Thoroughbred Daily News

The Kentucky Derby Museum earned the number three spot as the Best Attraction for Sports Fans in USA Today's 2024 Readers' Choice Awards after breaking records this past year for attendance, the repository said in a Wednesday press release.

Located at Churchill Downs, the Derby Museum finished behind Boise State's Blue Turf in Idaho, the top vote getter, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, who was the runner-up.

Welcoming an all-time high of 258,382 guests during the fiscal year 2024, which spanned from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024, this marked a 2.7% increase for the Derby Museum over the previous year's record-setting numbers.

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Bright Future (Curlin), the winner of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at the Spa, has been retired to Claiborne Farm with a stud fee of $12,500 LFSN for the 2025 breeding season, the farm said via a press release on Wednesday.

Currently available for inspection at Claiborne, the 5-year-old son of Curlin won five of 11 career starts and earned $947,940 for owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables. The Todd Pletcher trainee won the Gold Cup at four and took home the GIII Salvator Mile Stakes at Monmouth this year.

“Bright Future displayed a great amount of talent and heart during his time in my barn,” said Todd Pletcher. “He was a tough, hard-knocking colt that had speed he could carry around two turns. Being a son of Curlin and with his pedigree, Bright Future is surely to have that as a stallion at Claiborne.”

Bright Future will be syndicated with owners Mike Repole of Repole Stable and Vincent Viola of St. Elias Stables retaining an interest in the horse at stud.

Bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms, Bright Future is out of the stakes-winning Bellamy Road mare Sophia's Song, making him a half-brother to GSW Musical Mischief (Into Mischief), as well as 'TDN Rising Star' Booth (Mitole).

“This is a special moment for me,” said Jacob West. “Now that I'm working at Claiborne it feels like things have come full circle. I was part of the team that purchased Bright Future as a yearling, so I followed his career with great interest. Now it 's exciting to see him coming to Claiborne to stand as part of our growing stallion roster.”

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Blazing Sevens (Good Magic), a Grade I winner and 'TDN Rising Star' at two, is available for inspection at Darby Dan where the new sire will stand the upcoming breeding season for $12,500 LFSN, the farm said in a Wednesday release.

As a juvenile, the colt won the GI Champagne Stakes and at three was the runner-up in the GI Preakness Stakes. Blazing Sevens is out of the winning Warrior's Reward mare Trophy Girl, a half-sister to Grade I winner King David and stakes winner Bertsgoldenmissile. Bred in Kentucky by Tracy Farmer, Blazing Sevens was a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale graduate.

“His connections had high hopes for a strong racing season at age four, but minor setbacks took their toll. That does not take from his impressive Grade I win as a 2-year-old and a near-miss in the Preakness Stakes at three,” said Stuart Fitzgibbon, Darby Dan Farm's stallion director. “Blazing Sevens' combination of top-class racing achievements, physical attributes, and lineage make him a highly desirable stallion. We're excited to introduce him to breeders.”

To schedule an inspection or for more information on Blazing Sevens, contact Stuart Fitzgibbon at (859) 621-6763.

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It was another banner weekend for Godolphin as the stable swept the two Grade I races for 2-year-olds at Keeneland. The filly Immersive (Nyquist) won Friday's GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes and finished things off with a very impressive win by the colt East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity. Both will appear next in the Breeders' Cup where they could garner favoritism in their respective races.

Leading the cheering section for Godolphin was its Director of Bloodstock, Michael Banahan, whose duties include overseeing the U.S.-based Godolphin runners. He the TDN Writers' Room Podcast Guest of the Week presented by Keeneland.

“I'm not too sure where to rank this among the great weekends we've had throughout the course of our time here racing in the U.S., but I would suggest that it's very close to the top,” Banahan said. “To have two 2-year-olds win on our home track, both by our own stallions, homebred horses, it was absolutely phenomenal. And it's obviously great to win at Keeneland. We love Keeneland. It being our home track, we have an awful lot of employees that can get out to the track, be engaged with the event and celebrate if we do happen to get to the winning line first as well. So I think that's maybe as big a part of it as anything else.”

East Avenue may have been the more impressive of the pair, especially when you consider that he drew in with only one prior start, which was a six-furlong maiden win at Ellis Park.

“We liked him from the get-go when he was a young foal and as a yearling,” Banahan said. “He was broken at Bridlewood. They do a fabulous job their with our horses and we liked him on the track down there. But we like a lot of them when they're down in Florida doing three-eighths of a mile and look good doing it. But he certainly did. We held him in very high regard. When he came up to Keeneland and joined Brendan Walsh's string up there, he had only maybe worked once, twice, and they were all pretty high on him as well. We were trying to temper our enthusiasm all the way through the summertime, knowing that he looked like a really, really nice horse.”

