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LEXINGTON, KY — The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale powered through its opening session in Lexington Monday, with figures up significantly from its record-setting 2024 renewal.

“It was a great start to the October Yearling Sale in Kentucky,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said at the close of business Monday. “All of the statistical categories produced significant increases and we saw a continuation of the trends that we've seen from July carried through August, carried through September and now in October. There was tremendous demand at more levels than we've seen in recent years. Not only was it good at the top, but there was a lot of activity from $20,000 on up.”

During the session, 266 yearlings sold for $16,864,500. The session average was $63,400 and the median was $30,000.

At the opening session of the 2024 October sale, 265 horses sold for $13,198,000. The average was $49,804 and the median was $20,000. The 2024 auction closed with a record average of $52,206, while the cumulative median of $20,000 was the fourth highest in sales history.

Kristian Villante of Legion Bloodstock made the highest bid of the session–and third highest ever at an October sale–when going to $900,000 for a colt by Curlin from the Mill Ridge Sales consignment. The session-topping colt was one of 20 to bring $200,000 or more on the day, up from 14 a year ago.

Denali Stud was responsible for two colts to sell for $400,000 during the session. And, while Denali's Conrad Bandoroff saw plenty of activity, he also admitted there was continued polarization in the market.

“I think as the week continues, if you have a horse that people deem as quality, you are going to get rewarded for it,” Bandoroff said. “The target is small, but when you hit the center target, you are going to get well rewarded. You have to be realistic. It's a little bit of feast or famine, but when they land on your horse, it's fun. If you miss by an inch, you may as well miss by a mile. It's hyper-selective, but when it's good, it's really good.”

The Fasig-Tipton October sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Kristian Villante of Legion Bloodstock made the third-highest bid ever at a Fasig-Tipton October sale when going to $900,000 to secure a colt by Curlin (hip 268) on behalf of a partnership led by Andrew Hudson of Hoolie Racing.

“I've been looking for a couple of nice colts for him throughout the year and this one fit the bill,” Villante said. “He's by a proven sire, champion female family. He's a beautiful colt. We looked at him for three days and we fell in love with him.”

Legion Bloodstock purchased a colt by Good Magic (hip 36) for $1.6 million on behalf of Hoolie Racing at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and bought the operation another son of Curlin (hip 686) for $500,000 at the Keeneland September sale.

The session-topping yearling, bred by Alpha Delta Stables and consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, is the first foal out of Canadian champion Munnyfor Ro (Munnings). Jon Clay's Alpha Delta purchased the mare, with the colt in utero, for $900,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

The colt will head to Travis Durr's training center and will likely be trained by Whit Beckman, according to Villante.

Of the $900,000 price tag, Villante said, “He stood out. We knew we would have to be strong on him. That was probably at the end of where we wanted to be on him. He was a beautiful horse. He deserved to bring that kind of money.”

A pair of colts from the Denali Stud consignment led early proceedings during the first session of the Fasig-Tipton October sale Monday when bringing matching $400,000 bids.

Bloodstock agent Pedro Lanz has been shopping on behalf of KAS Stables all season and the Saudi operation had one last wish on its list as the final yearling sale of the year got underway Monday in Lexington.

“They wanted a Flightline,” Lanz said. “We had tried to bid on some before.”

Lanz delivered when bidding $400,000 to acquire a colt by the champion (hip 198), the first of two expected to go through the ring at the October sale this week.

“They asked if there were [yearling] sales after this and I said no, baby sales and broodmare sales,” Lanz said. “So we could buy this colt.”

Out of stakes winner and graded-placed Message (Warrior's Reward), the yearling was bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds and, after he RNA'd for $475,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale in August, was selling Monday without reserve as part of the complete dispersal of John Sykes's operation.

“I saw him in Saratoga and he has grown a lot since then,” Lanz said.

Woodford purchased Message, in foal to Charlatan, for $675,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November sale. Her Charlatan colt sold for $275,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale before reselling for $375,000 at this year's OBS April sale.

Hip 198 was consigned by Denali Stud.

“Obviously, he didn't get done in Saratoga,” Denali's Conrad Bandoroff said. “He's a big two-turn horse and he has done nothing but improve since then. From August until now, he's just really come on and improved really nicely. He's been a big fish in a smaller pond here. He's a beautiful strapping colt and he went over really well. There was a ton of activity on him. He got vetted a lot by really good people. This was the result we were looking for in Saratoga. All's well that ends well.”

Shortly before Lanz made his $400,000 bid, Gerard Butler spent the same amount while bidding on behalf of co-breeder Brookdale Racing to buy out partner Three Chimneys Farm on a colt by Gun Runner (hip 48).

“To get a Gun Runner at that level at that price, I thought it was a good day's work,” said Butler. “We had to protect him at some stage. Obviously, he ticked all our boxes.”

The yearling is out of multiple graded stakes winner Lady Apple (Curlin). Butler signed the ticket at $1.2 million to acquire the mare at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Her 2-year-old colt Malus (Into Mischief) was a maiden winner in the Brookdale Racing colors at Saratoga in July.

“That was a good result,” said Bandoroff. “That mare's foals are always kind of late bloomers, so we pointed to this sale all along. It was a plan that really came to fruition. The horse really did well in the last 30-45 days.”

