more than $57 million in progeny earnings in his career.

Modernist, a son of the late Uncle Mo and a graded stakes winner at three and four, including the Risen Star Stakes (G2) as a sophomore, is represented eight winners from his first-crop runners in 2025. Among them are Trendsetter, an impressive debut maiden special weight winner; multiple stakes-placed Grazie, designated a 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard off a 4 1/2-length maiden special weight victory on debut at Saratoga and third in both the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes and Seeking the Ante Stakes; and Last Candy, third in the Illinois Debutante Stakes. In the auction ring, first 2-year-olds by Modernist caught the eye, commanding up to $310,000 (Grazie), and $300,000 (Embry Show).

DARBY DAN FARM — 2026 STUD FEES
Bee Jersey (Jersey Town), $5,000
Blazing Sevens (Good Magic), $10,000
Country House (Lookin At Lucky), $5,000
Dialed In (Mineshaft), $10,000
Flameaway (Scat Daddy), $10,000
Gufo (Declaration of War), $5,000
Modernist (Uncle Mo), $5,000
Shirl's Speight (Speightstown), $5,000
Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat), $5,000
Tale of Silence (Tale of the Cat), $2,500
Title Ready (More Than Ready), $2,500

The post Darby Dan Trio To Stand For $10K in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

An overflow field of 3-year-old fillies is set to face the starter for Friday' GII Bank of America Valley View Stakes on the final couple of days of racing at the Keeneland Fall Meet. For bettors, the 8 1/2-furlong feature, which carries purse money of $400,000 (including KTDF money), seems like a true 'spread' race.

Minnesota-bred Play With Fire (Oscar Performance) looms a logical favorite to give Chad Brown his second Valley View winner in the space of three years (Surge Capacity, 2023). Acquired privately from Fergus Galvin and trainer Brendan Walsh after taking Pimlico's Hilltop Stakes in May, the bay finished second–behind a pair of loose leaders–at Saratoga over the summer, first to Classic Q (Classic Empire) in the Listed Wild Applause Stakes July 3 and then behind May Day Ready (Tapit), who got away with a soft pace to win the Aug. 23 GII Lake Placid Stakes.

Juddmonte homebred Tabiti (GB) (Kingman {GB}) won three of her five starts overseas for Ralph Beckett, including a share of the spoils in the G3 Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood July 30. She gave a sound account of herself when third to GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint aspirant and 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Shisospicy (Mitole) in the 6 1/2-furlong GII Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs last month and has her first run here for Brad Cox.

Those shopping for rougher chances have plenty of options. The Walsh-conditioned Somethinabouther (Mendelssohn) outran her 16-1 odds to be second in the GIII Ontario Colleen Stakes July 26 and exits a third in a soft-ground renewal of the Listed Old Dominion Oaks at Colonial Sept. 6. Reigning Flowers (Midnight Storm) got home hard to be third in the blanket finish in the Lake Placid and may not have handled the undulations of Kentucky Downs when well-beaten in the GIII Dueling Grounds Oaks last time. And Will Walden, who sent out Rhetorical (Not This Time) to take out the GI Coolmore Turf Mile a few weeks ago, saddles turf debutante Sturgeon Moon (Instagrand). The bay, third to next out Grade I winner Clicquot (Quality Road) in the GIII Indiana Oaks, annexed the Aug. 10 Listed Audubon Oaks in good style and if looking deep in her pedigree, hails from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winners Banks Hill (GB) and Intercontinental (GB).

The post Valley View Seems Ripe For An Upset appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Hip 932, a colt by Yaupon bred by 3C Stables, sold for $220,000 Wednesday at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Mulholland Springs.

A trio of New York-breds sold for six figures as the strong demand continued during the third session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale Wednesday in Lexington.

Returns for New York-breds increased for the second straight day Wednesday as Fasig-Tipton reported sales on 32 of the 38 New York-breds through the ring for a total of $1,317,000, an average price of $41,156 and median of $25,000.

Overall, 81 New York-breds have sold for $3,044,500, an average price of $37,586 and median of $25,000. The buyback rate for New York-breds comes in at 21.4 percent through the first three sessions.