The GI Kentucky Derby is one of the few major races in the world that Godolphin has not won. Might East Avenue change that?

“Sheikh Mohammed loves to compete and try and win the biggest races globally,” Banahan said. “Not just the Kentucky Derby but the Breeders' Cup, the Arc, the Melbourne Cup. He loves competing at that top level. We were really excited about Essential Quality in the Derby. We though he had an unbelievable opportunity. He was favorite on the day. After the race lots of people would come to us and say, 'He was the best horse in the race.' But he didn't win. He only got fourth. So it would be wonderful for Sheikh Mohammed to have a horse in the Derby that could compete. I think winning that trophy would get him very excited. I know he was watching the race on Saturday night and so he's well aware of East Avenue, and I'm sure he was excited to see the talent that he showed that day.”

In our breeding spotlight section we looked at the WinStar stallion Nashville.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar, XBTV.com and the KTOB the team of Randy Moss, Zoe Cadman and Bill Finley reviewed the major races from last week, zeroing in on the 2-year-old males who ran in the Breeders' Futurity, the GI Champagne Stakes and the GI American Pharoah Stakes. The consensus was that Champagne winner Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) was also impressive and should also run well in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

The team also looked at the 2-year-old filly races from the weekend. Randy Moss gave high marks to GI Frizette winner Scottish Lassie (McKinzie), while Finley downplayed the accomplishment because of the weakness of the field. Moss, who also works for NBC Sports, explained why the Breeders' Cup decided to run the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in the middle of the card at 2:41 p.m. PT.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

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A newly released economic impact study conducted by the University of Louisville's Departments of Equine Administration and Economics reveals that Keeneland's racing operations, annual Thoroughbred auctions, supporting business lines and investment in new construction generates an estimated $1.6 billion for Fayette and its surrounding counties, the track said in a press release issued on Wednesday.

The study also noted that around 64% of racing patrons come from outside Kentucky, while around 67% of those attending and participating in the annual horse auctions come from outside the state. Of those attending the auctions from out of state, approximately 24% come from outside the U.S.

The comprehensive study conducted by University of Louisville Economics Professor Dr. Thomas E. Lambert evaluated the various operations of Keeneland, including Keeneland's auctions, the spring and fall race meets, the track's year-round special events program, retail operations and guided tour program as well as the impact of Keeneland Library. The study also enumerates the impact of Keeneland's ongoing investment in new facilities including the construction of the new Paddock Building, which is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2025.

Key findings from the study are outlined below:

• Keeneland generates an estimated $1.6 billion+ to the Lexington metro area (Fayette and surrounding counties);
• On a normal year (without construction) Keeneland generates on average $1.46 billion annually to the Lexington metro area;
• Keeneland, the world's largest Thoroughbred auction company, generates $1.16 billion to the Lexington metro area through annual sales in September, November, January and April;
• Keeneland's spring and fall race meets attract visitors from all 50 states as well as outside the U.S., generating nearly $300 million annually for the Lexington metro area;
• Keeneland's year-round special events program, retail operations, tour program and Keeneland Library generate an additional $97.7 million to Lexington and surrounding counties;
• In addition, Keeneland generates nearly $40 million in local, state and federal income taxes and their ongoing construction generates $166.6 million to the Lexington metro area. This data does not factor in the additional jobs, revenue and capacity that the further expansion will generate in 2025 and beyond.

The study also highlighted the impact of Keeneland's visitors on the region's tourism economy with participants attending its Thoroughbred auctions spending $336 million at area restaurants, hotels, retail shops, attractions and local business and patrons attending the Keeneland spring and fall meets spending $190 million annually.

“Keeneland's location in the heart of horse country allows us to serve as a global hub for the Thoroughbred industry,” said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. “This study reinforces Keeneland's mission to strengthen our global equine industry and our Central Kentucky community for generations to come.”

Click here for more information.

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Breeders' Cup Limited issued a reminder that Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET is the final deadline to nominate foals born in 2024 to the Breeders' Cup program at the one-time nomination fee of $400.00, the program said via a press release Wednesday.

The weanling nomination entitles each foal with lifetime eligibility to the Breeders' Cup World Championships and its racing programs. All foals sired by a fully-nominated North American Breeders' Cup stallion are eligible for nomination to the Breeders' Cup program in their year of birth at the weanling rate.

Breeders' Cup foal nominators will earn $10,000 for every victory in the worldwide Challenge Series, and every horse that starts in a Breeders' Cup World Championship race will earn a nominator award. The individual nominating the foal receives these awards even though the horse may change hands throughout its racing career.

Click here for more information.

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Bidding has resumed for Fasig-Tipton's October Digital Sale, which was suspended yesterday afternoon due to a technical issue, the auction company said in a release on Wednesday.

