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Longtime equine tax attorney Richard Craigo died Oct. 6 in Los Angeles, Calif. He was 91.

An Into Mischief filly that initially was listed as reserve not attained on final bid of $290,000 Oct. 8 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearling Sale has sold post-sale for $275,000 to become the sale topper.

Jack Davison is set to saddle his first runner at the Breeders' Cup as he targets stable star She's Quality at the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) following a third in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) Oct. 5.

Following an Oct. 11 work at Keeneland, BBN Racing and trainer Vicki Oliver are considering a start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar for Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner Bracket Buster.

With a powerful late move to close out the $400,000 Sycamore Stakes (G2T), Desvio delivered a stunning victory in the 1 1/2-mile turf test while providing a milestone win for many of his connections Oct. 10 at Keeneland.

After Lovesick Blues won the July 26 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, owner-trainer Librado Barocio's initial idea was for the California-bred gelding to train up to the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. Further contemplation changed that plan.

Cavalieri (Nyquist), the undefeated filly who figured to be one of the top choices in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, will pass the race, reports trainer Bob Baffert.

Baffert made the announcement while being interviewed on FanDuel TV on Friday by Joaquin Jaime. Baffert did not give Jaime many details.

Cavalieri is undefeated in five starts and her 5-for-5 record includes a win in the GI Beholder Mile and the GII Zenyatta Stakes, which was supposed to be her final tuneup before the Breeders' Cup.

Baffert did tell Horse Racing Nation that Cavalieri will not be retired.

With 2024 Distaff winner Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) also unlikely to start in this year's Distaff, the roll of favorite may fall to another Baffert-trained horse, Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo). The Maryland-bred is coming off a win in the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes.

The post Cavalieri Out Of Breeders’ Cup Distaff appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Leading Horse of the Year candidate Sovereignty (Into Mischief) continued his preparations for the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a strong gallop on a brisk Saturday morning at Saratoga.

“He'll breeze tomorrow, then hopefully one more time before he leaves,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said back by his barn during the break. “We've been on schedule. We mapped out a little, potential schedule for him and it's gone pretty well so far. He's been doing great.”

With the rising sun, morning mist and fall foliage providing a magnificent backdrop over the Oklahoma, the GI Kentucky Derby, GI Belmont Stakes and GI Travers Stakes winner began to make his way to the track beneath exercise rider Jimmy Quispe at 6:45 a.m.

The striking Godolphin 3-year-old homebred had a nice bounce to his step jogging the outer rail while ponied by longtime Mott assistant and his regular work rider Neil Poznansky.

Given plenty of time to take in the scene–can you blame him?–with the boss watching nearby from the rail, Sovereignty broke away from the pony with good energy on the backstretch and galloped under a nice hold while displaying those massive strides of his three weeks out from the main event at Del Mar.

Sovereignty out for a spin over the Oklahoma at sunrise Saturday pic.twitter.com/UKHLAYLChz

— Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 11, 2025

Sovereignty has breezed four times since his 10-length Travers romp over next-out GIII Oklahoma Derby winner Bracket Buster (Vekoma), including a pair of five-furlong breezes in 1:02.82 Sept. 28 (3/3) and in 1:01.44 (1/1) Oct. 5. His latter move was his first in company, breezing with 3-year-old stablemate Playa Del Mar (Into Mischief), a last-out maiden winner at Ellis Park Aug. 22. He'll have company again tomorrow, Mott said.

“It was funny,” Poznansky said. “He worked in 1:02 4/5 the other day and Bill commented, 'You know, that was Cigar. Every time you worked him five-eighths by himself, 1:02 4/5… 1:02 4/5.' He said that (Hall of Fame rider Jerry) Bailey tried to shake him up one morning and all Cigar did was throw his head at him! Sovereignty doesn't quite do that. But he's kinda the same way.”

Mott nodded his head and added of the once-in-a-lifetime Cigar, “1:02 and change. 1:03, that was it.”

Mott continued, “(Sovereignty)'s not what you'd call a brilliant work horse. I've had horses that breeze like–whew, look at that! He does his work, but he only does what he has to do. He gives you the impression that there's probably more there. You work him with another and he hits the wire, and he's like, 'Ok, I'm done.'”

Sovereignty was still a maiden at this time a year ago before graduating with authority while making his two-turn debut in the GIII Street Sense S. at third asking at Churchill Downs Oct. 27. He was highlighted in these same pages following a late-running debut fourth on the Travers card last summer.

Sovereignty | Sherackatthetrack

“Just watching his first race, even though he was fourth, it was pretty impressive for a horse finishing fourth,” Mott said. “It was an impressive fourth if there is such a thing.”