The highest-priced New York-bred of the sale sold during Wednesday’s session when trainer Mike Maker went to $220,000 for Hip 932, a colt by Yaupon out of the Mulholland Springs consignment.

Bred by 3C Stables LLC and foaled at Hidden Lake Farm in Stillwater, the colt is the second foal out of the Tiznow mare Acushla. She’s out of the Footstepsinthesand mare Sabel Browne, the dam of Imprint, who produced stakes-placed winner Ivory and Ebony. The Yaupon colt originally did not sell on a bid of $65,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Hip 983, a daughter of Golden Pal bred by Edmund C. Young, brought the top price for a New York-bred filly Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Colin Brennan Bloodstock at Highlander Training Center.

Hip 983, a daughter of Golden Pal from the family of New York-based stallion King for a Day, brought the session’s top price for a New York-bred filly. Mike Ryan, agent, signed the $190,000 ticket for the filly that also is the top-priced New York-bred filly so far at the sale.

Bred by Edmund C. Young and foaled at Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater, the filly is the third foal out of the unraced Orb mare Angelic Spirit. Consigned by Colin Brennan Bloodstock at Highlander Training Center, agent for Loves Equine Stables, the filly originally sold for $80,000 to Horsin Around at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale.

Angelic Spirit is the dam of four-time winner Steel Curtain and the 2-year-old Mo Town filly Indy Mo. She’s also the dam of a weanling filly by Mo Donegal.

HTC/Voric Stables purchased the session’s third six-figure yearling, going to $120,000 for Hip 960, a filly by Omaha Beach. Bred by Charlie F. Engel and consigned by Knockgriffin Farm, agent, the filly is out of the Distorted Humor mare Alma Llanera. She’s the dam of New York-bred winners Holiday Jazz and Artistic Success and the unraced Kentucky-bred 2-year-old Tiz the Law colt Cop a Plea who sold for $110,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale.

Hip 906, a daughter of Mind Control that sold for $35,000, brought the day’s top price for a yearling by a New York-based stallion. Photo courtesy of Hunter Valley Farm.

Hip 906, a daughter of Mind Control, landed the day’s top price for a yearling by a New York-based stallion on a bid of $35,000 from Grassroots Training and Sales.

Bred by Fazio Stables LLC and Red Oak Stable LLC, foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs and consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, the filly is out of the unraced Candy Ride mare Wy Not Candy. She’s the dam of winners Shanghai Candy and Sweet Spite and a 2-year-old New York-bred filly by Central Banker, who was co-bred by Fazio Stables and McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds LLC.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Mind Control, a 9-year-old son of Stay Thirsty out of the Lightnin N Thunder mare Feel That Fire, stands for $8,000 at Rockridge Stud in Hudson.

The sale concludes with the final session at 10 a.m. Thursday.

The post New York-bred momentum continues at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale blazed through its penultimate session Wednesday in Lexington with frenetic bidding from start to finish producing a $72,127 average that was nearly 47% higher than the figure from the corresponding session a year ago. At the conclusion of the session, the three-day average of $64,772 is 24.1% ahead of the 2024 record figure of $52,206. And with a full session to go, the total gross of $53,177,500 is just $5.398 million off last year's total sale record gross of $58,575,500.

“It was a fantastic day,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There were dramatic increases in the average price and in gross sales. I walked to the back walking ring with the last horse in the ring and it was full and he brings $200,000. There was great trade and great activity throughout the day. It's fun selling in the marketplace like it is right now.”

Through three sessions, 201 horses have failed to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 19.7%. It was 18.0% at this same point a year ago.

“I think we are seeing the result of both buyers and sellers having more confidence in the October sale and the quality continues to improve year after year,” Browning said. “The performance of the sales graduates continues to improve on the racetrack year after year and thus you are able to see results that continue to improve as well year after year. As I said after the first session, I don't know which is the likely breakout day or the day with the most top horses. I hope we haven't had it yet, we will see what happens tomorrow. But we are obviously thrilled with the results from today and from the first three days.”