Buyers may now bid on hips 208-361 and entries will begin to close at 2 p.m. ET.

Click here to access the catalogue.

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At 76 and with none of his children particularly interested in racing, Stuart Janney, III had to make some decisions about the future of his racing and breeding operations. He didn't want to get out of the sport entirely and he also didn't want to breed mares whose foals won't get to the races for years. So he has decided to disperse his band at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. There, he will sell 13 broodmares and two broodmare prospects. Among others, they are in foal to Good Magic, Life Is Good and Not This Time.

The consignor will be Claiborne Farm.

What's left will be his weanlings, yearlings and horses of racing age. He estimates that his holdings will consist of about 35 horses.

“I never considered leaving the sport,” he said. “This seemed to make the most sense. I asked the kids and asked if any one of them wanted to take this on. Their answer was no and it didn't surprise me. So I thought this made a lot of sense. I'll be just as involved with the racetrack for the next three or four years and maybe longer.”

Both sides of Janney's family have been involved with the sport since the 1920s. His mother and father, Stuart and Barbara Janney, owned and bred the ill-fated Ruffian.

Janney does not shop at the sales. Rather, he breeds to race, which he said, makes him a “dinosaur.”

“Things have changed,” he said. “When I started out 30% of horses or so went to the sales. Not anymore. I'm probably a little too old to change.

“I think what I'm doing makes the most sense,” he continued. “This is the part of the business that has been the toughest– breed to race. It's tougher to breed than sell. Depending on whether you're good at it or not, it's tougher than if you were picking them at the sales. Not too many people have done it like I did it. I really enjoy all the aspects of doing it the way I did it. I enjoyed figuring out the matings and I enjoyed the fact that I've seen successive generations of horses at the racetrack. I think [trainer] Shug [McGaughey] enjoyed that too, seeing their characteristics play out in future generations and getting excited about the foals.”

A dinosaur or not, he said he's always been comfortable with the way he approached the sport.

“I've always enjoyed that,” he said. “If you're breeding to race, every season is different. It's arranging the matings. It's seeing horses at various stages of their careers, seeing the new foals arrive. All the things that aren't part of your life if you are buying horses at the sale. Seeing successive generations of horses perform. Those kinds of things I will miss. On the other hand, life goes on.

“I've thought about this for a long time. There's a lot of emotion involved. I'm comfortable that I'm doing the right thing.”

In his role as Chairman of the Jockey Club, Janney has sometimes expressed his displeasure with how the sport was run. With HISA up and running–which the Jockey Club supported–he says he feels better about the game now than he has in some time.

“I'm less frustrated now,” he said. “If you had asked me back in 2012, I would have told you that I had a very dim view of what the racing commissions were doing. I didn't know that we'd get to where we are today. I feel pretty good about the safety aspect and the integrity aspect. The industry has a lot of challenges, what I call the financial aspects. It's really expensive to put on the show. It's really expensive to have good safety and good integrity. We have accomplished a lot and are in better shape to accomplish more because people are getting along better. Different entities are getting along with each other better than they have. I am less frustrated now than I was 10 years ago.”

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The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's October Yearling Sale concluded with average and median in line with 2023 figures despite a frenzied rescheduling of the two-day auction as Hurricane Milton closed in on Central Florida Tuesday. Through two sessions, 289 yearlings sold for $5,779,100. The average of $19,997 was nearly identical to the 2023 figure of $19,928, while the median of $12,000 dipped slightly from last year's figure of $12,500. The buy-back rate was 38%. It was 34.2% a year ago.

Two small Florida breeders, with some 13 mares between them, were represented by the top filly and colt at the October sale. A filly by Complexity, consigned by Thoroughstock on behalf of breeders Norman Dellheim and Katie Liebe, brought top price of $150,000 from Top Line Sales, while a son of Win Win Win, consigned by Kaizen Sales on behalf of Ashley Godwin's Rivermont Farm, was the second-highest priced offering when selling for $135,000 to No Money No Honey, agent. The pair were two of seven yearlings to bring six figures at the auction, matching the number from a year ago.

A filly by Complexity (hip 459) rewarded her Ocala-based breeders, Norman Dellheim and his wife Katie Liebe, when selling for a sale-topping $150,000 to the bid of Top Line Sales Tuesday in Ocala. The yearling is out of Silver Lantana (Badge of Silver), a half-sister to multiple graded winner Lantana Mob (Posse) and the dam of stakes-placed Six the Hard Way (Creative Cause). Dellheim and Liebe purchased the mare, in foal to Preservationist, from Airdrie Stud for $8,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale.

