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Presenting data Oct. 16 during the monthly meeting of the California Horse Racing Board in Sacramento, Calif., CHRB equine medical director Dr. Jeff Blea said regulatory protections for certain aspects of horse welfare are working well in the state.

A strong draft from the Aga Khan Studs headlines this year's Goffs Autumn Horses In Training Sale, which takes place Nov. 3.

Embroidery and Kamunyak, winners of the first two legs of the Japanese Filly Triple Crown, square off in the final leg, the Shuka Sho (G1) Oct. 19 at Tokyo Racecourse.

The Challenge, presented by Gainesway

Grade 1-winning 2-year-old filly Iron Orchard sold for $2.5 million to KatieRich Farms in the two-horse Fasig-Tipton Digital Fall Flash Sale. The other entry, graded winner Haulin Ice, was bought back on a final bid of $875,000.

Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa announce Oct. 16 the stud fees for its 2026 stallion roster, led by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, one of the most preeminent sires at stud today.

Spun to Run shuttled twice to Chile and has since been sold to a farm in South Korea.

Two horses, including the dam of multiple graded stakes winner Final Score, have been supplemented to the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, which begins Nov. 4.

Unlike other races this fall at Del Mar, current plans do not call for computer-assisted wagering groups to be excluded from win wagering inside two minutes to post during the two-day Breeders' Cup.

Keeneland announced Oct. 16 that the catalog for the second Championship Sale is live and features a curated selection of elite racehorses, breeding stock, stallion shares, and breeding rights.

Aidan O'Brien is ready to ignite the rivalry between the Delacroix and Ombudsman camps for one final time in a blockbuster Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse Oct. 18.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a quartet of workers over the Oklahoma dirt at Saratoga on Friday who are all intended for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. The group of workers included Antiquarian (Preservationist) and 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard, Fierceness (City of Light), Mindframe (Constitution) and Locked (Gun Runner).

Mindframe breezed to the inside of Locked shortly after the first renovation break and the pair covered five furlongs in 1:01.49, according to NYRA clockers. Mindframe edged clear of the Sept. 27 GII Woodward-winner Locked just before the wire, galloping out in front and strongly through the turn.

“I thought Mindframe went super,” Pletcher said. “He had a really strong gallop out. Locked, since he's run more recently, we weren't looking for quite as much on the gallop out from him, but I thought they both went well.”

MINDFRAME (inside) and LOCKED breeze five furlongs in 1:01.49, according to NYRA Clockers, over the Oklahoma dirt training track. Both are targeting the Breeders' Cup Classic. pic.twitter.com/3lY4lh9W1x

— Christian (@c__abdo) October 17, 2025

Repole Stable and St. Elias's Mindframe was 3-for-3 this year with a pair of Grade I wins entering his last race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga Aug. 31. The 4-year-old dark bay was on the receiving end of a chain reaction of bumping caused by Phileas Fogg (Astern {Aus}) and lost jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. shortly into the 10-furlong race.

“I don't know how to quantify exactly what he got out of the Jockey Club from a fitness perspective and an actual true race,” Pletcher said. “We felt like we needed a little more from him [in training]. We've gotten some good works and good gallop outs, so I think we have accomplished what we were hoping to from a fitness perspective.”

Pletcher confirmed Locked, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, is currently targeting the Classic rather than the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Antiquarian outside of Fierceness | Sarah Andrew

Champion Fierceness, who was last seen taking the GI Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 30, breezed to the inside of Antiquarian following the second renovation break and the pair were on even terms as they covered five furlongs in 1:00.56, according to NYRA clockers.

“Just another 'typical of what we've seen from him [Fierceness].' Every breeze, he just does things very effortlessly,” said Pletcher. “He looked good coming to the wire, stayed on, galloped out nicely. We wanted to match him up with a little stronger mate today, to get a good solid work.

“I thought [Antiquarian] responded well. He stayed on course and galloped out nicely, a good work from both of them,” Pletcher added.

