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The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and Jockeys' Guild, in partnership with the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, co-hosted a mental health roundtable on Tuesday, Sept. 16, in the U.S. Capitol. The event brought together jockeys and professional athletes from women's soccer and football to share their personal experiences and highlight both the common and unique mental health challenges they face.

“We are committed to keeping the dialogue going on mental health challenges for professional jockeys,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “The more we talk about it, the more jockeys feel they can reach out for help. We want them to know that mental health is as important as physical health—and that support is available.”

“The well-being of our members extends far beyond the racetrack,” said Terry Meyocks, President and CEO of Jockeys' Guild. “By bringing jockeys together with athletes from other sports, we can shed light on shared struggles, reduce stigma and ensure riders know that resources and support are within reach.”

Roundtable participants included Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez; retired jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Rosie Napravnik; retired NFL player and recovery advocate Montee Ball, Jr.; and Ashley Hatch, forward for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League.

U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Andy Barr (KY-06), both long-time supporters of HISA, also delivered remarks. Rep. Tonko, whose district includes Saratoga Race Course, spoke about his work as a member of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus. Rep. Barr, whose district includes Keeneland, highlighted the interaction of recovery and workforce development within the equine world by presenting Frank Taylor with a statement entered into the Congressional Record. The statement recognized Taylor's organization, Stable Recovery, for its extraordinary work helping people achieve sobriety and build careers in the equine industry.

The post HISA and Jockeys’ Guild Host Professional Athlete Mental Health Roundtable in the U.S. Capitol appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Ken Freirich, who was part of the ownership group behind Horse of the Year Flightline, has made a $500,000 gift to Breeders' Cup Charities in an effort to positively impact the Thoroughbred industry's culture of giving by illustrating the importance of long-term commitments, the Breeders' Cup said via a press release on Friday.

Funds from Freirich will be released over a 3 1/2-year period. This major gift is in addition to the $100,000 match the international philanthropist provided to Breeders' Cup Charities in July during the organization's Annual Day of Giving, which raised a total of $200,963.

From the gift, Freirich will utilize $50,000 for a match this fall for funds raised during Breeders' Cup Charities' “Champions Give Back” campaign, which kicks off Oct. 1 and runs through the World Championships on Oct. 31-Nov. 1. In addition to the unprecedented donation of all royalties received on Breeders' Cup merchandise, the campaign will include several fundraising initiatives which will be announced in the coming weeks.

In addition to his financial commitment, Freirich will take on an advisory role with Breeders' Cup Charities.

The post Horse Owner Ken Freirich Gifts $500k To Breeders’ Cup Charities appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Hip 2977, a colt by City of Light bred by Lambholm South, sold for $95,000 to highlight the start of Book 5 at the Keeneland September sale. Photo courtesy of Summerfield.

Colts by City of Light and Yaupon led the way for New York-breds sold during the first two Book 5 sessions of the Keeneland September yearling sale Wednesday and Thursday in Lexington.

Hip 2977, a colt by City of Light out of the unraced Blame mare Rose’ to Blame, led the way on a $95,000 bid from Arch Bloodstock, agent.

Bred by Lambholm South, foaled at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater and consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield, agent, the colt is the third foal out of Rose’ to Blame.

Rose’ to Blame is the dam of the unraced 2-year-old New York-bred Liam’s Map colt who sold for $200,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale, and the multiple placed 3-year-old Twirling Candy filly Mobula.

Hip 2911, a colt by Yaupon bred by Hidden Lake Farm and 3C Stables, sold for $85,000 at Keeneland September. Photo courtesy of Highgate Sales.

Hip 2911, a colt by Yaupon out of the Grade 3-winning More Than Ready mare More Than Love, commanded a final bid of $85,000 from HTC/Voric Stables.

Bred by Hidden Lake Farm LLC and 3C Stables LLC, foaled at Hidden Lake in Stillwater and consigned by Highgate Sales, agent, the colt is the seventh foal out of the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes winner More Than Love. She’s the dam of three New York-bred winners – $295,321-earner Bar Fourteen, $129,099-earner National Honor and Nicky Jolene.

Keeneland reported sales on 33 of the 38 New York-breds offered Wednesday and Thursday for $1,004,500, an average price of $30,440 and median of $23,000. Overall, 57 New York-bred yearlings have sold for $5,686,500, an average price of $99,764 and median of $40,000.

The sale continues with the final two sessions at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

The post Colts by City of Light, Yaupon highlight start of Book 5 at Keeneland September appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

An Ashview Stud-consigned colt by Liam's Map (hip 3681) became the last of 29 horses to breach the $100,000 threshold during the second of two sessions in Book 5A of the Keeneland September Sale in Lexington Thursday afternoon, selling to bloodstock agent Chad Schumer, agent, for $480,000. And when the dust had settled on the 10th session of the auction, gross receipts had nudged past $500 million, extending the record for the sale.