“It's fun selling in a marketplace like it is right now.”@btbrowning recaps the third session of the Kentucky October Yearlings sale. pic.twitter.com/lkP2YFyljc

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 22, 2025

A colt by Candy Ride (Arg) attracted the highest bid of Wednesday's session when DJ Stable's Jon Green, bidding over the internet, went to $850,000 to acquire the yearling from the Gainesway consignment.

“It's strong. It's really strong,” Green said of the market. “It's just a continuation of what happened in the summer at Saratoga and at the New York-Bred sale and all the way through the Keeneland September sale. It's not just the good horses that are bringing a lot of money, it's all horses that are bringing more money than what we had anticipated a year or two ago. I think there are a lot of factors that play into that, but mostly it shows that economically, as an investment, the horse industry is no longer just a luxury item industry. It's actually a real commodity industry.”

The Fasig-Tipton October sale concludes with a final session beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday.

'He Wowed Us': $850k Candy Ride Colt to DJ Stable

A colt by Candy Ride (Arg) (hip 843) became the second-highest offering of the week when selling for $850,000 to the internet bid of the Green family's DJ Stable. The yearling is out of the unraced Unrivaled Princess (Tapit), a daughter of GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song) and a full-sister to champion Unique Bella. Consigned by Gainesway, he was bred by Marsha Naify's Liberty Road Stables, which purchased Unrivaled Princess for $210,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November sale.

Hip 843 c. CANDY RIDE (ARG) o/o Unrivaled Princess sells for $850,000 at Kentucky October Yearlings.

B: @DJ_Stable
C: @Gainesway, agt
Br: Liberty Road Stables#FasigKY @JonGreen2022 @LanesEndFarms pic.twitter.com/LgoCc77n4v

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 22, 2025

“I think this colt looks more like a Gun Runner than he does a Candy Ride,” Jon Green said by phone shortly after purchasing the colt. “He's balanced, he's a great mover and he just wowed us from the first moment that our consultant, Kim Valerio, pointed him out to us. This colt has been on our radar almost the entire week.”

In addition to Valerio, the yearling had the stamp of approval from trainer Mark Casse.

“Mark Casse and Kim Valerio very rarely say to us, 'This is the horse to buy,' but they both independently came to the same conclusion,” Green said. “It wasn't, 'Hey, this is a nice colt' or 'He's an A-,' or 'This is a horse that maybe you want to acquire.' Both of them said to us, in no uncertain terms, if you are coming to this sale with the idea of buying a top two-turn colt, the list begins and ends with this horse.”

Of his determination to keep bidding on the colt, Green said, “The Candy Rides have proven to be such value over his career and he is starting to be at the tail end of his career from a stallion standpoint. So we felt confident that buying a Candy Ride would be worth the money. He will prove whether or not we were right in a year or two. But if you are going to spend this kind of money on a colt, in my estimation, it better be by one of the top five stallions that are out there. Whether it's Candy Ride, Gun Runner, Not This Time, Nyquist, Into Mischief. It's got to be a son of one of those five or six stallions to warrant raising your hand at this price point.”

$550k Good Magic Colt Destined for Cox Barn

A colt by Good Magic (hip 1143) topped Libyan bloodstock agent Mahmud Mouni's shopping list Wednesday when selling for $550,000. The yearling was bred and consigned by the O'Callaghans' Woods Edge Farm.

 

Hip 1143 c. GOOD MAGIC o/o Carats and Cake sells for $550,000 at Kentucky October Yearlings.

B: Mahmud Mouni
C: Woods Edge Farm, agt
Br: Woods Edge Farm#FasigKY @HillnDaleFarm pic.twitter.com/FQ6tHElaDU

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 22, 2025

 

“Honestly, we did not expect [the price],” Mouni said. “But he deserved it. Good Magic is a super stallion. The colt looks like a nice horse with amazing conformation and the pedigree is fantastic. We are so lucky to get the horse and I hope we have success with him in the future.”

The colt is out of Carats and Cake (Bernardini) and from the family of graded winners Lewis Bay, Misconnect and Winslow Homer. Woods Edge purchased the mare, with the colt in utero, for $155,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November sale.

The colt is expected to be trained by Brad Cox, according to Mouni.