“She's the kind of mare we like, but we were really looking at the stallion she was in foal to,” Dellheim said of the purchase. “My wife just really loved Preservationist at the time. That's how it all got started.”

While shopping at Airdrie, the couple found another stallion they liked in Complexity.

“We bought the mare from Airdrie and when we went and looked at stallions there, we liked Complexity so much and we said, 'We are just going to take that mare we bought from them and breed back with them.' We love the stallion,” Dellheim.

The move paid off when Complexity got off to a fast start with his first 2-year-olds on the track this year already including graded winners Mo Joy and Harlee Honey.

The mare's Preservationist colt sold for $10,000 at last year's OBS October sale and, reoffered this year, sold for $75,000 at the OBS March sale.

Of expectations for the mare's second foal Tuesday, Dellheim said, “We were expecting her to do good, but not as good as she did. We were hoping. Everybody liked her that came to see her. She's always been a little star for us.”

Dellheim admitted he was worried by the changes to the sale's schedule due to the incoming storm.

“We were a little worried going in because everything changed at the last minute, moving everything up a day,” he said. “And I was talking to some other people and some vets who were saying some of their clients did not come in. It was a little worrisome, but it worked out.”

Silver Lantana, one of six mares in the couple's broodmare band, produced a filly by Independence Hall this year and was bred back to Verifying.

Asked what it was like watching their yearling in the ring Tuesday, Dellheim said, “It was hard to tell because Katie was crying so hard.”

He added with a laugh, “It's two hours later and she's still a little teary-eyed over there.”

Liebe in the background explained, “She just left the barn, so I was crying now when she walked away.”

Ashley Godwin checked a bucket-list item off her list Tuesday in Ocala when selling a son of Win Win Win (hip 385) for $135,000 to No Money No Honey, agent.

“My lifetime goal was to sell a six-figure horse,” Godwin said. “I've never done it. Before this sale, my record was $55,000. So when it hit $100,000, I was about to cry.”

Godwin moved her Rivermont Farm from Georgia to Central Florida in 2017.

“My background was more horse showing,” Godwin explained. “I'd take Thoroughbreds off the track and did hunter/jumpers. We had a farm up in north Georgia. My dream was to come to Ocala. So we moved here in 2017. I didn't know much about the industry, as far as selling babies and stuff, but that's when we started.”

Stakes-winning Prize Informant (Marciano) was among the mares she bought in her second year of operation, going to $9,500 to acquire the then 11-year-old mare in foal to Valiant Minister from the dispersal of longtime Florida breeders Jim and Sheila DiMare of JD Farms at the 2019 OBS January sale.

“Mr. DiMare's wife Sheila had passed away and when we bought the mare, he told me over and over again she was his wife's favorite mare,” Godwin said. “So I have always promised I would take the best care of her.”

Win Win Win is another stallion off to a fast start with his 2-year-olds on the track. So far, the Ocala Stud stallion has been represented by graded winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Nooni, who topped the OBS March sale at $1.8 million, and stakes winner Win N Your In.

Of how she decided to breed her mare to Win Win Win, Godwin said, “We were going through a selection of stallions and we were talking one night about who would Sheila DiMare pick. I opened up my iPad–this is a true story–and I opened up my “Wire to Wire” and there was an ad for Win Win Win and it said 'Breed to Win.' So I said, 'Well she's sending us a message, let's breed to Win Win Win.' That's how we did. I know it sounds crazy, but you know how it is, you just roll the dice and hope for the best.”

Of her seven years in the industry, Godwin admitted, “It's been a major learning process. But I have a great team of people. Richard Kent has been amazing. Dr. [Tanya] Thacker at Peterson Smith is my vet and she has just been fantastic getting these babies into the world and overseeing them as they grow. I think it takes a great team of people.”

Rivermont Farm, based on 20 acres in Ocala, is home to a broodmare band of seven.

“I try to breed five a year, because it's just me,” Godwin said. “I don't have a big staff–I don't have any staff–I had a helper this summer. We have seven mares and we have five weanlings who, God willing, will go to the sale next year.”

Godwin sold all five yearlings she brought to the October sale, but she admitted to some anxious moments with the rescheduled auction.

“It was nerve-wracking,” she said. “Yesterday, was a little scary because some horses were selling really cheap and we had a really nice filly that we thought would sell, but she RNA'd. We were able to sell her. The gross on all five of them was $247,000. And they are all Florida-breds with Florida dads, so I am just in shock. And I've got hay money for the winter.”

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The Fasig-Tipton October Digital Sale, which was scheduled to conclude Tuesday, was suspended Tuesday afternoon due to a technical issue. The on-line auction will resume at 8 a.m. Wednesday with hip 208 and entries will begin to close at 2 p.m.

Registered bidders will not need to re-register for the auction, which is available at digital.fasigtipton.com.