Sovereignty will ship to Southern California Oct. 22 and have his final breeze for the Classic at Del Mar, per Mott.

The mouth-watering line-up for the $7-million centerpiece could potentially feature a rematch between last year's top three finishers Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), Fierceness (City of Light) and Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}); two-time Grade I winner in 2025 Mindframe (Constitution); record-setting GI Santa Anita Handicap winner Locked (Gun Runner); and top sophomores Journalism (Curlin) and Baeza (McKinzie). Sierra Leone, Fierceness, Mindframe and Locked are all 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard.'

“If they all turn up healthy and well, it will be a Classic for the ages,” Godolphin USA Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said by phone from Kentucky.

The post Sunrise at the Spa with Sovereignty appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

3rd-Keeneland, $120,000, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($100,000), 10-11, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:45.94, ft, 1/2 length.
RANCHO SANTA FE (c, 2, Tapit–Family Tree {MGSW & GISP, $733,387}, by Smart Strike) ran his record to two wins from as many trips to the races with a cozy success in a two-turn allowance Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.

A debut winner going the one-mile configuration at Ellis Park on Aug. 24 and thereby possessing a key experience advantage over favored Infiltrate (Oscar Performance), who was trying a route of ground for the first time, the 23-10 second pick was bustled along soon after the break by Florent Geroux to take up a forward position and was forced a bit wide into the first turn by a wayward rival to his inside.

Trapped out four off the inside passing the five-eighths, the homebred advanced a few positions and was at the hind quarters of Infiltrate entering the second turn. Rancho Santa Fe drifted out to his right at the quarter pole, forcing Geroux to go to the crop, and was vigorously ridden as the chalk clung to the lead turning for home, but he was kept to his task and had a margin of about 3/4 of a length at the line.

A half-brother to Heroic Move (Quality Road), GSW-USA, SP-Can, $941,381, the Feb. 19 foal is one of three winners from three to race out of Family Tree, winner of the GII Indiana Oaks and GIII Iowa Oaks and third in the GI Alabama Stakes in 2016. The stakes-winning second dam Giant Mover (Giant's Causeway) also produced Grade II-winning juvenile filly Liora (Candy Ride {Arg}), subsequently runner-up in the 2019 GI Kentucky Oaks. The colt's third dam is MGSW & MGISP Gold Mover (Gold Fever).

Family Tree has a yearling Medaglia d'Oro colt and was most recently bred to Practical Joke. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $130,707. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Gary & Mary West; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc (KY); T-Brad H Cox.

 

RANCHO SANTA FE ($6.60) is 2 for 2 after after taking Race 3 at @keenelandracing under @flothejock. The son of Tapit (@Gainesway) is trained by @bradcoxracing and owned by Gary and Mary West.

Watch live coverage from Keeneland on @FanDuelTV, presented by @TMStallions. pic.twitter.com/12VaVzjRz8

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 11, 2025

The post Tapit Colt Rancho Santa Fe Makes It 2-2 in Keeneland Allowance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Laurel Park staged the Maryland Million program on Saturday, and arguably the best Maryland-bred filly in training, The Estate of the Late R. Larry Johnson's Future Is Now (Great Notion), will have every chance to surpass the $1-million mark in career earnings when she defends her title in Sunday's $400,000 GII Franklin Stakes at Keeneland.

Since she is bred outside of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the 5-year-old races for just a $300,000 pot, and she'll jump favored to win for the fourth time in five starts this season. The fresh-up winner of the GIII Giant's Causeway Stakes over this course and distance back in April, she dropped a half-length decision to pacesetting Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the June 5 GII Intercontinental Stakes at Saratoga. She has since bounced back to add the GIII Caress Stakes July 19 and the Aug. 15 Smart and Fancy Stakes, both at the Spa, and her ability to sit just off the speed in a race that appears chock full of it could be telling. Irad Ortiz, Jr. takes the ride for the first time.

Pipsy never got near the front in the Caress and ran into some trouble in the stretch on top of that and she returns to sex-restricted competition off a respectable fifth in the GII Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs Aug. 30.

The fleet-footed Luna Louska (Complexity) is perfect in three tries on the grass and carries a four-race winning streak into this graded stakes debut. All-the-way winner of the July 4 Clarskville Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis, the 3-year-old filly was virtually unchallenged in defeating far classier competition in the Sept. 13 Floral Park Stakes at Aqueduct. The pace does seem very much on, however, with the likes of In Our Time (Not This Time) also expected to add fuel to the fire.