“Surpassing $500 million at the September Sale marks a pivotal moment for our sport–a milestone the entire industry can celebrate together,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “This is a powerful testament to the health of the sport, and it reflects the remarkable energy, optimism and momentum we've been experiencing together across this entire sale.”

“New buyers are stepping in and making a tangible impact, which is truly a win for everyone connected to the game,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “But just as important are the breeders and consignors who have continued to entrust their horses to us year after year. Their confidence is the foundation of these results, and this moment is undeniable proof of what we can achieve as a community. We're so proud that Keeneland continues to be the stage where we see this growth and enthusiasm come to life.”

Also in the final 30 minutes of trade, a colt by the evergreen Ghostzapper took a short-lived lead at the top of the leaderboard when hammering for $200,000, equaling the best price from the corresponding day of trade 12 months ago, when a respectable 13 horses were knocked down for six-figure pricetags.

For the session, Keeneland reported sales on 299 horses for in-ring turnover of $12,600,500, a towering increase of 35.40% over the corresponding session in 2024. The average of $42,149 leaped by 25.89%, while the session median settled at $30,000, an improvement of 15.38%.

“I have never seen a market like this,” said Schumer, who signed the ticket on the day's dearest horse on behalf of KGS. “I have followed up some horses to do some breezing in Europe and I wasn't just getting outbid, I was getting completely blown out of the water. Not even close. This market is unreal. It's wonderful to see.”

The September Sale continues Friday with the first of two sessions of the rebranded Book 5B, with bidding to commence at 10 a.m. ET. The auction concludes on Saturday.

A 'Book 2 Or Book 3' Horse Shines In Book 5

Schumer was making his seventh and by far most expensive September purchase for an entity called KGS, described by the agent as 'foreign-based clients that are starting to ramp up what they are doing in the States.' Schumer, who frequently represents Saudi Arabian interests at auction, indicated this ownership group is based elsewhere overseas.

Schumer said he was duly impressed with hip 3681 and fully expected the colt to be popular in addition to being pricey.

“He's a beautiful colt, he vetted well and it's a nice pedigree,” he said. “I thought he was the best colt on the day. He was very correct and a tremendous mover with a great walk on him and loads of quality. He's a horse that wouldn't have been out of place in Book 2 or Book 3, but just a really beautiful colt and we are delighted to have him.”

The Apr. 20 foal was bred by Richard Santulli's Colts Neck Stables and is the latest produce from Introduced (El Padrino), a three-time stakes winner and earner of better than $400,000 in turf sprints. The colt's third dam was the popular New Jersey-bred turf distaffer Who Did It And Run (Polish Numbers), who beat the boys in the GII Jersey Derby in 1998.

Like many other sales professionals, Schumer has been overwhelmed with what has transpired in the Keeneland sales pavilion over the last 10 days.

“Everyone is talking about the bonus depreciation and the stock market, but I really think there is a renewed interest in horse racing, culturally,” he opined. “[Social media influencer] Griffin [Johnson] brought a lot of interest to racing, I think the documentary that Netflix did brought a ton of interest and suddenly there is a surge. When you couple that with purses the way they are, it's real money. An allowance horse can earn $200,000 or $300,000 and I think that elevates the value of all horses, especially Kentucky-breds.”

When the curtain dropped on the 2024 September Sale, gross receipts were just shy of $412 million. Schumer was having a difficult time comprehending the figures from this year.

“It's a staggering number, but what's even more noteworthy…imagine an extra $100 million injected into the market,” he said, emphasizing, 'A hundred million!'

“It's mindboggling. I think if this sale was up $20 million, we'd all be congratulating ourselves. Kudos to Keeneland, they've done a great job and to the breeders that have brought these horses to market. This particular horse was bred by the Lysters, they're excellent breeders and the horses are raised very naturally and that's attractive.”

Stars Align For Lysters, Santulli

As recently as 2022, the Lyster Family's Ashview Farm were responsible for a seven-figure seller at the September Sale, consigning a $1.05-million filly by Justify–Fully Living (Unbridled's Song). While the sale of Thursday's session topper was somewhat less flashy, in relative terms, the farm's Gray Lyster was extremely enthusiastic nevertheless.

“This horse could have been in Book 2 or Book 3, he was a very nice colt,” said Lyster, echoing Schumer's assessment. “Multiple people told me he was the nicest horse on the day and we're just very pleased that the money is still here.

He continued, “I think it's a testament to the market. If you bring a nice horse up there, they're going to pay you and nobody is a fool. You bring a really nice colt to any session and you're going to get paid in a really good market.”

There was plenty to recommend the colt, Lyster said.

Bryan, Wayne and Gray Lyster | ThoroStride

“He's just super athletic, everyone liked him,” he said. “He was always on his toes, everything fits. He's well-balanced and well-made. He showed himself very well and showed his athleticism. He vetted perfectly and the stars lined up.”

There were multiple bidders at higher levels, according to the consignor.

Ashview has had a long and fruitful relationship with Colts Neck Stables' Rich Santulli, and Gray Lyster expressed his gratitude for the successful businessman at the close of the session.