NOTHING BUT NET

A group of pinhookers were rewarded for their efforts Monday in Lexington when selling a colt from the first crop of G1 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide (hip 160) for $150,000 to the bid of Faris Breeding. The group had purchased him under the name Nearco for $22,000 at the 2024 Keeneland November sale.

“He was an absolutely lovely colt with a huge walk,” said Matt Bowling, whose Vinery Sales consigned the yearling. “Good bone, big hip. I think he just really matured into a really nice horse and they were rewarded for it.”

Of the group, a pinhooking partnership that he manages, Bowling said, “They do a good job. They buy good physicals. And the horse just really blossomed at the right time. He showed himself really well and found himself on a lot of lists.”

Thank you to our buyers and consignors for supporting the Kentucky October Yearlings sale. Session 1 results are now online at https://t.co/cD0JL4RBaU. The sale continues Tuesday at 10 AM. #FasigKY pic.twitter.com/FmpRqiUJIF

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 21, 2025

The post ‘Great Start’: Fasig-Tipton October Sale Opens With a Bang appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A colt by Curlin (hip 268) lit up the board at the first session of the Fasig-Tipton October sale when bringing a final bid of $900,000 from Legion Bloodstock's Kristian Villante. Villante was bidding on behalf of a partnership of Legion clients led by the Hudson family's Hoolie Racing. Bred by Alpha Delta Stables and consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, the yearling is the first foal out of Canadian champion Munnyfor Ro (Munnings). Alpha Delta purchased the mare, with the colt in utero, for $900,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

The post Curlin Colt to Legion Bloodstock for $900k at Fasig-Tipton October appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Marvin Rafael Fernandez, a 35-year-old apprentice jockey at Delaware Park who rode a 228-1 shot to a third-place finish while beaten only half a length last Thursday, had his license rescinded the next day by that track's stewards, who determined that over the course of three probationary races Oct. 15 and 16 in which Fernandez twice finished in the money, his “performance was not satisfactory to the standards required to hold the license.”

Fernandez, who has five lifetime mounts in 2024-25 and had been riding last week under “temporary” licensure at the 10-pound apprentice level, will be allowed to retain his exercise riding license, according to the Oct. 17 ruling signed by Delaware stewards Joelyn Rigione, Robert Colton and William Troilo.

Although Fernandez had no other rulings issued against him during his probationary period and there were no mentions of adverse incidents in either the official charts or the daily stewards' reports for the two dates he rode last week, the stewards did order him to appear at the next-day film reviews after each of his rides on Oct. 15 and 16 for “crop” reasons, according to footnotes in the daily reports.

In the third race Oct. 15 (video), Fernandez's 19-1 mount was near the back for most of a nine-horse claiming route and ended up beating only one other eased entrant.

In the fourth race Oct. 16 (video), Fernandez's 6-1 mount led from the rail for most of a four-horse claiming sprint before being overtaken by a 3-10 favorite in deep stretch while holding on for second.

In the sixth race Oct. 16 (video), Fernandez, aboard the 228-1 Midnight Getaway (Midnight Storm), “bumped with an inner foe at the start, rated in the four path, swung out to the seven path turning into the lane, and rallied for show,” according to the Equibase chart.

The Delaware meet ended the next racing date, Saturday, Oct. 18.

Attempts to reach both Fernandez and the Delaware Park stewards' office on Monday were unsuccessful.

The post Delaware Apprentice Rides 228-1 Shot To Third-Place Finish, Has License Rescinded The Next Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Grade I winner Mullikin (Violence–Tulira's Star, by Congrats), slated to make his final career start in this year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar, will stand the 2026 breeding season at WinStar Farm, the operation announced Tuesday. A stud fee will be announced after the Breeders' Cup.

Mullikin will participate in WinStar's Dream Big Program, which offers breeders the opportunity to earn a lifetime breeding right.

“Mullikin has competed at the highest level for the last two years and is a gorgeous looking horse from a world-class sire line [Sadlers Wells],” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “Our best stallions over the years all had speed. He fits the mold of what we want to place in the market, looks, speed, and pedigree.”

Owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Mullikin won last year's GI Forego Stakes at Saratoga by 5 3/4 lengths over GISW Gun Pilot (Gun Pilot) while earning a 105 Beyer.

During a four-race win streak in 2024, Mullikin also captured the GII John A. Nerud Stakes in his graded stakes debut, running seven furlongs in 1:20.54, just 0.50 off the track record set by Artax in 1999.

Mullikin has run four triple-digit Beyers thus far, including a career-high 106 when finishing second to multiple Grade I winner Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) in this year's GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga. Additionally, Mullikin was beaten just a little more than a length by a pair of TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard–GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Mindframe (Constitution) and GI Breeders' Cup Mile-bound Nysos (Nyquist)–in a blanket finish in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes in May.

Mullikin was third to Straight No Chaser (Speightster) in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar, where he was ridden by Flavien Prat who returns to ride this year's renewal of the Sprint.

On the board in 12-of-15 lifetime starts, with earnings of $1,144,992, Mullikin was a $500,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. Bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, Mullikin is out of the graded stakes-placed Congrats mare Tulira's Star, third in the GIII Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga at two.

For more information on Mullikin, contact Liam O'Rourke, Olivia Desch, or Ben Hanley at 859-873-1717, or visit www.WinStarFarm.com.