Time To Dazzle (Not This Time) completed the exacta for her sire underneath In Our Time in a Sept. 10 allowance at Kentucky Downs and would need to improve some to win this, but she does appear to possess the right running style and should be coming at them late.

The post Future Is Now Should Get Franklin Stakes Run To Suit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Leon King Stable's Bentornato (Valiant Minister) put in a half-mile breeze Saturday ahead of an expected next start in the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Working under regular pilot Irad Ortiz Jr., last year's Sprint runner up went in :50.80.

Bentornato will also be a part of the Keeneland Championship Sale held just prior to the Breeders' Cup, with a 25% ownership interest on offer Oct. 29 at Del Mar. Trainer Jose D'Angelo noted that Bentornato's past and future racing schedule will appeal to buyers at the Championship Sale.

“It is a unique opportunity to become a partner,” D'Angelo told Keeneland. “This year we gave him time off to mature and grow. He is fresh and a good candidate to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint. And he will be fresh if we decide to go to the $20 million G1 Saudi Cup.”

D'Angelo was pleased with Bentornato's activity Saturday morning.

“The work was good with a strong gallop out like we had talked about,” he added. “He started slow and relaxed like he did in his last race (when he won the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs Sept. 13.)

Rather than sending Bentornato back to his Florida base, D'Angelo opted to keep him in Kentucky to take advantage of the cooler weather and train at Keeneland. He will ship to Del Mar Oct. 27 ahead of the Championship Sale.

“We thought the (cool) weather would help him instead of going straight to California or back to (my base) in Florida,” he said.

On the West Coast, both Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) and Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast) returned to the work tab Saturday after finishing one-two in the 'Win And You're In' GI Goodwood Stakes Sept. 27 at Santa Anita.

Nevada Beach is preparing for a start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 1 at Del Mar and worked five furlongs in 1:01 (17/35) for trainer Bob Baffert.

Full Serrano worked four furlongs in :48.40 (15/57) for trainer John Sadler. The 6-year-old is expected to try and defend his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Also working Saturday towards Breeders' Cup starts for Baffert were Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo) (Distaff) and Hope Road (Quality Road) (Filly & Mare Sprint). Seismic Beauty worked five furlongs in :59.40 (4/35) and Hope Road also worked five furlongs in 59.40 (4/35).

Returning to the tab for trainer Phil D'Amato was Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), who drilled four furlongs in :50.0 (18/21). The gelding is ticketed for a fourth attempt at winning the GI Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 1.

Getting back on the tab for trainer Richard Baltas was Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca), who is a candidate for the Filly & Mare Sprint and drilled five furlongs in :59.20 (3/35).

The post Bentornato Breezes Ahead Of Breeders’ Cup Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A bay daughter of Into Mischief (hip 513) sold post-sale for $275,000 to top the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company October Yearling Sale, the company announced Saturday. Initially a $290,000 RNA through the ring during the Oct. 8 session, the filly went Tami Bobo's way from the Glen Hill Farm consignment who also bred her from their mare, MSW/MGSP Compelled (War Front).

With the post-sale result, the Into Mischief filly becomes the highest priced horse sold at this year's October Yearling Sale, topping the $240,000 brought by Christophe Nouvellet on behalf of Dream With Me Florida for a filly by Mo Donegal.

The post Into Mischief Filly Brings $275k Post Sale To Top OBS October appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Members:

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) election process is set to get underway!

NYTB serves as the official authorized representative of the Thoroughbred breeding industry in New York State—the unified voice of New York’s Thoroughbred breeders. We encourage your interest and participation in serving as a member of our Board of Directors.

Board Structure and Terms

According to the By-Laws of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., as revised and approved on April 28, 2021, there shall be two classes of directors:

• First Class: Five directors elected to a four-year term beginning in a year ending in an odd number.

• Second Class: Six directors elected to a four-year term beginning in a year ending in an even number.

Each four-year term shall commence on January 1 of the year following an election and shall conclude on December 31 of the fourth year thereafter.

Term limits: Board members may serve a maximum of three consecutive four-year terms (12 years total).

Election Guidelines

No NYTB election shall take place if there is an equal number of uncontested candidates for the available board seats.
If, in any given election year, each class of five or six directors is not contested by new candidates, the incumbent board members shall continue for a new term, provided they remain members in good standing with the organization.

Should there be more than five qualified candidates contesting for board seats this year, an election will be held.
The six directors elected during the 2025 election process will serve a four-year term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2030.

No NYTB election shall take place should there be an equal number of uncontested candidates for board seats. In any year, if each class of five or six board members up for election is not challenged by new candidates, the current board members shall remain on the board for a new term, should they be in good standing with the organization.