“Rich Santulli is a friend before he's a client. He is the greatest client a farm could ever hope to work for,” he said. “He never questions anything you say, he has opinions, but he is the most supportive guy and you just want to do well for him.

“He's a throwback owner in the sense that you never question his loyalty,” Lyster added. “He is easy to give bad news to because he feels worse for you than he does for himself. He is the greatest, literally. I'd do anything for him.”

Drain the Clock Quietly Making Presence Felt

This year's class of freshmen yearling sires is an extremely classy group, with the young offspring of Flightline, Life Is Good, Jackie's Warrior and Corniche all averaging better than $200,000 through Book 5. But Gainesway freshman Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music) has created some buzz of his own, with 36 horses selling at an average of just under $85,000. Fully a third of those have fetched prices in excess of $100,000, with a top result of $250,000 for a colt out of Outkickthecoverage (Hard Spun).

During Thursday's 10th session, the 7-year-old stallion was responsible for a pair of six-figure sellers, each returning a sound profit on weanling-to-yearling resale.

“We are very excited with what he's throwing,” said Gainesway Stallion Director Ryan Norton. “They're very well-balanced individuals, everyone is very excited about him. Obviously the sales results show that. He's replicating himself. He is a very well-balanced horse himself, a fast-looking horse and his offspring reflect those qualities.

“He is a good-sized horse and he's putting good size into his offspring,” Norton added. “I've had several people approach me to say that these Drain the Clocks are some of the most consistent-looking foals of any stallions on the sales grounds.”

Drain the Clock | Sara Gordon

With the aforementioned Jackie's Warrior making his mark with his first crop at the sales and with Complexity punching above his weight, Norton believes that Maclean's Music is making the offspring of his sire sons that much more attractive. But he also feels the Drain the Clocks could have some scope.

“Maclean's Music is definitely speed, but him being out of an Arch mare and with some Pivotal (GB) down there [in the pedigree] as well, these horses should be able to stretch out as well.”

Norton is looking forward to next year's breeze-up sales and the racetrack beyond that for the progeny of Drain the Clock, who have appealed to end-users and 2-year-old pinhookers alike thus far.

“They're in high demand and this time next year we'll know where we are at, but we are very excited for the future,” he said.

Norton said that Drain the Clock covered 136 mares this past season.

 

 

Together, we made history. Thank you. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/zOuETnlO93

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 18, 2025

The post A-Plus Finish For Book 5A As Turnover Exceeds A Half-Billion Dollars at Keeneland September appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Hawthorne Race Course and Fairmount Park came into Thursday's Illinois Racing Board (IRB) after having considered and swapped back and forth 12 different versions of racing calendars for 2026 that the two tracks hoped would dovetail for the benefit of all racing in the state.

But as the Sept. 18 meeting approached the three-hour mark and differences remained over many of the same issues that have complicated the Illinois calendar the past several seasons–chief among them the state's tenuous Thoroughbred population and the fact that Hawthorne also must switch its racing surface twice in the year to accommodate Standardbred meets–stakeholders from both tracks took more than an hour's recess to hammer out a compromise that more or less will preserve the status quo from 2025 into 2026.

Hawthorne, just outside of Chicago in Stickney, will race 63 dates between Mar. 29 and Nov. 1 with 2:40 p.m. (Central) post times on Sundays and Thursdays.

Fairmount, 280 miles southwest of Hawthorne and just over the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri, will race 57 dates between Apr. 14 and Oct. 27 with 1:30 p.m. (Central) post times on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The 2026 schedule that the IRB approved by a 9-0 vote represents a slight reduction in dates from 2025. This year, Hawthorne had been awarded 80 race dates, but it has already lopped 15 programs off that schedule. Fairmount had been assigned 55 dates for 2025.

Much as TDN reported one year ago when the issue of race dates was last addressed, Illinois is still struggling to recover from the twin blows of the 2021 closure of Arlington International Racecourse and the inability of the state's two surviving Thoroughbred venues to follow through with building their proposed racinos that the state legalized back in 2019.

While Fairmount already has a temporary casino in the grandstand open and track officials told the Illinois Gaming Board last month that owner Accel Entertainment has contracts in place to break ground in November with the goal of having additional gaming space ready by the start of the 2026 meet, Hawthorne's racino has been plagued by setbacks.

“We came in here last year with the hope of announcing our project,” Tim Carey, Hawthorne's president and general manager, said on Thursday. “We had an internal issue to Hawthorne that we weren't able to overcome with our investor. We unfortunately had to go back out to the [financing] market.

“We have done that,” Carey said. “We're committed to doing this project. We're in a very, very good position. Again, this year, we anticipate that we will be able to make an announcement sometime in the fourth quarter in terms of where we are in the project. We anticipate that if we announce [details about racino construction] in the fourth quarter [of 2025], we would be open by the fourth quarter of 2027.”

Executives with the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (ITHA), which represents horsemen at Hawthorne, stressed to IRB commissioners that the racino can't come fast enough.