The post Breeders’ Cup Sprint Contender Mullikin to Stand at WinStar in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Fierceness (City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty), the Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male of 2023 and a four-time Grade I winner, will begin his stud career at Coolmore's Kentucky base at Ashford Stud following his final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

An imperious 11 1/4-length debut winner at Saratoga in August 2023, earning no-brainer 'Rising Star' in a similar fashion to owner Mike Repole's fellow champion and late Ashford stallion Uncle Mo, Fierceness romped by 6 1/4 lengths in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“That was a pretty awesome performance–he's a special talent,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of his championship-clinching victory in the Juvenile.

The 13 1/2-length winner of the GI Curlin Florida Derby, Fierceness defeated fellow 'Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) by a length in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes and took down the colors of future Horse of the Year and 'Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes. Sierra Leone was third on that occasion, while GI Belmont Stakes hero Dornoch (Good Magic) was back in fourth. He concluded the season with a gallant runner-up effort in the Classic behind Sierra Leone, sitting up on a torrid pace and yielding only in the final stages to finish 1 1/2 lengths in arrears.

Fierceness has been one of the leading lights of this year's handicap division, with a powerful first-up victory in the GII Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs and a latest 3 1/4-length defeat of this year's GI Preakness Stakes hero Journalism (Curlin) in the GI Pacific Classic back on Aug. 30. He'll return to the same track and distance for his career finale in just under two weeks' time.

To date, Fierceness has amassed a record of 7-2-1 from 13 starts for earnings of $5,155,320.

“Fierceness isn't just a racehorse–he's family,” said Repole. “He represents everything we've built and believe in at Repole Stable. From the day he was born, we knew he was special.

“He's a Grade I winner at two, three and four, a Breeders' Cup Champion, an Eclipse Award winner and a horse who showed heart, grit, and freakish talent.”

Added Coolmore's Dermot Ryan: “Fierceness hails from a young and hugely exciting family of his owner/breeder, Mike Repole. His track record speaks for itself. A Breeders' Cup Juvenile-winning champion 2-year-old who further enhanced his profile with Grade I victories at three and years (of age), consistently posting massive Beyers in the process.

“He is an outstanding physical from a hugely successful sireline and out of a sister to GI Wood Memorial Stakes winner, Outwork. We got together with Mike Repole with an outstanding Saratoga MSW, Eclipse Award and Breeders' Cup Juvenile-winner before, and we all know how good Uncle Mo turned out to be. With his credentials, there's no reason to believe that Fierceness won't be every bit as good.”

The post ‘His Track Record Speaks For Itself’: Champion Fierceness Retires To Ashford Stud Following Breeders’ Cup Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Arthur's Ride (Tapit–Points of Grace, by Point Given), winner of the 2024 GI Whitney in Saratoga, will stand the 2026 breeding season at Taylor Made Stallions, the farm announced today. His stud fee will be $12,500 S&N.

“Arthur's Ride is a horse we were very high on after his impressive back-to-back victories at Saratoga, including his win in the GI Whitney, earning a 110 Beyer,” said Travis White, vice-president of Taylor Made Stallions. “The race prior to the Whitney, he ran a 111 Beyer and won by 12 3/4 lengths.”

The striking grey banked $819,355 for owner Glassman Racing–Karl and Cathi Glassman–and he was trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

A $250,000 Keeneland September Sale purchase by agent Donato Lanni in 2021, the 5-year-old is out of Canadian champion turf mare Points of Grace, who is also responsible for Canadian champion 2-Year-Old filly Victory to Victory (Exchange Rate), who captured the 2016 GI Natalma Stakes at Woodbine.

“He has an outstanding physical and was purchased by Donato Lanni, so we believe commercial breeders will love him. He's got the type of pedigree we look for,” said White. “He is by a top sire, out of a champion, and is a half-brother to a champion 2-year-old filly.”

In Arthur's Ride's front-running performance in last year's Whitney, he defeated subsequent Eclipse Award Older Dirt Male Champion National Treasure in addition to seven other graded stakes winners.

Prior to winning the Whitney, Arthur's Ride romped by 12 3/4 lengths in an allowance/optional claiming victory over 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga and earned a 101 Beyer in a 7 ½-length allowance/optional claiming score at one mile at Gulfstream Park earlier in the season.

For more information on Arthur's Ride, contact Travis White at (859) 396-3508, or Brock Martin at (270) 498-3722, or visit www.taylormadestallions.com.

The post GISW Arthur’s Ride to Stand at Taylor Made Stallions in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Il Miracolo (Gun Runner –Tapit's World by Tapit) will join Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm roster for the 2026 breeding season, according to a farm release Monday.

Il Miracolo will stand for $7,500 Live Foal (Payable Stands and Nurse).

An earner of over $1 million on the track, the Il Miracolo broke his maiden in gate-to-wire fashion going one mile at the age of two, dominating a maiden special weight field at Gulfstream Park. At three, he won the GIII Smarty Jones at Parx, in addition to hitting the board in three other graded starts, including the GI Pennsylvania Derby. The following year, he won the GIII Ghostzapper, was runner-up in Monmouth's GIII Philip Iselin and finished third in the Gulfstream Park Mile and GII Alysheba Stakes. He was fifth in this season's G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan.