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Multiple graded stakes winner Mission Impazible (Unbridled's Song–La Paz, by Hold Your Peace) has been retired from stud duties at Sequel Stallions New York and will be sent to Old Friends Equine retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, Sequel announced Tuesday.

Winner of the 2010 GII Louisiana Derby and 2011 GII New Orleans Handicap, Mission Impazible sired 2016 Tremont Stakes winner Silver Mission in his first crop and 2017 GII Adirondack Stakes winner Pure Silver in his second crop. He is also the sire of multiple stakes winners Espresso Shot and Dream Bigger.

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Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be on site at Laurel Park for the Jim McKay Maryland Million Day card Saturday. The organization will have a race on the card named in its honor and will host the winners of the 2024 VIP Maryland Million experience from the “Off to the Races” online benefit auction. Generously donated by 1/ST RACING and the Hotel at Arundel Preserve, the experience will include a clubhouse table for four at the track and a two-night stay at the Hotel at Arundel Preserve.

“The Maryland Jockey Club is excited to once again welcome Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Maryland Million Day,” said Maryland Jockey Club vice president of development Georganne Hale. “We are deeply committed to supporting Thoroughbreds beyond their racing careers, and we're thrilled to promote accredited aftercare together.”

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding.

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Thieves made away with at least three watches at Santa Anita Park Sept. 28 and an investigation is underway, according to a press release issued by the Arcadia Police Department Oct. 8.

According to the report, one of the victims was surrounded by the suspects and were able to remove the victim's watch after creating confusion. In a second incident, the victim had their watch removed after moving through a large crowd of patrons and only realized it several hours later.

Police also identified a third incident, three suspects approached the victim, one of whom attempted to hug the victim. A second thief began to remove their watch, but the victim noticed.

“The victim felt his watch being removed and confronted the suspects who immediately left the area,” read the police release. “The victim alerted Santa Anita Park security and Arcadia Police officers who were in the area were able to locate one of the suspects involved in the attempted theft and take him into custody.”

The suspect was later identified as Camilo Nino-Hernandez, a 24-year-old man from Los Angeles. According to police, Nino-Hernandez was charged with Grand Theft and was also charged with being in possession of a fraudulent social security card.

Based on the initial investigation, it appears all three victims were targeted by different organized groups of people.

Arcadia Police Department stated it will not release the victim's information, although according to published reports one of the victims is confirmed as Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler. A Lexington, Kentucky native, Buehler, the 30-year-old is a longtime horse racing fan who owned a micro-share in 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic.

As first reported by ABC 7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles, Buehler was at Santa Anita with his wife, McKenzie Marcinek, when they were surrounded by a group of people, one of whom unbuttoned his shirtsleeve and took his watch, said to be worth $100,000.

For the complete Arcadia Police Dept. press release on X, click here.

Anyone with information on this incident may contact Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5151. Or to provide information anonymously, call 'Crime Stoppers' at (800) 222-8477.

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The Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) will host “RTCA Night of Faith, Hope & Love” during Breeders' Cup week at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

The evening will include food, music, the premier of this year's RTCA White Horse Award video, and a celebrity panel interview moderated by FanDuel's Scott Hazelton with scheduled guests Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Hall of Fame jockey Ramon Dominguez, horseman and racing executive Janet VanBebber and multiple graded stakes winning jockey Kyle Frey discussing what Faith, Hope & Love means to them, both in their racing careers and personal lives.

Ticket and sponsorship information can be found at www.rtcanational.org/events.

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A stallion share in Horse of the Year and sire Flightline (Tapit–Feathered, by Indian Charlie), whose first foals are weanlings of 2024, has been catalogued for the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale, to be held the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 30 in the Paddock at Del Mar, site of the 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 1-2.

The share is offered by an original owner of Flightline who retains multiple shares in the stallion.

Flightline won a trio of Grade I events in 2022–the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan by six lengths; the TVG Pacific Classic by 19 1/4 lengths; and the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland by 8 1/4 lengths. The colt's accomplishments on the track earned him Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and champion older male of 2022. He was undefeated in two seasons of racing, with earnings of more than $4.5 million.

Flightline retired to Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. On Day 1 of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale, just days after his romp in the Breeders' Cup Classic, a 2.5% ownership interest in Flightline sold for $4.6 million.

“Offering this share in Flightline in Keeneland's Championship Sale gives breeders a truly special chance to invest in one of the most exciting young stallions in our industry,” said Bill Farish of Lane's End Farm. “The class and quality he possesses is readily evident in his progeny–Flightline is represented by an outstanding first crop of foals which have already received tremendous support in the commercial market abroad, with a top selection of weanlings cataloged to sell in November. Now, Keeneland provides buyers the option to invest in him from every possible angle.”