FIERCENESS (inside) and ANTIQUARIAN breeze five furlongs in 1:00.56, according to NYRA clockers, over the Oklahoma dirt training track. Both are targeting the Breeders' Cup Classic. pic.twitter.com/rS3suHQLrJ

— Christian (@c__abdo) October 17, 2025

Centennial Farms's Antiquarian broke through at the top-level and earned a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure in the Gold Cup, inching close to millionaire status with $944,100 banked through a 9-4-3-0 record.

“We felt like with all four horses, today was the sternest work we were going to look for. They are going to ship next week, we won't look to do quite as much next week,” Pletcher said, confirming that the four Breeders' Cup Classic contenders will work again at the Spa next week before shipping.”

Derrick Smith, Repole Stable, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier's Fierceness was a 1 1/2-length second in last year's Classic to champion Sierra Leone (Gun Runner).

“It is always comforting to know that he appears to like the surface out there, two good races, there gives you optimism,” Pletcher said.

The post Pletcher Breezes Quartet At Spa With Eye On Breeders’ Cup Classic For All appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

BBN Racing LLC has supplemented GISW Kilwin (Twirling Candy) to Book 1 of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock sale on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and the owners are offering a 25% interest in GSW Bracket Buster (Vekoma) during the second edition of the Keeneland Championship sale at Del Mar on Wednesday, Oct. 29, according to a press release from the auction company on Friday afternoon.

Consigned by Royal Oak Farm (Damian and Braxton Lynch), agent for BBN, 3-year-old Kilwin has four wins in eight starts led by a signature come-from-behind score in the GI Test Stakes at the Spa this past summer. At last year's inaugural Keeneland Championship sale, the filly RNA'd for $575,000.

Kilwin is a half-sister to GSW One Timer (Trappe Shot) and SW Just Basking (Arrogate). Her unraced dam is the Blame mare Spanish Star–a half-sister to GI Belmont Stakes hero Sir Winston (Awesome Again).

“Kilwin is an incredibly versatile performer who was precocious at 2 with a win in a million-dollar race on turf and the next year scored a Grade I victory on dirt at Saratoga with a heart-stopping performance to win one of America's most historic races,” BBN Racing Founding Partner Brian Klatsky said. “With her prowess on dirt and turf, she's a true collector's item.”

Also consigned by Royal Oak, a quarter stake in GI DK Travers Stakes runner-up Bracket Buster will be offered during Keeneland's sale at Del Mar. Last out, the 3-year-old colt won the GIII Oklahoma Derby as the odds-on favorite at Remington Park Sept. 28.

“BBN Racing purchased both Kilwin and Bracket Buster at Keeneland's September Yearling sale, and both horses are wonderful additions to our upcoming sales,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “We thank them for their tremendous support.”

Click here for the November sale catalogue and here for the Championship sale catalogue.

The post BBN Racing Supplements GISW Kilwin, Share In GSW Bracket Buster To Upcoming Keeneland Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Lael Stables's MGISW She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}), considered the top American runner to challenge the Europeans in GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Stakes, continued her steady pattern for trainer Cherie DeVaux by working a half-mile in :48 on Friday morning at Keeneland.

Drilling with stablemate & GSW Taking Candy (Twirling Candy), the 4-year-old logged her fifth Friday half-mile breeze since winning the GI E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 16, which offered the filly an automatic ticket to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.

“She has been working well, and I just need to keep her sound and happy,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said after the work.

She Feels Pretty is scheduled to work again here next Friday and then fly to Del Mar as part of a three-horse World Championships contingent for DeVaux, who collected her first championship score last year with More Than Looks (More Than Ready) in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile.

DeVaux's other runners are expected to be GISP Rebel Red (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf and GISW Vahva (Gun Runner) for the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The former worked a half-mile Friday morning over the local course's main track in :48.80 in company with SW Northern Invader (Collected).