“We are excited to announce Il Miracolo at Crestwood Farm,” said Pope McLean Sr. “Having a son of Gun Runner who was a precocious maiden winner at the age of two, and went on to win

graded stakes at the age of three and four, shows the durability and the quality racehorse Il Miracolo was throughout his career. Il Miracolo displayed ability against some of the best of his generation, and he possesses a strong physical presence with size, substance and presence that we believe will impress breeders.”

Bred by Willow Oaks Stable, LLC, the chestnut was campaigned by Alexandres Investments, LLC and trained by Antonio Sano.

“Il Miracolo was a multiple graded stakes winner and an exceptional athlete who proudly represented us on the world stage in Dubai,” said Sano. “He was a remarkable horse in every

way–talented, determined, and completely sound. Training him was a true privilege. He will always hold a special place in my career.”

Call Crestwood Farm at 859-252-3770 to schedule an inspection appointment.

The post Gun Runner’s Il Miracolo to Stand at Crestwood in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Grade I winner Clicquot (Quality Road–Royal Obsession, by Tapit) and graded winner Italian Soiree (Uncle Mo–Social Call, by Smart Strike) head the latest supplements to Fasig-Tipton's November Sale, held on Monday, Nov. 3 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Clicquot, who won the GI Cotillion on Sept. 20, is catalogued as hip 221. In the Cotillion, the 3-year-old defeated GISWs Scottish Lassie, La Cara, and Good Cheer, winner of this year's Kentucky Oaks.

Clicquot's next anticipated start is the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar.

The grey filly won four consecutive starts this year at three, including the GIII Indiana Oaks. She has current earnings of $840,153.

Clicquot, who hails from a female family that includes GISW Magnificent Song, will be consigned as racing/broodmare prospect by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent.

Also added to the November Sale is GSW Italian Soiree (hip 222). The 3-year-old won this year's GIII Coronation Cup on the Saratoga turf. Last year at two, she won her debut on the dirt and then finished second in the GIII Adirondack at Saratoga.

Italian Soiree is a full-sister to Be Better, a stakes winner of $347,300. She is out of a half-sister to the dam of graded stakes winner Old Time Hockey, and her third dam is GISW Likeable Style. She hails from the immediate family of MGISW and prominent sire Scat Daddy.

Italian Soiree will be consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Gainesway, agent.

The latest entries increase the number of graded stakes winners and producers catalogued in The November Sale to 71, 30 of which are Grade I.

The entries may now be viewed online and will also be available in the equineline sales catalogue app.

Print versions of all supplemental entries will be available on-site at sale time.

The post GISW Clicquot, GSW Italian Soiree Added to Fasig-Tipton November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The betting public wagered that the Anoakia Stakes would be a return to winning form for Himika (Curlin), and she gave them no reason to worry in the lane as she powered home with ears pricked.

A stylish victress at first-asking June 12 at this venue, the newly minted 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was asked to take on graded company in her second lifetime start, and she passed that test with grace to land the GIII Sorrento Stakes by over four lengths. From there, she ran an even fourth in the GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes two back Sept. 6 and faded to fifth last out Oct. 4 when trying two-turns for the first time in the GII Oak Leaf Stakes. She was beaten by well-regarded stablemates on both of those occasions, namely the Natalie Baffert-owned Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso) and fellow 'Rising Star' Explora (Blame), respectively.

Given 1-2 favoritism to turn her form around here, Himika watched the race unfold from just off the flank of Revera (Lexitonian) as that one set a contested pace through :22.55 and a half in :45.65. Briefly overtaking that leader at the quarter pole, she kicked clear coming off the bend and sailed home as a wrapped-up winner by 4 1/4 lengths. Revera held on to second as Stuffy Mist (Maximus Mischief) ambled in from last to claim third.

“She was probably running faster last time going long,” said Bob Baffert. “She was in a good spot, had a great post and she was manageable to rate like, so I felt pretty confident. You just don't know how much that last race took out of her, but it looks like it didn't take a lot out of her.”

“I was happy that she is back to winning form. She basically told us, no two turns for now but maybe down the road. Maybe something like the Test. You know, I think she is that kind of filly. Right now, we are just thinking about next weekend, the Tokyo City Cup. We go week by week, like Belichick.”

Himika is the first to the races for Saratoga track-record setter Motivated Seller, who finished off the board only once in her career when she faded to ninth in the GI La Brea Stakes in 2020. Since this victress, the mare has produced a yearling filly by Complexity as well as a 2025 colt by Jack Christopher. She visited McKinzie for 2026. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

“A tremendous performance…”

#4 HIMIKA rolled home in the $85,000 Anoakia Stakes at @santaanitapark. @JJHernandezS19 in the saddle on the daughter of Curlin for trainer Bob Baffert and @BaomaCorp. Baffert won both legs of the early double. pic.twitter.com/xCOChVkmdp