“We chose the horse specifically for [Cox],” Mouni said. “He put the horse on our list. He gave us a list of horses he liked.”

Also on Wednesday, Mouni, who has been purchasing horses for the Tagermeen Racing partnership for a year now, acquired a colt by Justify (hip 1122) for $460,000. That yearling, out of Call to Service (To Honor and Serve), is a half-brother to Grade I-placed The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso). He was bred by Coteau Grove Farms.

Mouni, who purchased a $500,000 colt by Into Mischief (hip 579) Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton, also purchased a colt by Medaglia d'Oro (hip 1033) from the Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services consignment Wednesday.

Mahmud Mouni | Fasig-Tipton

Mouni began buying for the Tagermeen partnership at last year's October sale. The operation had its first winner when the 2-year-old Dandona (Tiz the Law), a $1.05-million OBS April purchase, broke her maiden in her debut at Gulfstream for trainer Saffie Joseph in August. Froutien (Galilean) graduated in September at Aqueduct for trainer Todd Pletcher and Baaeed Alynna (Good Magic) was third while making his debut in the Oct. 12 Display Stakes at Woodbine for trainer Kevin Attard.

'One of My Favorite Sires': Nyquist Yearlings in Demand

A pair of yearlings by Nyquist, selling within hips of each other, attracted plenty of admirers, with April Mayberry going to $500,000 for a filly by the GI Kentucky Derby winner (hip 861) on behalf of CRK Stables just minutes before Justin Casse and Megan Jones went to $425,000 for a colt (hip 869) on behalf of Belmar & Pine.

“Nyquist is one of my favorite sires,” Mayberry said after signing the ticket on hip 861.

The filly is out of Violencia (Violence), whose 2-year-old daughter Mackinac (Twirling Candy) recently broke her maiden in a Kentucky Downs allowance for BBN Racing and trainer Rusty Arnold.

Hip 861 f. NYQUIST o/o Violencia sells for $500,000 at Kentucky October Yearlings.

B: Mayberry Farm
C: Blandford Stud, agt
Br: Manitou Farm#FasigKY @DarleyStallions @PadraigCampion pic.twitter.com/i8agDFbLZr

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 22, 2025

“She's a big, beautiful filly,” Mayberry said of the yearling. “She's so pretty. I broke the sister for BBN and I love her. Hopefully she will keep on going for them. So there was a lot to like, between knowing the family, and Nyquist, and her physical.”

The filly was bred by Manitou Farm and was consigned by Padraig Campion's Blandford Stud.

“Delighted,” Campion said of the result. “She was a lovely filly. She deserved to bring that much. She was very balanced with a lot of class. She's a beautiful mover. We will be reading about her.”

Summerfield Yearlings Pay Dividends

A pair of yearlings from Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield consignment rewarded a pinhooking partnership when going through the ring at Fasig-Tipton Wednesday for the second time this year.

First up, a colt by Vekoma (hip 828) sold for $200,000 to the bid of Shenzi Bloodstock. The colt was purchased for $45,000 at the OBS Winter sale in January.

“He grew into a beautiful colt,” Francis Vanlangendonck said. “And of course, the sire has done exceptionally well. He looked like the good ones.”

Later in Wednesday's session of the auction, a filly by Violence (hip 895) sold for $200,000 to Mike Rutherford. The yearling had been purchased for $25,000 at the Fasig-Tipton February sale.

“She was a beautiful filly as a weanling, but a little small,” said Vanlangendonck. “She grew real well and that's what made the difference. Everything was there. They just got lucky and she grew the way they wanted her to.”

Of the filly's final price, Vanlangendonck said, “We didn't think she would bring that much. But once we saw the caliber of people who were interested in her, we thought she would sell awful well. And she looks like a quality filly. Time was what she needed.”

 

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A new four-story structure called Victory Run, which will include private suites, indoor and outdoor dining, and covered box seating, will be built on the first turn of the Churchill Downs Racetrack, according to a release from Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) Wednesday afternoon. To be built between the First Turn Club and the Skye Terrace, it will replace approximately 6,400 uncovered, ground-level box seats and dining areas with a new space for approximately 7,800 guests. CDI anticipates the project will cost between $280 million and $300 million.