Flightline is responsible for a full book of 152 mares in each of his first two seasons (2023 and 2024). In 2023, Flightline's book included more than 50 Grade I-winning or Grade I-producing mares.

In 2024, Flightline's first crop of weanlings sold in Japan for an average of $974,057. His top-priced weanling brought $1,305,651.

Six weanlings by Flightline are cataloged to Keeneland's upcoming November Breeding Stock Sale.

“Flightline's brilliance on the race track made him a global superstar, and now fans around the world are excited by his offspring coming of age,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Keeneland is honored to offer this uniquely special opportunity to purchase a share in Flightline at the Championship Sale.”

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New Vocations has launched its 15th annual Breeders' Cup Pledge, in which connections of Breeders' Cup contenders have the opportunity to pledge a percentage of their Championship earnings to support the charity's mission to rehabilitate, retrain, and rehome retired racehorses. The Pledge has raised over $1.1 million towards aftercare since starting in 2009.

“We are thrilled to have had so many owners and trainers involved in our Breeders' Cup Pledge over the years,” said Anna Ford, New Vocations' Thoroughbred Program Director. “The Pledge offers an easy way for owners and trainers to give back to the horses and support their transition into new careers. The funds raised are greatly needed to ensure we are able to continue serving over 600 retired racehorses annually.”

Last year's pledge raised over $100,000, and over 50 Championship contenders had owners and/or trainers who pledged a percentage of their Breeders' Cup earnings. Last year's total was driven by four horses with pledge connections–Fierceness, Unquestionable (Fr), Goodnight Olive, and Auguste Rodin (Ire)–winning their races on Future Stars Friday and Championship Saturday.

New Vocations will seek pledges from owners and trainers until Oct. 31st, in advance of the Nov. 1-2nd Championship races at Del Mar. All Pledge information is available at www.newvocations.org/events or by contacting anna@horseadoption.com or carey@horseadoption.com.

The post New Vocations Launches 15th Annual Breeders’ Cup Pledge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Old Friends will host a Family Day: Meet & Read to Old Friends Retirees event Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

The event will highlight the book 'Jockey & Her Horse' by Cheryl White, the first black woman jockey to ride and win a professional race in the United States.

The Family Day is part of The Heart of the Turf: Racing's Black Pioneers, a traveling exhibit sponsored by the Keeneland Association and developed and shared by the Keeneland Library, which is open to the public in the Josephine Abercrombie Center at Old Friends' Dream Chase Farm through Oct. 31.

“Old Friends is excited to host this unique gathering offering an innovative way to learn about the life of the trail-blazing black woman jockey, Cheryl White,” said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends. “We hope Bluegrass families and children will join us on Saturday to celebrate a key part of the horse industry's history, while at the same time meeting and interacting with some of our legendary retirees. We are so grateful to Keeneland and honored to be hosting this important event.”

Keeneland Library is donating one copy of Cheryl White's book per family during the event while supplies last. The event is free and open to the general public.

“Old Friends hosting The Heart of the Turf provides a perfect backdrop to bring the stories of the exhibit to life with children in our joint Meet & Read–a unique opportunity for a child to meet horses while promoting literacy, industry awareness, and appreciation of past and present pioneers,” said Roda Ferraro, Keeneland Library Director and Exhibit Curator. “It will be a special morning at Old Friends, and Keeneland Library is grateful to be a part.”

To RSVP, call 502-863-1775 or Email: alyssa@oldfriendsequine.org

The post Old Friends Hosts Family Day Oct. 12 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

7th-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 10-6, 2yo, 7f, 1:23.96, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
BUILT (c, 2, Hard Spun–Sea Garden, by Curlin) finished fourth on debut, but then was elevated to third after another horse was disqualified at Ellis Park Aug. 24. The winner who collected a 'TDN Rising Star' badge for his effort and was just crowned as the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity champ was East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro). As the 2-1 second choice here, Built raced in between runners out of the chute and then set up shop off sole leader Homer's Odyssey (Not This Time) as the field headed up the backstretch. Ranging up on the pacesetter around the far turn, the colt took over at the top of the lane, and had another gear to get the money by 1 1/2 lengths over Render Judgement (Blame). 'TDN Insight' runner Tuscaloosa (Candy Ride {Arg}) ended up ninth. The winner is the first registered foal for his dam. Sea Garden produced a colt by Union Rags last year and she was bred to Flameaway for 2025. Sales History: $82,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $260,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $64,204. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Robert Low & Lawana Low (KY); T-Wayne M. Catalano.