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 19, 2025

ANOAKIA S., $91,370, Santa Anita, 10-19, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.40, ft.
1–HIMIKA, 122, f, 2, by Curlin
     1st Dam: Motivated Seller (SP, $157,400), by Into Mischief
     2nd Dam: Coup, by Empire Maker
     3rd Dam: French Lady (Nz), by Entrepreneur (GB)
'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. ($900,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR). O-Baoma Corp; B-Klaravich Stables Inc. (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $54,822. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, $202,822.
2–Revera, 120, f, 2, Lexitonian–Decoder, by War Front. ($50,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $47,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP; $85,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Saints or Sinners, Titletown Racing Stables, U Racing Stables LLC, Barker, Denise, Barker, Edwin S., Haines, John, Rivers, Daniel and Self, Deborah; B-Steven Nicholson & Brandi Nicholson (KY); T-John W. Sadler. $18,274.
3–Stuffy Mist, 118, f, 2, Maximus Mischief–One Playful Act, by Flat Out. ($55,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Juan J. Garcia; B-Brandywine Farm (Jim & Pam Robinson) (KY); T-Victor L. Garcia. $10,965.
Margins: 4 1/4, 2, 1HF. Odds: 0.50, 1.70, 22.30.
Also Ran: Umbralle, Heavenly Princess.

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Due to inclement weather in the Lexington area on Sunday (Oct. 19), Monday's (Oct. 20) opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale will now begin at 11 am, a one-hour delay from its originally scheduled start time of 10:00 a.m.

The remaining sessions, Tuesday through Thursday, will commence at the originally scheduled 10 a.m. start time.

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In an industry that always seems petrified by the idea of change, the announcement that a new performance-based rating system based on an Equibase algorithm is about to debut at Santa Anita probably didn't go over too well with horsemen.  Each horse will be assigned a number generated by Equibase and then races will be written using the system. One of the first races that may come up, if it fills, is open to horses rated between 80-95.

The rating number is different from Equibase's speed figures.

Santa Anita is hoping the Equibase races will help solve some of their problems with small fields because so many horses will be eligible for each race.

While this may seem like a radical concept, it is not. Few countries outside of North American have claiming races. Instead, a rating system similar to what Equibase is putting together here are used to group horses and ensure competitive races. The difference is that the ratings in most places are derived by the racing office and they do not used computer-based numbers.

Then there's the Meadowlands. Many of the Standardbred races there are based on grouping horses based on ratings provided by TrackMaster. Eight of the 15 races held Saturday night at the Meadowlands were TrackMaster races. All but one drew a full field of 10 and the winning payoffs were all over the place, a sign of good, competitive racing. The lowest priced TrackMaster winner paid $5, while there were three winners who paid $23 or more.

“I was critical of them at first,” said Dave Little, a handicapper who is part of the Meadowlands simulcast team. “But now I see that they create competitive fields The TrackMaster ratings create evenly matched racing, which is what we all want.”

Scott Warren is the Standardbred racing secretary at the Meadowlands and he too is a fan of the ratings system.

“Some people were totally against it,” Warren said. “For me, as the racing secretary, It's another tool for a racing secretary to utilize. It's been successful. With Freehold closing, that was one of the tracks that utilized it, and we gained some of their horses and the ratings helped us know where those horses belonged. With TrackMaster, they could move up for a start after a win and then drop down the next time out if they lost. It's all decided by whatever algorithm TrackMaster uses. Sometimes they may disagree with the number a horse gets, but it's worked out well. It's helped us. The tracks surrounding us in Pennsylvania and New York don't use TrackMaster, so those horses are either going to have to race in a claimer or race way above their heads. It will be interesting to see how this works for Thoroughbreds. I've used TrackMaster for a while, first at Vernon Downs and now at the Meadowlands. A lot of horsemen were against it at first. My job as a racing secretary is to have a race with a 3-1 favorite and these horsemen want their horses to go off at 3-5. If it works for us, I don't see why it wouldn't work for the Thoroughbreds.”

The first Equibase races scheduled for Santa Anita are on the card for Friday. The first race is set to go on the 6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course and is open to fillies and mares rated between 80 and 95. According to Matt Hegarty of the Daily Racing Form, there are 140 horses based in Southern California that qualify, but many may not want to enter in a down-the-hill turf race.

You can easily find the ratings for your horses on Equibase, which now lists the number. For horses gearing up for the Breeders' Cup Classic, Forever Young (Jpn) (Reel Steel {Jpn}) is a 106. Among the American based horses Journalism is on top with a 104, somehow getting a better rating than his rival Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who got a 103.

By way of comparison, Chief Buckeye (Trappe Shot), the morning line favorite in a $5,000 claimer Tuesday at Mahoning Valley is rated as a 59.

One complaint that is circulating is that people fear the Equibase races will replace claiming races. That's not going to happen, but would it be such a bad thing if it did? One of the many problems of claiming races is that some trainers will enter unsound horses hoping that someone claims their damaged goods. Claiming races are also where the suspected juicers are most likely to show up. Horses come and go from barns, which is not good them, and often land in the hands of someone who looks like they have an edge.

If this is successful at Santa Anita, you'll likely see it spread to other tracks. Having so many problems filling races, Santa Anita has nothing to lose and management deserves praise for trying something that might help fill the entry box.

CAW Players and the Breeders' Cup
Sorry to see that during the Breeders' Cup, the CAW players will be allowed to make win bets up to the very last second. Shortly after the traditional summer meet began, Del Mar, like NYRA, would not let the CAW players make win bets within two minutes of a race. That takes away their edge and eliminates the constant problem of seeing horses go into the gate at 4-1 and then they go down to 8-5 as they cross the wire in front. From a perception point, it's a terrible look, not something that the Breeders' Cup needs.