Vahva–who will be offered in Book 1 of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock sale Nov. 4–is scheduled to work Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET.

“I was pleased with him this morning,” DeVaux said of Rebel Red, whose best finish in graded stakes this year was a second in the GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 9. “He has run some really good races and that puts him right there [with possible Breeders' Cup entrants].”

The post MGISW She Feels Pretty Looks The Part Drilling For DeVaux At Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

St Elias Stable's Captain Cook (Practical Joke), a heartbreaking second at 20-1 in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga Aug. 23, will be favored to register a first career graded success in Saturday's GIII Perryville S. at Keeneland. Winner of the Withers S. in February, the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was making his first start for Todd Pletcher in the Allen Jerkens.

The field of six for the Perryville also includes GII San Vicente S. winner and Allen Jerkens third Barnes (Into Mischief) and GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty (Speightstown).

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ragtime (Union Rags), the 3-1 morning-line favorite in Keeneland's GII Lexus Raven Run S., is a neck away from a perfect four-for-four record. The Godolphin homebred was a too-good-to-lose second in the GI Test S. at Saratoga Aug. 2, then annexed the GIII Dogwood S. at Churchill Sept. 20. The full field of 12 also includes 'Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) and Simply Joking (Practical Joke), who both return following disappointing efforts in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 2.

Saturday's graded action also includes: the GII Sands Point S. at the Belmont at the Big A meeting and the GIII Ontario Derby at Woodbine, featuring a rematch between King's Plate S. winner Mansetti (Collected) and Prince of Wales S. winner Runaway Again (Hard Spun).

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Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), the sire of 11 graded winners in 2025 (17 black-type winners in total), including three at the elite level, will stand the 2026 breeding season at Goncalo Torrealba's Three Chimneys Farm for a fee of $250,000 LFSN, the nursery announced Friday.

During another banner season for his offspring at the races, Gun Runner is the sire of 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Sierra Leone, who made this year's Whitney Stakes the third Grade I success of his career and who remains on track to defend his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in two weeks' time. Fellow 'Rising Star' Locked was imperious in romping to a daylight victory in the GI Santa Anita Handicap, while 'Rising Star' Brant, who topped this year's OBS March Sale on a bid of $3 million from Zedan Racing, became the most recent of his sire's 11 overall top-level scorers in September's Del Mar Futurity and figures one of the choices for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Gun Runner's influence was not just confined to the racetrack, as his youngest progeny continued to make headlines in the sales ring. According to TDN Sales Statistics, Gun Runner is the leading general sires of yearlings in 2025, with 49 sold from 56 through the ring for an average of $974,591. No fewer than 17 of his yearlings sold for pricetags in excess of $1 million and he made history at this year's Keeneland September Sale, becoming the first sire to account for the toppers in the four sessions comprising Books 1 and 2. A colt out of Grade II Adirondack Stakes heroine Thoughtfully (Tapit) topped the sale on a bid of $3.3 million from M.V. Magnier, White Birch and Winchell Thoroughbreds.

“Gun Runner is continuing to prove our dreams can become a reality,” Torrealba said. “Three Chimneys and our partners continue to breed our best mares to him which we believe will further his influence on the breed.”

Newgate (Into Mischief) will command a service fee of $17,500 in 2026.

“Into Mischief's son Newgate, who won the GI Santa Anita Handicap, competing among the best of his generation, defeating eight Grade I winners during his career, was extremely popular with breeders,” said Three Chimneys board member Doug Cauthen. “Newgate is one of the best-looking horses you will ever see,” added Cauthen.

Gun Runner's Grade I winner Gun Pilot enters his second season at Three Chimneys and will cover mares at $12,500.

“He is very much like his sire Gun Runner–scopy and strong,” said Three Chimneys Director of Stallion Nominations Rebecca Nicholson. “He bred a full book of mares in his first season, and we want to continue the momentum by offering great value on him.”