“We are excited to unveil the Victory Run project for Churchill Downs Racetrack,” said CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen. “This project will create a greatly improved experience for our guests in an important section of our racetrack while delivering long-term growth and value for our shareholders.”

Construction is slated to begin following the 2026 edition of the GI Kentucky Derby with temporary seating in the area expected for the 2027 Derby and construction complete prior to the 2028 Derby.

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With international sire star Justify leading the way, as well as four future stallions all set to run in next week's Breeders' Cup World Championships, Coolmore America's Ashford Stud released fees for the Central Kentucky farm's 2026 stallion roster Wednesday afternoon.

Heading the roster is 2018 Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner Justify, who will stand for $200,000 next season. With his fourth crop racing now, Justify has 27 graded winners and 52 black-type winners, including U.S. and Australian champions, as well as British, Irish, and French highweights.

In addition to established multiple Grade I-producing sires like Practical Joke ($75,000) and Munnings ($45,000), as well as a number of young sires, Ashford has four stallions who will have their first runners next year: Corniche ($15,000), Epicenter ($25,000), Jack Christopher ($15,000), and Golden Pal ($25,000).

Three future Ashford stallions will clash in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 1: Fierceness (City of Light), Journalism (Curlin), and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), while Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) will contest the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on the same day. Citizen Bull, Fierceness, and Sierra Leone are all previous Breeders' Cup winners, Eclipse champions, and 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard', while Journalism is a Classic winner and multiple Grade I winner this year. The fees for all four will be determined at a later date, with Journalism the only one who hasn't officially been announced as ready to retire following the 2025 racing season. That decision will be made in conjunction with Aron Wellman and partners after the Breeders' Cup.

“With the three new stallion prospects set to retire for 2026 all lining up at the Breeders' Cup, there is a great sense of anticipation here,” said Coolmore America's Director of Sales Charlie O'Connor.

“Last year's one-two Sierra Leone and Fierceness renew their rivalry in the Classic, and we, along with all our partners, will also be watching 'iron horse' Journalism with great interest. We believe Citizen Bull has been working very well in the lead-up to the Dirt Mile.

“All three new horses are Eclipse Award winners, following in the footsteps of Ashford stalwarts like Thunder Gulch, Uncle Mo, American Pharoah, and our flagship sire Justify, who completed a clean sweep of the colts' Classics in Britain this year, with Ruling Court and Scandinavia adding to City of Troy's Epsom Derby triumph in 2024.”

O'Connor continued: “Corniche, Epicenter, Jack Christopher, and Golden Pal all had their first yearlings hit the sales this summer and fall, and each was very well received.

“All things considered, we feel our combination of established sires and emerging talent represent excellent value in today's marketplace.”

The entire Coolmore America stallion roster for 2026, with fees, is as follows:

• Citizen Bull: TBD
• Corniche: $15,000
• Domestic Product: $25,000
• Echo Town: $5,000
• Epicenter: $25,000
• Fierceness: TBD
• Golden Pal: $25,000
• Gunite: $25,000
• Jack Christopher: $15,000
• Journalism: TBD
• Justify: $200,000
• Mo Town: $7,500
• Munnings: $45,000
• Practical Joke: $75,000
• Sierra Leone: TBD
• Tiz the Law: $30,000

Ashford stalwart American Pharoah will stand in Japan for the 2026 season, as has been previously announced.

 

The post ‘Flagship Sire Justify’ Anchors Coolmore America’s 2026 Roster at $200K appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Matt Laurie is confident doubting punters will see the real Treasurethe Moment in the Oct. 25 Cox Plate (G1) at Moonee Valley Racecourse, where the competition includes last year's winner Via Sistina, also owned by Yulong.

A talented assemblage of New York-breds lines up to compete in nine different stakes on Empire Classic day Oct. 25 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 2025 fall meet marks the final racing season for Keeneland arboriculture manager Charlie Hobbs, who has worked at the Lexington track for 44 years.

For the fourth year in a row more than 200 pre-entries have been accepted for the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Breeders' Cup unveils the official race order, post times, and wagering menu for the 42nd Breeders' Cup World Championships Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.