Blood-Horse

The countdown to the Breeders' Cup World Championships continues this weekend on NBC, CNBC, and Peacock as Keeneland hosts NBC Sports' presentation of the final automatic qualifying races in the United States.

There are 361 entries cataloged. Bidding will close Oct. 8 beginning at 12 p.m. ET. The catalog includes 60-plus yearlings and weanlings, 80-plus horses of racing age, and 200-plus broodmares and broodmare prospects.

Juddmonte's Kikkuli, an Oct. 5 Coolmore Turf Mile (G1T) entrant at Keeneland, has much to live up to as a half brother to Frankel, an undefeated racehorse and now one of the world's great sires. "That's a bit of baggage," trainer Harry Charlton said.

Equibase Company, the Thoroughbred industry's official database for racing information, announces enhancements to its premium past performance product, which is available on equibase.com.

Bob Baffert has won the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2), formerly known as the Chandelier, an unprecedented 12 times. The Hall of Fame trainer will saddle half the field of eight in this year's edition, headed by Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) heroine Tenma.

2023 Champagne Stakes (G1) winner Timberlake will be the second son of multiple leading sire Into Mischief standing in Kentucky who won a grade 1 stakes as a 2-year-old.

Breeders' Cup today announced its broadcast coverage schedule, post times, and wagering menu for the 41st Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.

Undefeated in four lifetime starts, Iscreamuscream could win a "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) in the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2T) Oct. 5 at Santa Anita Park.

McKinzie Street, Citizen Bull, and Getaway Car, second through fourth in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), vie again in American Pharoah (G1).

Letters to the Editor run in Thursday editions of BH Daily and appear on the website.

This is the What's Going On Here column from the October issue of BloodHorse Magazine. 

The interesting part of a graded stakes for 2-year-olds in early October is the mix of proven ability and untapped potential. You'll find that Oct. 5 in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) for 2-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Owned by Kenny McPeek, Magdalena Farm's history dates back to the 1800s during the Revolutionary War. Magdalena Shely, for whom the farm is named, died during the Civil War and is buried on the farm.

The Calgary International Equine Symposium awarded equine surgery resident and recent StrideSAFE study first-author Dr. Denise McSweeney with the Best Podium Presentation Award during its global conference Sept. 5-6.

After a spirited bidding battle between Godolphin and Coolmore, a Frankel colt dropped the hammer for €2,000,000 on Day 2 of the Goffs Orby Sale Oct. 2.

Last year, eight Japanese horses entered Breeders' Cup races at Santa Anita Park. That established a record, but one that is likely to be far surpassed when Del Mar hosts the Breeders' Cup Nov. 1-2.

Turfway Park's 2024-25 stakes schedule features 24 races worth $4.9 million in purses, highlighted by the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) March 22 and the debut of the Turfway Park Synthetic Championships, featuring $1 million in purse money Dec. 14.

Mentee, the full bother to champion Fierceness who set a track record in his debut, changes course Oct. 4 when he tries the turf for the first time in the $175,000 Futurity Stakes (G3T) at the Belmont at the Big A fall meeting.

Bluestocking will lead Britain's challenge in the Oct. 6 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) after Juddmonte paid her €120,000 supplemental fee, and jockey Rossa Ryan believes the filly can justify the decision to run her in the Longchamp showpiece.

Trainer Chad Brown brings three grade 1 winners and a grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner to the First Lady Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland. They will face three accomplished runners by top 10 sire Twirling Candy.