Volatile (Violence) is the sire of 10 stakes performers in 2025, 50% of which were graded performers, and will stand for a fee of $10,000. Among his leading earners this year are GSW and track-record setting 'TDN Rising Star' Tip Top Thomas, GIII Southwest Stakes winner Speed King, and promising 2-year-old Igniter, who is targeting the GII Remsen Stakes.

Rounding out the roster is Funtastic (More Than Ready) who hails from the family of Gun Runner. His top earner, Funtastic Again, captured the GIII Dominion Stakes at Woodbine. Funtastic will stand for a fee of $2,500 LFSN.

Three Chimneys has also announced that Sky Mesa (Pulpit) will be pensioned. Now 25, the son of Caress (Storm Cat), accounted for 80 stakes winners, 26 at the graded/group level, and four at the highest level–General Quarters, Perfec Alibi, Sky Diva and Uruguyan Group 1 winner Giulia.

The post Gun Runner Anchors Three Chimneys Stallions at $250K, Sky Mesa Pensioned appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

New York-bred 2-year-old filly Iron Orchard (Authentic), who ran her record to a perfect three-for-three with a victory in the GI Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 4, was sold to Larry and Karen Doyle's KatieRich Farms for $2.5 million as part of the Fasig-Tipton Digital Fall Flash Sale, according to release from the company late Thursday evening. Bidding opened on Oct. 10.

A romping debut winner in a restricted Saratoga maiden on July 3, the dark bay–whose most recent trip through a sales ring saw her bring $500,000 at this year's OBS April Sale–made it two straight with a 6 3/4-length success in the Seeking the Ante Stakes for state-bred juvenile fillies at the Spa Aug. 22. Just short of 5-2 for the Frizette, she covered ground on the turn and held on to take the one-mile event by a nose. Her earnings to date stand at $352,000.

“She's a young, Grade I winner and there is plenty of upside there,” said Larry Doyle, who confirmed that Iron Orchard is being pointed for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Oct. 31. “She's a half-million dollar New York-bred, we vetted her from head to toe, she's very good-looking and she'll make a nice broodmare down the road.”

Doyle said that Danny Gargan, who consigned the filly as agent to the sale, will continue to train Iron Orchard in the near-term. In the immediate aftermath of the Frizette, Gargan was non-committal about going on to the Breeders' Cup.

“What a sale!,” enthused Leif Aaron, director of digital sales for Fasig-Tipton. “It has been a thrill to offer an undefeated Grade I-winning and Breeders' Cup-bound filly in Iron Orchard for her connections. We wish KatieRich the best of luck with her and will be rooting her on in the Breeders' Cup and beyond.”

The second of the two horses offered in the Fall Flash Sale was Haulin Ice (Coal Front), who punched her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with a victory in the GIII Princess Rooney Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Consigned by Taylor Made, the 4-year-old was unsold on a final bid of $875,000, but remains available for purchase post-sale.

“While we were disappointed to have not sold Haulin Ice, she is a quality filly and still available for purchase post-sale through our platform,” Aaron said.

Fasig-Tipton's next digital sale is the December Digital Sale scheduled for Dec. 4-9. Entries close Nov. 19.

The post Iron Orchard Sells For $2.5M In Fasig-Tipton Digital Fall Flash Sale; Breeders’ Cup Next appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The two-minute win pool cutoff for computer-assisted wagering (CAW) bets that was implemented at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club over the summer in an effort to stabilize late odds fluctuations won't be in effect when the Southern California track hosts the Breeders' Cup Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, a spokesperson for the championships confirmed to TDN on Thursday.

Back on July 29, in response to growing clamor among non-CAW bettors about the outsized role that CAW players had in driving a spate of marked late odds changes at Del Mar during the first two weeks of the meet, Del Mar president Josh Rubinstein said in a press release that the implementation of the cutoff was “part of an overall effort to ensure an optimal wagering experience for fans on-track, at simulcast locations and those playing via our advanced deposit wagering partners.”