“In 2022 at Hawthorne, we raced for $14 million on the Thoroughbred side,” said David McCaffrey, the ITHA's executive director, noting that Hawthorne currently has a horse population of about 650. “In 2023 we raced for $13 million. In 2024 we raced for $11.5 million. This year, the meet's not over, but if we stay on the same clip, and there's not any reason to suggest that we won't, we'll have raced for $9 million. So we're already almost $2.5 million lower than we were last year.”

McCaffrey continued: “There is a readily available, legal, proven, dramatically effective antidote to our problems. It's a racino. And Tim acknowledges it. It has to be done. There has to be a deal that gets the casino built, or we're going to disappear.”

Added ITHA president Chris Block, “This upcoming year is absolutely pivotal. The term 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' is pretty rampant on our backstretch. Guys are really struggling to pay the bills. Owners are really struggling to stay in the game.

“I told this to Tim,” Block said. “I just hope there's an industry left here to save. We don't have any [Chicago-area track] left to tie ourselves to. It's Hawthorne, and it's the Carey family. I told Tim I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to hope that he can see it through. But it's got to come really quick here, because the balance [of survival] is falling way on the other side.”

At Fairmount, the outlook is slightly healthier, according to Illinois Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president Jim Watkins, who represents horsemen there.

“We're not on life support. We're in the ICU. We're still growing,” Watkins said.

But, Watkins added, “Our ecosystem is still quite fragile.”

Vince Gabbert, the general manager at Fairmount Park, said that with regard to the compromises made to the overall state racing schedule, “There's things that we're giving up on our end, knowing that everybody's got a little pain in this as we work through this and try to solve some of the problems.”

The post With Illinois Still Awaiting Racinos Legalized In ’19, Hawthorne And Fairmount Opt For Status-Quo Schedules In ’26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Stone Farm and Upland Flats Racing's Swore battles back along the inside to prevail in the $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap (NSA-G1), a 2 1/2-mile steeplechase for older horses during the Belmont at the Big A meet. 

After competitive graded stakes losses in his only two races of 2025, Dresden Row lines up as the 6-5 morning line favorite in the CA$150,000 Durham Cup (G3) Sept. 20 at Woodbine. 

Multiple graded stakes-winning trainer Richard Robert Root died Aug. 25. He was 82.

Keeneland has announced that Taylor Made Sales Agency will offer a share in Not This Time at the second edition of the Keeneland Championship Sale, to be held in the Del Mar paddock Oct. 29, two days before the Breeders' Cup.

Topping the Sept. 17 ninth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was a colt by Midshipman purchased by Wesley Ward for $270,000 from the consignment of Nursery Place, agent.

Jamie Insole was a man on a mission at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, with the Urloxhey Stables joint-trainer featuring among the buyers at the Kentucky bonanza via a daughter of sire-on-fire Justify. 

David Fiske, racing manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds, doesn't have a solid explanation for Magnitude's performance in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, a third-place finish in a field of five and more than 20 lengths behind Sovereignty.

The Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park has seen its grade and purse gradually reduced since it was moved from Calder Race Course a dozen years ago, but the race has experienced a renaissance in its impact on the female sprint division

2023 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio (Race Day) will target the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. confirmed Thursday.

The now 6-year-old, who started the year with a win in the GI Pegasus World Cup, has returned to Gulfstream Park from Saratoga, where he is scheduled to breeze next week for the first time since finishing fourth in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Aug. 31.

“Obviously, things didn't go the way we wanted in the Jockey Club. We're going to regroup in the Mile,” Joseph told Gulfstream media. “The Mile is probably going to come up the lesser spot. He's already won the Classic. If we can add the Mile to his resume, that would be a good addition. Right now, I think he'll train up to the Mile”

The Jockey Club Gold Cup, which wound up a disastrous trip for several contenders after 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) unseated jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. shortly after the break, was White Abarrio's third consecutive fourth place finish. He was also off the board in both the GI Whitney Stakes and the GI Metropolitan Handicap both at Saratoga.

The post White Abarrio To Train Up To The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Taylor Made Sales Agency will offer a share in sire Not This Time at the second edition of the Keeneland Championship Sale, to be held in the Del Mar Paddock on Wednesday, Oct. 29, two days before the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Keeneland said in a press release on Thursday morning.

The share will include all income from Not This Time's 2025 breeding season, providing immediate returns, and is offered by Aaron and Marie Jones LLC, an operation that has bred and raised top-class horses for decades.

Not This Time (by Giant's Causeway) has quickly established himself as one of North America's premier stallions. Laying claim to eight Grade I winners, he is among one of the few stallions in history to sire Eclipse Award winners on both dirt and turf, following in the footsteps of his sire.

Not This Time's momentum continues this year with emerging stars from his latest 2-year-old crop, including 'TDN Rising Star' It's Our Time, an impressive Saratoga debut winner in August.

