Blood-Horse

Orinoco River (Hip 863) tops the mare market on Day 2 of the Keeneland January Sale at $500,000. Eaton Sales sold the daughter of War Front to St. George Stables, which is owned by Mexican billionaire Germán Larrea Mota-Velasco.

At the end of Keeneland's January Horses of All Ages Sale, 700 horses were sold for $53,580,300, including private sales, up 52% from last year's gross of $35,225,900, from 724 horses sold. The sale recorded its highest gross since 2008.

Trainer John Sadler has been elected president of the board of directors of California Thoroughbred Trainers, succeeding Eoin Harty, who has served in that capacity since 2019 and remains a director.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and Rudy Rodriguez have reached an agreement to lift the New York-based trainer's provisional suspension Jan. 14. 

Making his first start since July, Just a Touch seeks his first graded win in the $175,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 17.

The Dec. 20 Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots proved closely matched. A month later on Jan. 17, the next leg of the stakes series for current 3-year-olds there, $250,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3), appears equally competitive.

D. J. Stables homebred Nitrogen, a finalist for Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly, arrived at Oaklawn Park Jan. 11 ahead of her 4-year-old campaign.

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky. announced that reservations for 2026 tours are now open.

The late Ed Bowen will be honored with the Eclipse Award of Merit in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding achievement in the Thoroughbred industry.

The first foals by Coolmore's group 1-winning 2-year-olds and Epsom Derby (G1) heroes Auguste Rodin and City of Troy arrived Jan. 12.

Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Bentornato is nearing a return to the work tab Jan. 17 with a target on a trip to the Middle East for the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on Dubai World Cup night March 28.

Maiden Watch: Thunderously makes noise in his two-turn debut at Gulfstream Park. Powered by Family and Touch of Fire also impress around two turns at Fair Grounds Racecourse and Slots.

The Jan. 13 session of the Gold Coast Yearling Sale finished with a clearance rate of 78% as 145 yearlings found a new home. In turn, the aggregate reached AU$41.285 million, down 8.5% year-on-year. The average price closed at AU$284,725, up 2.2 %.

Dollars & Sense with Frank Angst: Last fall Matt Lehman bet a horse at Keeneland that left the gate at 21-1 and won, but then paid 8-1. Now the Kentucky state representative has filed a bill that aims to ensure a level playing field.

Keeneland concluded Day 1 of the January Sale with 319 head changing hands for $31,706,400, including private sales. The average was $99,393 with a median of $42,000.

Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm went to a sale-topping $3.2 million to acquire Tiffany Case (Hip 465), the dam of grade 1 winner Nitrogen, during the Jan. 12 opening session of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

During the second and final day of Keeneland’s January Horses of All Ages Sale, Paramount Sales will offer two broodmare prospects out of grade 1-winning dams—Flawless Quality (Hip 706) and Legacy Defined (Hip 783).

Grade 1 winner Simply in Front returned to the spotlight Jan. 12, this time at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, where she saw a winning bid of $2 million from Greg Tramontin, who views her as a foundation mare for his farm.

On the 50th episode of BloodHorse Monday: Morplay Racing's Rich Mendez on Shisospicy's 2026 campaign, Kevin Kilroy on Fair Grounds' Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail, Thoroughbred Racing Initiative's Damon Thayer updates on Florida decoupling.

The build-up to the 152nd Kentucky Derby (G1) continues Jan. 16-18 with Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, featuring Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Ted Noffey as the 6-1 individual favorite.