As TDN's Dan Ross reported at the time, the controversy involving CAW players typically surrounds the major edge they wield over regular gamblers because of their use of sophisticated technologies and specialized pool access that allows them to place massive wagers across nearly all pools in the final seconds of betting, as well as the attractive rebates offered to them that are unavailable to the average horseplayer.

Other tracks, like those run by the New York Racing Association (NYRA), have had similar CAW policies in place since 2021.

While Del Mar's cutoff only applies to win pools, (the most visible of all wagering pools), non-CAW horseplayers have hailed the decision as at least a step in the right direction toward mitigating the influence of CAW money.

When Santa Anita Park opened for its fall meet last month, it continued the two-minute cutoff that Del Mar had initiated on the same circuit.

On Oct. 16, when Rubinstein appeared before the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to discuss the track's licensure for the upcoming meet, CHRB vice chair Oscar Gonzales asked him if the CAW win-pool cutoff policy would extend into the track's upcoming late-fall meet that includes the Breeders' Cup championships.

“So that will continue for our fall meet,” Rubinstein said. “Related to the Breeders' Cup, that is a decision that they will need to make.”

Considering that the two-day championships are just two weeks away and that such a significant logistical decision had likely already been made, TDN reached out to the Breeders' Cup to get better clarity.

A Breeders' Cup spokesperson replied with the following statement, which was not attributed to any specific Breeders' Cup executive:

“Fortunately, due to the substantial liquidity in our multi-million-dollar wagering pools, the late odds fluctuations that frustrate horseplayers have not been an issue at the World Championships, including last year at Del Mar.

“In addition, the competitive nature of our races–with full fields of the best runners from around the globe–has historically provided recreational players with great betting value and opportunities for generous returns.”

On social media, non-CAW horseplayers have been opining and debating for weeks whether or not the two-minute ban at Del Mar would apply to the Breeders' Cup championships, with some bettors suggesting they might not wager on the races if no cutoff will be in effect.

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Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike) and his champion son Good Magic will stand the 2026 breeding season for $225,000 and $125,000, respectively, at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, the Lexington area nursery announced Thursday.

Curlin, who turns 22 in 2026, remains the only stallion to have supplied three Breeders' Cup winners on a single program and the only sire to account for four Eclipse Award winners in the same year. Good Magic, who was represented by a quartet of $1-million yearlings in 2025, is the sire of Classic winners Mage and his full-brother Dornoch from his first two crops.

Army Mule (Friesan Fire) is set to be represented in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf by the undefeated Ground Support and will return to $25,000 for the 2026 breeding season, up from $20,000 this past year. From his 133 winners to date, no fewer than 20 have struck at the stakes level, with Ground Support the most recent of his four graded scorers.

Former 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was 'the most popular horse ever' to retire to Hill 'n' Dale and his fee remains at $30,000 for 2026. A stud fee for Charlatan (Speightstown) will be determined at a later date.

“Our goal has always been to offer the best stallion value in the breeding business,” said Sikura. “We feel our 2026 fees will allow breeders to be competitive with the progeny of our stallions. Despite a very robust auction market, we have held our fees to provide value.”

The remainder of the Hill 'n' Dale stud fees for 2026 are as follows: Kantharos (Lion Heart, $10,000); Loggins (Ghostzapper, $5,000); Maclean's Music (Distorted Humor, $30,000); Violence (Medaglia d'Oro, $30,000).

The post Army Mule Gets Slight Bump, Curlin, Good Magic Remain at Six Figures at Hill ‘n’ Dale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Whisper Hill Farm homebred JUST ALOOF (f, 2, Justify–Aloof {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) came running late down the center of the Aqueduct turf course to take her debut Thursday. The 8-1 shot, who spent much of the race in a mid-pack fifth, had to fan out wide with a quarter-mile left but rallied to get by race favorite and stablemate Market Hours (Practical Joke) in the final yards for the win. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0.

O/B-Whisper Hill Farm; T-Chad Brown.

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