“Not This Time has quickly established himself as one of North America's most exciting stallions, with runners winning at the highest levels and yearlings bringing top prices in the sales ring,” Taylor Made Director of New Business Development Frank Taylor said. “What makes this opportunity stand out is that the buyer will receive all income from Not This Time's 2025 breeding season, meaning returns start right away. Chances like this don't come around often, and we're thrilled to offer this share at the Championship Sale.”

During Keeneland's current September Yearling sale, Not This Time has been among the most sought-after sires with 14 yearlings bringing $1 million or more–topped by a $2 million filly. During Week 1, sales of his progeny sold for $31 million, with an average of $736,861, and he was the leading sire of two sessions.

“The incredible success of Not This Time's yearlings at our September sale underscores just how much global demand there is for his progeny and how well they've delivered on racing's biggest stages,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “To present a share in a stallion of this caliber–and to do so on the unique stage of the Championship Sale–is a rare and exciting opportunity.”

For more information about the stallion share, please contact Frank Taylor at 859 221-0788.

The post Not This Time Share To Be Offered During Keeneland Championship Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Keeneland September Book 5 opened Wednesday with continued strong trade across the board led by a Midshipman colt (hip 3056) who topped the session at $270,000 to trainer Wesley Ward.

Increases were seen on all fronts as 303 yearlings sold through the ring for $15,405,500, up 12.09% from last year's Session 9 gross of $13,744,000 for 308 horses. Average price of $50,843 was 13.94% above $44,623 last year and the median increased 14.29% from $35,000 to $40,000.

Cumulatively, Keeneland has sold 2,074 yearlings through the ring for $487,629,500 for an average of $235,115 and a median of $150,000. The total is up 23.07% from the corresponding period last year when the gross was $396,213,500 for 2,048 horses. The average rose 21.53% from $193,464 in 2024, while the median increased 36.36% from $110,000.

For the session, Legacy Bloodstock led consignors with sales of $1,247,000 for 29 horses.

Faris Breeding spent $705,000 on seven yearlings to top buyers.

Co-bred and consigned by Nursery Place, the Midshipman colt is the top-priced yearling to sell for his sire, a fact that stunned Nursery's John Mayer.

“Darley texted us and said congratulations, he's the highest priced Midshipman [yearling] sold which I find hard to believe for a good sire like that,” he said.

The colt's first dam Tiz Rae Anna was stakes placed in the Ruthless, Busher and Cicada all at Aqueduct in her own racing career before producing SP Typhoon Fury (Mitole) as her second foal.

“He's a May foal,” Mayer continued. “And he wears that. He's a big, free-ranging mover but he's still an unfinished product. He acts like a rocketship. Rangy but incredibly well balanced and very light on his feet.”

Trainer Wesley Ward, who picked up several yearlings earlier in the sale with classic aspirations, should be able to mold this colt to his tastes, Mayer said.

“I think he's going to do whatever you ask him to do,” he said. “I think he's very fast but I also think he'll run on [longer]. He'll do whatever Wesley wants him to do. I think he'll be very happy.”

As a consigner, Nursery Place has seen plenty of success already this week including selling a Ghostzapper filly (hip 762) for $1,175,000 during the Book 2 opener held last Wednesday. The $270,000 tag on their Midshipman colt matched their co-third highest price of the sale thus far.

“He just came together in the last two hours,” said Mayer. “There were a lot of really good people on him. Did I think he could bring [that price]? I don't know. I told [Ward's agent] Louis DuBois, 'you need to look at this colt because he's what I think you all like' and the next thing you know, Wesley's down at the barn an hour before the sale and boom, it's done.”

The September Sale continues Thursday beginning at 10 a.m. ET and runs each day through Saturday.

Hip 3085, a Knicks Go colt | Keeneland

 

Knicks Go Colt 'Aspires' For More
A Florida-bred colt (hip 3085) became the highest priced yearling from the second crop of Horse of the Year Knicks Go when selling for $210,000 to Aspire Equine early in Wednesday's session at Keeneland September. Consigned by Eaton Sales, the colt was making his second trip to the ring this year and provided a solid pinhook for previous owner MJ Stables who picked up the colt at the OBS Winter Mixed Sale in January for just $30,000.

Bred by Mast Thoroughbreds, the dark bay or brown colt got a timely update when 3-year-old half-sister Khali J (Khozan) broke her maiden on debut at Thistledown for trainer Robert Gorham Aug. 5.

The colt clearly showed well on the end of the shank as Eaton Sales's Reiley McDonald was quick to note.

“The horse has been easy from the word go,” McDonald said. “He has a good a profile as you'll see on any horse. Big, strong colt. He has the most beautiful neck and shoulder. [He] should be in the book of conformation.”

Knicks Go currently ranks fourth on the first crop sire list by progeny earnings, less than $1,000 out of third-place currently held by Darley's Maxfield. He's currently sired 12 winners led by 'TDN Rising Star' and GII Saratoga Special Stakes winner Ewing along with GI Natalma Stakes third La Culasse.