It also doesn't really hurt the CAW players all that much. They are still allowed to make their last-second bets in all the other pools.

The post Give The Equibase Ratings System a Chance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Less than two weeks before the Breeders' Cup, a quartet of hopefuls–highlighted by GISW Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca)–turned in six-furlongs works Sunday at Santa Anita.

With jockey Juan Hernandez aboard, Sweet Azteca was clocked officially in a swift 1:10.80. Trainer Richard Baltas timed the drill in 1:11.20.

Also working six furlongs on the main track Sunday, all for trainer Bob Baffert, wereTDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard Nysos (Nyquist) (1:11.60), Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) (1:11.80) and last year's juvenile champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) (1:12.60).

Nysos and Citizen Bull are each targeting the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile while Nevada Beach, winner of the GI Goodwood last time out, is slated to run in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

As for Sweet Azteca, will contest the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at seven furlongs on Nov. 1. Sunday's drill was her second since being forced to miss work in late September due to illness.

“I wanted a good work from her,” Baltas said. “She did a little blow at the end, but that's fine, she needed it. She missed a work. Now we're two weeks out and I think this puts us where we need to be.”

Sweet Azteca won the GII Great Lady M at Los Alamitos in July and the GIII Rancho Bernando going seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 24. She returned to the work tab 28 days later on Sept. 21 but then had a 20-day gap before working again on Oct. 11.

“She wasn't real sick, her blood work was good. She was just sick enough not to work,” Baltas said.

Sweet Azteca is campaigned by breeder Pamela Zeibarth. Last year, when trained by Michael McCarthy, Sweet Azteca won the GI Beholder Mile, Great Lady M and Rancho Bernardo, but bypassed the Filly & Mare Sprint after finishing a dull fourth in the GIII Chillingworth at Santa Anita four weeks ahead of the race.

Also on the tab was champion Straight No Chaser (Speightster), who will try and defend his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Trained by Dan Blacker, Straight No Chaser drilled five furlongs in 1:00.60. The 6-year-old most recently returned from a 5 ½-month layoff and finished third as the odds-on favorite in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 28.

Also working for Baffert was Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso), who is pointed to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The filly was clocked going five furlongs in :59.40. It was the second-fastest of 71 works at the distance. Bottle of Rouge most recently won the GI Del Mar Debutante going seven furlongs in her stakes debut on Sept. 6.

Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who will make a third try at winning the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, worked a bullet on the training track for trainer Phil D'Amato. Motorious was timed going five furlongs in :59.20, the fastest of 15 works at the distance. A 7-year-old gelding, Motorious in two starts this year won the GIII Daytona sprinting on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in June and the GIII Green Flash via disqualification at Del Mar on Aug. 30.

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The yearling sales season, which set records from summer to fall, makes one final stop for the year with the four-day Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale which gets underway Monday at 11 a.m. in Lexington. The remaining three session begin at 10 a.m. The October sale, which expanded to four days a decade ago, has made itself a must-attend event with an increasingly impressive list of graduates and the 2024 auction set highwater marks for gross and average while producing its lowest buy-back rate in 11 years.

Consignors expect to see another broad bench of buyers when bidding returns to Newtown Paddocks Monday morning.

“Tons of good horses have come out of here,” said Zach Madden, whose Buckland Sales will present 30 yearlings at the four-day auction. “People circle it. As the sale has gotten bigger in size, I think it's broadened the buying base a bit, which is obviously a good thing. You get more eyes on horses.”

Those 'eyes' will come from near and far, according to Matt Lyons of Candy Meadows Sales.

“The pinhookers are always active and I think they have had a pretty good year, so they will be back,” Lyons said. “I would expect some international activity. The Koreans should be there and I would expect some of the Saudi buyers to be there. And the European pinhookers have been coming to the October sale of late, too. So I would expect it to be a pretty broad bench of buyers again.”

While demand has seemed almost insatiable at some points this summer and fall, Madden still expects to see some familiar polarization at the October sale.

“I think it's going to be more of the same,” Madden said of expectations for the October market. “The ones they want, they are going to bowl you over for. We are going to have a healthy number of horses–I think we have 30 over there–I just expect more of the same. They are going to go crazy for 10 or 12 of them and the others we are going to try and move along as best we can.”

Despite the demand, there are still those proverbial hoops to jump through.

“You still have to bring it; you still have to vet, and walk right, and mind your manners, from a horse sense,” Madden said. “You still have to do all the things very well. And then you will get rewarded for it. But a lot of people act like you just run anything up there nowadays and get paid. That's not the case. These buyers and judges of these horses are very good at what they do. A lot of them have a lot of money to throw around and they don't want to buy anything that has a flaw.”

Lyons had a similar assessment.

“Keeneland was a great sale, if you had the right horse,” Lyons said. “But if you had the wrong sire or a little ding on the X-rays, it was the same as ever before. For the right ones, they probably brought a couple of ticks above what they were bringing in other years.”

Still the competitive marketplace has had a positive effect on the middle market as buyers who were shut out have had to branch out to other sales, according to Madden.

“The middle market has been a tad bit healthier than it has been, but I think it's just kind of a trickle down from the top,” he said. “The bottom the market is just the same. It's a wedding or a funeral type thing with the majority of them. But I have friends and clients and agents who had to hit up Timonium and go to Ocala, too, just because they still needed horses.”