A strong performance by (4) Built to win the seventh race of the day. (2) Render Judgement is second, (9) Cant Stop Munnings finishes third. pic.twitter.com/xoSitQQp56

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 6, 2024

The post Built Constructs Nice Road To Break Maiden At Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Godolphin homebred East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro), tabbed as a 'TDN Rising Star' following a runaway debut victory sprinting with an 86 Beyer Speed Figure at Ellis Park Aug. 24, romped in front-running fashion by a geared-down 5 1/2 lengths while making his two-turn debut in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.

Favored 'Rising Star' Ferocious (Flatter), a $1.3-million OBS March breezer and runner-up behind unbeaten GI Champagne Stakes winner Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) in the GI Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Sept. 2, was second-best after an eventful trip. Longshot Filoso (City of Light), a second-out maiden winner at the Spa, rounded out the trifecta.

East Avenue, sent off as the 5-2 second choice, cleared the field beneath Tyler Gaffalione heading into the first turn as Ferocious, who also acted up in the starting gate and tossed rider Luis Saez, raced in some early traffic and bounced off the rail. East Avenue cruised up front through fractions of :23.18 and :46.76 over a track playing very kindly to speed, hit the top of the short stretch in a race of his own and kept on rolling down the lane to punch his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile with an exclamation point.

The result stood following an objection lodged by the rider of the runner-up claiming interference against the winner heading into the run to the clubhouse turn.

Godolphin and trainer Brendan Walsh won this same race in 2019 with Darley stallion Maxfield (Street Sense), who was a late scratch and forced to sit out that fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile with a foot bruise.

“I've been lucky enough to have a couple of very good horses the last two years, especially with Godolphin, and he seemed like he was right up there,” Walsh said. “I was just waiting for confirmation. I think he's a very special horse.”

Gaffalione added, “I had plenty of horse left. He's pretty special. I'm really excited about him.”

Godolphin also campaigns Friday's GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes heroine Immersive (Nyquist), who heads to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies for Brad Cox with a perfect three-for-three record.

Pedigree Notes:

East Avenue becomes the 27th Grade I/Group 1 winner worldwide for leading sire Medaglia d'Oro. East Avenue was produced by the unraced Dance Music (Ghostzapper), a half-sister to Horse of the Year and Darley stallion Cody's Wish (Curlin). Dance Music is also responsible for a Hard Spun colt of 2023 and an Authentic filly of this year. She was bred back to Not This Time.

East Avenue's second dam Dance Card (Tapit), a $750,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-old purchase by Sheikh Mohammed's operation, won the 2012 GI Gazelle S. and was third behind two-time champion Groupie Doll (Bowman's Band) in the following year's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in her career finale.

East Avenue becomes the seventh Grade I winner for broodmare sire Ghostzapper.

What a performance! It was all #5 EAST AVENUE ($7.56) in the @BreedersCup Win and You're In $600,000 Breeders' Futurity (G1). The son of Madaglia d'Oro was ridden by @Tyler_Gaff and is trained by @brenpwalsh.

Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/caeGwysNKI

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 5, 2024

Saturday, Keeneland
CLAIBORNE BREEDERS' FUTURITY-GI, $594,063, Keeneland, 10-5, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.17, ft.
1–EAST AVENUE, 122, c, 2, by Medaglia d'Oro
                1st Dam: Dance Music, by Ghostzapper
                2nd Dam: Dance Card, by Tapit
                3rd Dam: Tempting Note, by Editor's Note
'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P.
Walsh; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $348,750. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0,
$390,645. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ferocious, 122, c, 2, Flatter–Napier, by Midnight Lute.
'TDN Rising Star'. ($1,300,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-JR Ranch,
Ramiro Restrepo, High Step Racing and OGMA Investments,
LLC; B-Gentry Stable LLC (KY); T-Gustavo Delgado. $112,500.
3–Filoso, 122, c, 2, City of Light–Kenda, by Bodemeister.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK
TYPE. ($210,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Gold Square LLC; B-Hunter
Valley Farm & Oisin Murphy (KY); T-Chad Summers. $56,250.
Margins: 5 1/4, 4 1/4, 1. Odds: 2.78, 1.07, 29.88.
Also Ran: Dapper Moon, Mesero, Tenacious Leader, Big Boat, Handsome Pants, Saratoga Cruiser, Ready for Peace, Optical.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Easy Street: Unbeaten ‘Rising Star’ East Avenue Romps in Wire-to-Wire Fashion in Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

With four of the six who went to post in the GII Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita Saturday, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert was guaranteed a placing or two in the 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 1. He did better than that, saddling the first three home. Even-money favorite and maiden winner Non Compliant (2, f, Tiz the Law–Sensitively, by Street Sense), the most modest auction purchase of the Baffert quartet, bested GIII Sorrento Stakes winner Nooni (Win Win Win) and GI Del Mar Debutante victress Tenma (Nyquist) to give Baffert his 13th win in the Oak Leaf, which was returning to its original name after previously labeled as the Chandelier Stakes for the last dozen years.