The post Midshipman Leads The Charge As Keeneland Book 5 Kicks Off appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The latest twist in the legal odyssey involving Phil Serpe and the agencies that regulate racing at the federal level was made public late on Tuesday, when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an order staying the issuance of a $25,000 fine that had been imposed against the veteran Thoroughbred trainer barely one day earlier by an administrative law judge (ALJ).

That ALJ, Jay Himes, had been assigned by the FTC itself to adjudicate Serpe's FTC-level appeal of banned-substance charges. In addition to re-imposing the fine that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) had withdrawn earlier this year, the 130-page decision by Himes also criticized various aspects of the agencies' handling of the case.

For nearly half a year, Serpe, a currently suspended, 66-year-old, East Coast-based conditioner, has claimed that the non-pursuit of a fine by HISA and HIWU is an alleged end-around by those agencies to stymie his efforts to prove in a federal lawsuit that he has been wrongfully denied a constitutional right to a jury trial.

Bradford Beilly, an attorney from Serpe's legal team, told TDN on Wednesday that the FTC's order staying the just-imposed fine was abrupt, unexpected and possibly unprecedented with regard to how the FTC has handled previous ALJ decisions involving banned-substance appeals.

“The FTC's so-called 'stay' of the $25,000 fine doesn't change anything,” Beilly told TDN. “The ALJ never said Serpe had to pay it right away in the first place. Under HISA, fines are normally due at the end of a suspension–not up front. I'm not aware of a single case where someone had to pay a fine immediately after getting a two-year suspension.

“The FTC's order looks like more of the same tactics we've seen from HISA–an attempt to sidestep Serpe's Seventh Amendment challenge and block the court from addressing the real harm he's facing,” Beilly said.

Johnny ElHachem, a lawyer representing HISA, wanted the judge handling Serpe's lawsuit to know right away about this latest development by the FTC.

ElHachem wrote in a Wednesday federal court filing that, “Within one business day of the ALJ's decision, the Commission exercised its authority [to] review that decision, issue a briefing schedule, and stay the fine pending its review. That order and the ALJ's decision both underscore why this Court should deny Plaintiff's request for the 'extraordinary and drastic remedy' of a preliminary injunction while administrative proceedings are ongoing…”

ElHachem continued: “…the [FTC's] order staying the imposition of the fine effectively puts the parties back into the same position they were in before the ALJ's decision: [HISA] is not seeking (and has not sought) a fine, and Plaintiff does not owe one. So Plaintiff does not face any imminent, irreparable harm connected to his Seventh Amendment claim.”

Because the FTC's two-page Sept. 15 order did not state any reasons or findings about why the stay was necessary or appropriate, TDN on Wednesday reached out to April Tabor–the secretary of the FTC, who signed that document–to explain the reasoning behind the order and to put the FTC's decision in context.

But that attempt to get the FTC's side of the story did not yield any reply from Tabor prior to deadline for this article.

Last year, when Serpe was first charged by HIWU with a clenbuterol positive in one of his trainees at Saratoga Race Course–a violation that carried a possible two-year ban and $25,000 fine as punishment–the case seemed to hinge on whether or not Serpe would be able to disprove or mitigate the banned-substance findings.

That seemed like a tall task, because since the effective date of HIWU's rules in mid-2023, 12 of the agency's 15 adjudications for clenbuterol had resulted in fines of at least $15,000 and varying suspensions. In just two instances, the anti-doping violations were withdrawn, and in one other case the split sample did not confirm the presence of the drug, so the charge was dropped.

But even as Serpe followed the proper administrative procedures to contest his case via the rules mandated by the FTC, HISA and HIWU, he concurrently filed a federal lawsuit against HISA and the FTC, bringing up a legal point no other trainers facing similar banned-substance penalties had ventured to try: His Oct. 17, 2024, civil complaint cited a United States Supreme Court case that ruled that a federal regulatory agency's enforcement for civil monetary penalties must be brought in a federal court, subject to the Seventh Amendment's jury trial right.

Phil Serpe in 2021 | Sarah Andrew

Put more simply, if HIWU and HISA were going to threaten a fine against Serpe, the trainer asserted that because of that Supreme Court precedent, he was entitled to have his entire case heard in a federal court before a jury, where broader rules of discovery would be in play.

Both the HIWU/HISA proceedings and the lawsuit lingered for eight months until this past spring, when HIWU, at the behest of HISA, withdrew the threat of the $25,000 fine just as Serpe's case was about to go to HIWU arbitration.

At that time, attorneys for the FTC and HISA wrote in an Apr. 24 federal court filing that the move to make the monetary fine go away “moots Plaintiff's Seventh Amendment claim and removes any risk of cognizable harm with respect to it.”

Subsequently, a HIWU arbitrator issued a decision that meted out the exact penalties sought by HIWU and HISA–a two-year suspension, plus a race disqualification and forfeiture of purse winnings.