Should there be more than five qualified candidates contesting for board seats this year an NYTB election will take place. The five class of directors that are elected during the 2025 election process will serve a four-year term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2030.

Board of Directors Eligibility and Requirements

NYTB members may seek election to the Board of Directors if they meet the following criteria:

1. Are currently engaged in the Thoroughbred industry as a breeder or stallion owner in New York State, or as a lessee or lessor of mares or stallions domiciled in New York.

2. Submit a nominating petition with original or emailed signatures (to info@nytbreeders.org) of ten NYTB members in good standing.

3. Submit a brief curriculum vitae including pertinent data and a statement of qualifications.

4. Are members in good standing whose annual dues have been paid on or before April 2, 2025.

Deadline: Nominating petitions and curriculum vitae must be received by the NYTB office no later than the close of business on Friday, November 14, 2025.

After review and verification of eligibility by the NYTB Nominating Committee, the official election ballot will be mailed to eligible voters.

Any NYTB member in good standing as of November 1, 2025, will receive a ballot and be eligible to vote.

All completed ballots must be mailed in the reply envelope provided to:

Battaglia & Associates, CPA’s PLLC
Halfmoon, NY

Ballots must be postmarked by Friday, December 12, 2025. Battaglia & Associates will tabulate all ballots and notify NYTB of the elected candidates.

NYTB Election Timeline Event Deadline Board Eligibility (Membership paid in full) April 2, 2025 Voting Eligibility (Membership paid in full) November 1, 2025 Nominating Petitions & CVs Due November 14, 2025 Completed Ballots Postmarked & Mailed to Battaglia & Associates December 12, 2025

Nominating petitions received after November 14, 2025, will not be accepted and shall be considered null and void.

Election Documents

Click below to download the required forms:

• Nominating Petition Form

• Curriculum Vitae Form

Once completed, please return your candidate materials by mail or email to:

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.
P.O. Box 5120
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Phone: (518) 587-0777
Email: info@nytbreeders.org

 

 

The post 2025 NYTB Board of Directors Election Process appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Grade I winners Journalism (Curlin) and Baeza (McKinzie), each among the leading 3-year-old colts of 2025 with GI Breeders' Cup Classic aspirations, drilled Friday morning at Santa Anita in advance of their joint Nov. 1 target. Journalism, who is campaigned by the partnership of Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Robert V. LaPenta, Mrs. John Magnier-Lessee, Derrick Smith-Lessee, and Michael B. Tabor-Lessee, went a half mile in :49. The Michael McCarthy trainee was last seen finishing second to Fierceness (City of Light) in the Aug. 30 GI Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar and was registering his fourth work since that effort.

C R K Stable and Grandview Equine's Baeza also worked Friday morning, stopping the clock in :59 (2/33) for five panels. Trained by John Shirreffs, Baeza most recently shipped across the country to win the Sept. 20 GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx.

Joining Journalism and Baeza on the work tab Friday morning in Arcadia was $3-million OBS March 2-year-old Brant (Gun Runner), an unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', who won the Sept. 7 GI Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar. The Zedan Racing Stables runner fired a bullet, getting six furlongs in 1:11.80. Conditioned by Bob Baffert, the 2-year-old is pointing toward the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Other Friday morning workers at Santa Anita included fellow Breeders' Cup hopefuls Formidable Man (City of Light), five furlongs in 1:01.20; Richi (Chi) (Practical Joke), four furlongs in 49.20; and Hey Nay Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never), five furlongs in 1:00.

The post Journalism and Baeza Work Toward Breeders’ Cup Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Bidding is now open for the Fall Flash Sale on Fasig-Tipton Digital, a boutique two-entry auction offering two fillies that have recently won Breeders' Cup prep races. The two offerings are Iron Orchard and Haulin Ice.

Heavy rain and a forecast for continued thunderstorms throughout the afternoon causes Gulfstream Park to cancel the balance of its nine-race program following the second race Oct. 10.

Graded stakes winner Arzak, a son of Not This Time, has been purchased by Amsterdam Two Farm in Middleburgh, N.Y., where he will retire to stud for a fee of $6,000, with special consideration to approved mares.

Renowned equine veterinarian Dr. Bob Hunt dies Oct. 9 from cancer.

"It is reasonable to say the ride is over," trainer Kenny McPeek said Oct. 10 on his "Horse Races Now" podcast about the racing career of 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.

Ghostwriter (IRE) is being aimed at the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1T) at Gulfstream Park in January.