Candy Meadows Sales will offer 10 yearlings at the October sale and all will be making their first appearance in a sales ring this year. For Lyons, the later sales date, as well as the more relaxed format, are a perfect match for some horses.

“When you get late into September when you are ship, show and sell, you are showing one day and if you don't get it right or if you've got one short-lister looking for 10 people from Ocala and the horse goes out there and doesn't do right and you don't make that list, you can miss a lot of people,” Lyons said. “Whereas, I think the advantage of October is that you are there for a few days and there is enough time for people to see the horses. If I felt like I had a nice horse who was going to go too late in September and might not benefit from showing one day and selling the next day, I might pull the horse back for October.”

Lyons continued, “And there are some horses who just mature so well on their own this time of year that they are not as hard to prep as when you are trying to get ready for an earlier sale. They are almost developing on their own and they don't need as much heavy prep as we might do to push one to get into September.”

With an open format and 1,601 catalogued yearlings, shoppers will have to cover a lot of ground heading into sale time.

“There are enough people who have bought good horses out of the October sale–if you look at the front page of the catalogue every year and you see how many good horses have come out of the sale–there are enough statistics to show that there are a lot of good horses in that sale every year,” Lyons said. “I think a lot of the buyers will have to be there and with the way the catalogue is formatted, the best horse could be hip one or it could be on the last day of the sale. So you really have to work it.”

Four yearlings brought $500,000 or more during the 2024 October sale, led by a $550,000 colt by Curlin. In all, 1,125 yearlings sold last year for a gross of $58,940,500. The average was $52,392 and the median was $20,000. The buy-back rate was 17.0%.

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Resolute Racing's Village Voice (GB) (Zarak {Fr}) completed her first breeze back on Sunday since winning the Oct. 5 GIII Waya at Belmont at the Big A as she prepares for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Trained by Chad Brown, the 5-year-old breezed a half-mile in :50.16 seconds in company with Alimara (Fr) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) over the Oklahoma training turf at Saratoga.

“Just a little maintenance half on the turf,” said Brown. “I thought she was moving really well. Her first work back since her win. I thought it was just what we were looking for. She'll have one more work next week and then head out to take a shot at the Breeders' Cup.”

Village Voice, a 1,300,000 gns purchase at the 2024 Tattersalls December Mare Sale. made her first start for Brown off a nearly one-year layoff in the 11-furlong Waya.

“I expected her to run well. I knew the layoff was going to be something for her to overcome. I was quite impressed that off nearly a year, she was able to have that kick and beat a field of horses that were fit and in form,” Brown said. “I was very pleased to see it, I wasn't surprised. She was training well, I just needed to see her do it off a layoff, which was a big ask and she came through. She could be a top-class filly.”

Brown is a four-time Filly and Mare Turf-winning trainer.

“It's very challenging,” Brown said. “I find that race, because again it is a three-turn race, a lot of it depends on who is coming over. The American horses, generally those aren't our best horses going that far, going that distance. The way I look at it is, if she's a Grade II, Grade III filly right now, I think she can be a Grade I horse. But that's what all of the American horses are, so she clearly fits with the American horses.”

Village Voice made 12 prior starts overseas for conditioner Jessica Harrington, earning four wins and four group placings, including victories in the 1 1/2-mile Listed Prix des Tourelles last September at Saint-Cloud and the Group 3 Prix de Flore going 1 5/16 miles in October 2023 there.

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Graded stakes winners Bring Theband Home (Into Mischief) and Final Accord (War of Will) posted their final works for trainer Mark Casse over Belmont's training track on Sunday in preparation for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar.

Bring Theband Home, winner of the GII Troy Stakes at Saratoga this summer, will run in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint while GIII Matron scorer Final Accord is expected to run in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“We thought they both went really well, and we're excited,” Casse said. “I expect both of them to run very big in California.”

Live Oak Plantation's homebred Bring Theband Home was caught by NYRA clockers covering a half-mile in :47.11 in his first work back since finishing seventh in the Oct. 4 GII Nearctic at Woodbine.

“Bring Theband Home kind of threw a clunker at Woodbine, and it was a head-scratcher for us, so we brought him back to New York where he likes it, and he worked like his old self this morning,” Casse said. “He trained so-so into his last race, which is not like him. We ran him and Javier [Castellano] said he just wasn't himself. We got him out of there as soon as possible and this morning, he was a fire plug. He was on his game.”

Gary Barber and Peter Deutsch's juvenile filly Final Accord covered a half-mile in :47.63, according to NYRA clockers.

“She went around there and worked well, and she always shows that she's a little special,” Casse said. “She's 2-for-2 and has done everything right. I think she has a real big future. My only regret is that she hasn't had a two-turn race, but I think the added distance is absolutely going to help her–you saw that in her win in the Matron with how she came running late. The mile will be perfect for her.”

Casse noted that both Final Accord and Bring Theband Home are slated to ship to California on Saturday, and that their Belmont breezes were their final works before the Breeders' Cup.

In addition to his two turf stars, Casse will send out one of the top contenders in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff with D.J. Stable's GISW sophomore Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro), last seen finishing a head second to Gin Gin in the GI Spinster Oct. 5 at Keeneland.