Over the summer, Serpe's legal team responded with its own series of filings, alleging in a July 15 court document that the agencies' decision to take the fine off the table was “gamesmanship” intended to stymie Serpe's efforts to prove that he has been wrongfully denied a constitutional right to a jury trial.

HISA, in an Aug. 15 legal filing, denied those allegations, writing that Serpe “has completely turned this case on its head.”

After the decision by the HIWU arbitrator, Serpe next appealed to the FTC. The agency assigned Himes as the ALJ, and his decision (dated Sept. 12 but not publicly released until Monday, Sept. 15) contained scathing criticisms of HISA and HIWU in addition to “modifying” the penalty to add back in a $25,000 penalty.

Himes wrote in his decision that HISA's reasoning behind withdrawing the threat of a fine against Serpe “misses the forest for the trees” and put Serpe in a “catch-22” by setting up a situation whereby “Serpe cannot have his Seventh Amendment claim heard either on this review or in his Federal Action.”

Hines continued in his Sept. 12 decision: “That cannot be right…..Suffice it to say at this point that, in my view, the Authority and HIWU have sought to deprive Serpe of the opportunity to have his Seventh Amendment claim heard and resolved….As Serpe rhetorically asks in the Federal Action: 'Will Defendants run this set of plays every time a Covered Person is prosecuted under HISA and seeks to vindicate his Seventh Amendment right?….In executing the Authority's directive, HIWU became complicit in the Authority's wrongful conduct.”

The FTC's response, dated Sept. 15, was swift: Serpe's fine (but not suspension) was stayed, and the FTC ordered a “further review” that the FTC itself will undertake.

The FTC also set a briefing schedule, ordering Serpe's legal team to file the first brief by Oct. 16–but without stating specifically what aspects of the case are going to be reviewed.

Meanwhile, in the separate federal court case, Serpe's renewed motion for a preliminary injunction is still awaiting the judge's decision.

On Monday–after the ALJ's decision re-imposing the fine, but before the FTC stayed it–Serpe's attorney, Beilly, implored the court to rule in the trainer's favor on the injunction.

“No longer 'imminent,' the FTC has now in fact violated Serpe's Seventh Amendment Right,” Beilly wrote. “Regardless of what transpired during the Arbitration hearing, the ALJ has independently (i) found Serpe liable for [the] violation, (ii) confirmed the continuance of the two-year suspension, and (iii) imposed a $25,000 fine–all without a jury trial…

“The FTC's violation has caused Serpe irreparable harm through the various injuries arising out of his two-year suspension, which itself was imposed based upon the administrative proceeding rather than a prior jury trial,” Beilly wrote.

The post Day After FTC Judge Issues Criticisms Of HISA And HIWU In Serpe Case, FTC Orders Halt To Re-Imposed Fine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Let go at odds of 24-5 shipping down from Saratoga to debut going a mile on the Presque Isle Tapeta track, the well-related The Big Con (GB) (c, 2, Dark Angel {Ire}–Nakuti {Ire}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) made an eye-catching sweep for the lead when asked fully three furlongs from home and shot away from four overmatched rivals to graduate by a highly impressive eight lengths en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors.

Top local jockey Pablo Morales looked to be asking the 115,000gns Tattersalls October graduate for some speed to secure a spot from his rail draw, but the Mar. 18 foal could not quite go the early gallop and Morales elected to settle him at the tail of the field through slow fractions of :25.10 and :50.04.

Traveling three or four off the inside, but with cover as they raced into the final four furlongs, The Big Con was edged out widest of all and in the blink of an eye, raced up to the leaders without truly being asked. On even terms passing the quarter pole, The Big Con opened up readily approaching the eighth pole and was taken well in hand for most of the final sixteenth of a mile, nevertheless clocking :24.71 for the last couple of furlongs, before galloping out energetically.

The Big Con was sourced out of the Newsells Park draft at last year's Tattersalls October Sale by the late Christophe Clement, Tom Pritchard-Gordon from Badgers Bloodstock and Erwan de Chambord, according to trainer Miguel Clement. He is a full-brother to Heredia (Ire) ($429,285), a Group 3 winner and third in the 2024 G1 Sun Chariot Stakes for breeder St Albans Bloodstock and trainer Richard Hannon before being acquired by Wathnan Racing, in whose colors she took out the GII Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 9.

The Group 3-winning Nakuti is a half-sister to Amade (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}), winner of the GII Belmont Gold Cup over two miles in 2019 and of the G3 Geelong Cup in Australia in 2023. Newsells Park consigns the New Bay (GB) yearling half-brother to The Big Con and Heredia as lot 1040 during Book 2 of this year's October Sale in Newmarket.

According to Clement, The Big Con could make his next start in the C$150,000 GIII Grey Stakes going 8 1/2 furlongs over the Woodbine Tapeta on Nov. 2.