Floated wide into the first turn as the juvenile fillies jostled for position, Non Compliant settled into third behind Nooni and Tenma, who were both flashy OBS buys ($1.8-million for Nooni, $850,000 for Tenma). Non Compliant continued to track through fractions of :23.42 and :47.22 as Nooni showed the way. Ranging up on the turn, Non Compliant tackled Nooni and the two knocked heads for a few strides before Non Compliant pulled clear under Juan Hernandez in a decisive 2 1/4-length victory. Nooni was a clear second, 8 1/4 lengths over Tenma.

“She was really happy and a little aggressive, but this was her first time going the mile,” said Hernandez. “So, of course, she's going to break a little sharp, but I like that. She relaxed around the turn. I was always really comfortable. Around the [second] turn, I was trying to pick it up, and she did that very well. She didn't want to stop.”

Campaigned by Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio, and John Rogitz, Non Compliant was a $150,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old after working a furlong in :10 1/5. She previously sold as a $15,000 Keeneland November weanling and a $35,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling. The bay broke her maiden on debut at Del Mar Aug. 31 with her 82 Beyer Speed Figure that day tops among the Oak Leaf field.

Rogitz, one of the partners on the filly, signed the Fasig-Tipton sales ticket and was in attendance Saturday.

“My dad used to bring me to Santa Anita when I was a kid and I grew up in Temple City [just a few miles from the track],” said Rogitz. “Bob [Baffert] and his team, they have an amazing eye for horses. You never know until they try two turns if they are going to handle it, but I think we felt like she could.”

Pedigree Notes:

Non Compliant's Oak Leaf win marked the first graded victory for freshman sire Tiz the Law, who went into Saturday as the leading first-crop sire by earnings. In addition to Non Compliant, the Ashford Stud/Coolmore stallion has two additional stakes winners in Tiztastic and Out on Bail, who each won their black-type races on the lawn on the extremely competitive circuits of Kentucky Downs and Saratoga, respectively. A son of Constitution, Tiz the Law himself won four Grade Is, including the Champagne Stakes at two.

Bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Old Oak Farm, Non Compliant is out of 2017 GIII Adoration Stakes runner-up Sensitively. The mare was sold for $13,000 to Virginia Moore at the 2022 Keeneland November sale, delivering a colt by Independence Hall the next spring. Barren in 2024, she was bred to Tiz the Law's fellow Ashford stallion Epicenter for next term. Tracing tail-female to the excellent and prolific broodmare Lea Lark, Sensitively is a daughter of Darley's Street Sense, whose grandsons and granddaughters had a stellar Saturday. In addition to Non Compliant becoming the 36th black-type winner out of one of his daughters, his young sire son, McKinzie, recorded two first-crop Grade I winners on the day.

#8 NON COMPLIANT ($4.00) wins herself a spot in the @BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies with a victory in the $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes (G2) at @santaanitapark. @JJHernandezS19 piloted the Tiz The Law (@CoolmoreAmerica) filly for trainer @BobBaffert. pic.twitter.com/FRxjn5X8Dt

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 5, 2024

Saturday, Santa Anita
OAK LEAF S. PRESENTED BY OAK TREE-GII, $200,500, Santa Anita, 10-5, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.08, ft.
1–NON COMPLIANT, 122, f, 2, by Tiz the Law
                1st Dam: Sensitively (GSP, $190,415),
                                by Street Sense
                2nd Dam: Dressmaker, by Elusive Quality
                3rd Dam: Scarlet Velvet, by Red Ransom
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($15,000
Wlg '22 KEENOV; $35,000 Ylg '23 FTKJUL; $150,000 2yo '24
EASMAY). O-Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio and John L.
Rogitz; B-Ashview Farm & Old Oak Farm (KY); T-Bob Baffert;
J-Juan J. Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0,
$165,000. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Nooni, 122, f, 2, Win Win Win–Unanimity, by Union Rags.
'TDN Rising Star'. ($1,800,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Zedan
Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Ocala Stud, Joseph M. O'Farrell III, David
O'Farrell, et al. (FL); T-Bob Baffert. $40,000.
3–Tenma, 122, f, 2, Nyquist–Amagansett, by Tapit. ($200,000
Ylg '23 KEESEP; $850,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-Baoma Corp;
B-B Flay Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 8 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 3.00, 2.40.
Also Ran: In the Air Tonight, Showers, Om N Joy. Scratched: Jack's Magic Girl, Rio Del Sol.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Baffert Trifecta as Non Compliant Wins ‘WAYI’ Oak Leaf, First Graded Winner for Tiz the Law appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.