Casse said he was “extremely pleased” with Nitrogen's effort, which came on the heels of a 1 1/2-length victory in Saratoga's GI Alabama Aug. 16.

“She's doing great,” he said. “Things didn't go exactly as planned, and we would have liked to have won, but I was just looking at her record in her last eight starts, and she's only a head and a nose from being undefeated this year,” Casse said, alluding to the Spinster and her nose second to Fionn in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational on turf in June at the Spa. “It's been against nothing but the best of her company.”

Casse added that Nitrogen is expected to breeze on Wednesday or Thursday at Churchill Downs before shipping to California on Sunday.

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Godolphin's Sovereignty (Into Mischief) breezed five furlongs in 1:01.39 over the Oklahoma dirt training track at Saratoga Sunday as he prepares for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty was piloted in the work by assistant trainer Neil Poznansky, starting slightly in front of workmate Playa Del Mar [1:02.27] before kicking away in the stretch and finishing several lengths in front. NYRA Clockers caught Sovereignty through splits of :24 2/5, :36 3/5 and galloping out in 1:14 3/5 over the fast track.

“He looked good,” said the Hall of Famer. “He is not one of those horses that works and breaks the stopwatch. He has good solid works, good useful works, that is kind of him. He does what he has to do and what you have him do.”

Sovereignty won five-of-six starts this year, including the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes and most recently, the GI DraftKings Travers on Aug. 23 at the Spa.

“The main thing is you bring the right horse and get them there in good shape,” Mott said. “The horses are all going to be ready to run. They are going to be fit. Everybody is going to have their horses fit.”

Bill Mott | Sarah Andrew

Sovereignty is slated to ship on Wednesday and will work Sunday or Monday at Del Mar, according to Mott.

“I don't have any reason to think he wouldn't adapt quickly or well enough,” Mott said. “I'm going just a little bit early. A lot of guys like to do their last work and ship and that's fine, the only reason I want to go a few days early is travel problems, you know what I mean, get it over with.”

Also working for Mott Sunday, SW and GSP Quiet Street (Street Boss) breezed five furlongs in 1:01.44 over the Oklahoma turf in company with MGSP Royal Majesty (GB) (Frankel {GB}) [1:01.65]. Quiet Street, a homebred for Godolphin, is targeting the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Oct. 31.

Quiet Street (outside) works in company with Royal Majesty on Sunday | Sarah Andrew

Mott also reported that Juddmonte's Scylla (Tapit) is targeting the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. The 5-year-old homedbred breezed a half-mile in :48.20 on Saturday at Churchill Downs. In her most recent start, the daughter of MGISW Close Hatches (First Defence) finished third in the nine-furlong GI Spinster on Oct. 5 at Keeneland off of three graded placings in sprints.

“I haven't talked to Garrett [O'Rourke of Juddmonte], but as far as I know, we are going to run in the mile and an eighth Distaff,” said Mott. “She ran well enough [in the Spinster] and we thought maybe she didn't prove enough and the sprint division is very deep, and maybe the other division looks like it lost the reigning Horse of the Year [Thorpedo Anna] and a couple others.”

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5th-Belmont The Big A, $85,000, Msw, 10-17, 2yo, 1m, 1:36.11, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.
PALADIN (c, 2, Gun Runner–Secret Sigh, by Tapit) scored his first career win here, albeit not in a way his connections likely believed he would after Renegade (Into Mischief)–first across the line–was disqualified to second.

The even-money favorite for this unveiling, Paladin was never far from the front as he pushed Credit History (Nyquist) through an opening quarter in :23.20 and a half in :46.48. Asked to take command passing the half-mile, he had a slim margin coming off the bend as Renegade loomed the danger behind him. The pair came together inside the final furlong and distanced themselves from the field before Paladin found himself on the receiving end of late contact in the stretch. They hit the wire heads apart, but the inquiry sign was immediate posted afterwards.

After a Stewards' inquiry, it was determined that Renegade had impeded Paladin in the final yards of their duel, and the order was reversed with the son of Into Mischief being disqualified to second as the Chad Brown-trainee was elevated to the first-out score.

Paladin was a $1.9-million yearling pick up at the boutique FTSAUG sale across town in 2024 by M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for a partnership that would ultimately comprise of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith, and Summer Wind Equine LLC.

The victor is out of an unraced daughter of MGSW India (Hennessy), making the dam a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) in Japan and SW Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro), herself mother of SP Padma (Tapit). Secret Sigh's first to the races was unplaced Pippi Longstocking (Frankel {GB}), who foaled a Practical Joke colt this past spring, while placed Stop the Press (Uncle Mo) was her first to hit the board. Paladin is her most recent of racing age and she has a yearling colt by Into Mischief in the wings. Her 2025 Elite Power foal died.

This is the immediate female family of Pilfer, most famous as the dam of MGISW To Honor and Serve (Bernardini) and his full-sister GISW Angela Renee. A third full-sibling to that pair named Cara Caterina would go on to claim MGISW La Cara (Street Sense) to her broodmare tally. A full-sister to India named GSP-Eng Sing Softly went on in her second career to produce French Group-placed Coetzee (Frankel {GB}). Sales history: $1,900,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $46,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B., Smith, Derrick, Brant, Peter M., Smith, Brook T. and Summer Wind Equine, LLC; B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.

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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.

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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.

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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].”

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