3rd-Presque Isle Downs, $35,100, Msw, 9-17, 2yo, 1m (AWT), 1:39.45, ft, 8 1/2 lengths.
THE BIG CON (GB), c, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Nakuti (Ire) (GSW-Eng, GSP-Can, $184,647), by Mastercraftsman (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sheba Five, by Five Star Day
3rd Dam: Sheba's Step, by Alysheba
Sales history: 115,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $21,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Tony Weintraub & Brandon M Dalinka; B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (GB); T-Miguel Clement.

 

Well done to THE BIG CON, who won impressively on debut today! He was much the best under @Pablojockey88. Congratulations @ReevesThorobred, @pattiannreeves, Tony Weintraub, and @BDalinka! pic.twitter.com/tLilzNLfWS

— Clement Racing Stable (@clementstable) September 17, 2025

The post Debuting Dark Angel Colt No ‘Con’ Artist, Becomes a ‘TDN Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 09/16/2025
Licensee: Dale Romans, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol-a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Defiant Lass, who finished second at Keeneland on 4/11/25.

Date: 09/15/2025
Licensee: Billy Miller, trainer
Penalty: No consequences, charges removed.
Explainer: HIWU alleged that he had breached rule 3510(b), “Refusal/failure to cooperate promptly and completely with HISA/HIWU under the ADMC Program Rules.”

Date: 09/12/2025
Licensee: Elias Lopez, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Late Blacksmith, who won at Belterra Park on 8/6/25.

Date: 09/11/2025
Licensee: Sergio Morfin, trainer
Penalty: Combined 22-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Sept. 12, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a combined fine of $3,500; combined imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Methocarbamol–a Class C controlled substance–in samples taken from Lady Dosia, who finished sixth at Santa Anita on 6/12/25; and when she finished fourth at Santa Anita on 5/16/25.

Date: 09/10/2025
Licensee: Hector Palma, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Uncle Evco on 7/30/25.

Pending ADMC Violations
09/17/2025, Moises Yanez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from She's Gone Rogue, who won at Colonial Downs on 8/16/25.

09/16/2025, Rasheed Pinnock, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Catalierra on 8/17/25.

09/16/2025, Jose Roberto Gonzalez, trainer: Pending vets's list medication violations for the presence of testosterone–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Ol' McClintock on 4/22/25; and for the presence of Albuterol–a banned bronchodilator–in a sample taken from Discovery N Sight on 7/23/25.

09/15/2025, Jose Miguel Jimenez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Into Inspiration, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 7/28/25.

09/12/2025, Vladimir Cerin, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Saqeel on 8/13/25.

09/12/2025, Harry Lynch, trainer: Pending vets's list medication violation for the presence of Flunixin–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Cutlass King on 8/12/25.

09/11/2025, Eusebio Juarez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Sparteine–a banned Antiarrhythmic–in a sample taken from Desoto's War, who won at Will Rogers on 4/28/25.

Violations of Crop Rule
Aqueduct
Ruben Dario Silvera–violation date Sept. 11; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Delaware Park
Jean Briceno–violation date Sept. 11; $250 fine, one-day suspension
Julio Hernandez–violation date Sept. 11; $250 fine, one-day suspension
Cecily Evans–violation date Sept. 11; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Los Alamitos
Assael Espinoza–violation date Sept. 13; $250 fine, one-day suspension

The post Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, Sept. 11-17 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

5th-Churchill Downs, $94,094, Msw, 9-17, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.09, ft, 2 1/4 lengths.
SCOT'S LAW (f, 2, Tiz the Law–Bodebabe, by Bodemeister) was secured for just $50,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale a handful of weeks before her half-sister Scottish Lassie (McKinzie, $677,560), took out the GI Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct.

Taking advantage of this auction-price restricted spot, but lightly regarded at 15-1 on debut, the chestnut bounced nicely from the inside stall and galloped her rivals along at a modest tempo while being pressed along by second-time starter Noroomformischief (Maximus Mischief). Scot's Law began to gain the upper hand in upper stretch and kept on in the final eighth of a mile to graduate by 2 1/2 lengths.

Scottish Lassie, one of three Grade I winners set to contest this Saturday's GI Cotillion Stakes at Parx, has done her part to further enhance her year-younger half-sister's value with a 15 1/2-length romp in the GI CCA Oaks at Saratoga July 19.

The current yearling out of Bodebabe is a Corniche colt that was sold to Saffie Joseph, Jr. for $435,000 at Keeneland September and the mare was most recently covered by Practical Joke after failing to produce a foal this year. This is the family of Grade I winners Visionaire (Grand Slam) and Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song). Sales history: $50,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $52,320. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Millard R Seldin Revocable Trust; B-Winchester Farm (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz.

 

SCOT'S LAW ($32.38) laid down the law in the 5th at @ChurchillDowns. @johnnyortiz24 trains the 2YO daughter of Tiz The Law (@coolmoreamerica). The 1/2 sister to Scottish Lassie was ridden by Edgar Morales for owners Millard R. Seldin Revocable Trust. pic.twitter.com/pUwp1HU93O

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 17, 2025

The post Scottish Lassie Half-Sister Off The Mark On Churchill Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.