Thoroughbred Daily News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

After years as the COO of his family's Three Chimneys Farm, which was bought by the Borges Torrealba family in 2013, Case Clay was ready for a change. So in 2022 he moved full-time to his own business, Case Clay Thoroughbred Management Since then, he has also become the racing manager for Wathnan Racing, which is the Emir of Qatar's stable. On the racetrack, Wathnan is one of the fastest-growing racing operations in the world. Racing in the U.S. for less than two years, Wathnan has won the GI Dubai World Cup with Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) and the GI California Crown with Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify).

This week at the Keeneland September Sale, Clay has already purchased 19 yearlings representing a number of clients, including two Into Mischief colts, which both sold for $900,000, and a Flightline colt for $850,000. To discuss his new enterprises, the huge numbers coming out of Keeneland September and even his brief fling with trying to become a standup comic, Clay joined this week's TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland. He was the Gainesway Guest of the Week.

Clay believes that the robust numbers coming out of Keeneland are due to a number of factors–the huge purses in Kentucky and, in particular, Kentucky Downs, the new tax regulations which allow for 100% bonus depreciation and the overall amount of wealth in the U.S.

As the son of Robert Clay, he was exposed to racing at a very young age.

“My first foray into racing was when I was in the fourth grade,” Clay said. “My father was in the fertilizer business and the horse business at the time. He told me, 'I'm going to get out of the fertilizer business and do the horse business full time.' I told him that I thought that was a really bad idea, that he had a family to support. His first big horse was Slew o' Gold. Fortunately, it all worked out. We would go to New York and see him run and win races like the Marlboro Cup, the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Woodward. At that time, I thought, 'Well, this is easy.' You know, you just go up to New York, you watch them win and then you go to Wendy's on the way to the airport. The reason I'm bringing that up is I've always just really loved the racing part of it, even though that wasn't my day-to-day business and the family business at Three Chimneys. But what an absolute pleasure it is for me now that the racing part of it is part of my business.”

Wathnan represents deep pockets and the Emir has a desire to win at the highest level. What are the stable's goals?

“The idea from the beginning has been to try and buy horses that the Emir and his family would enjoy and be proud of,” Clay said. “That's what we're trying to do-what I'm trying to do in America and what Richard Brown is trying to do in Europe. And, of course, the goal in America is not only to buy horses that the Emir and his family would enjoy and be proud of, but to win the Kentucky Derby, just like everyone else out there at Keeneland right now. ”

Had things broken a little bit differently for Clay, he might be on Saturday Night Live right now. His then girlfriend, who is now his wife, took him to a Second City comedy show. When it was done Tina Fey came out on stage and said that they had a training center and invited him to take classes.

“That's what I wanted to do, get a day job and try to do the comedy at night,” he said.

His classmates included Seth Myers and Jason Sudeikis. He remains good friends with Myers. It didn't work out, but he has nothing but fond memories about that part of his life.

“I did love it and I wouldn't trade it for anything the world,” Clay said. “W.T. Young told me when I was 17, take a big risk before you're 30, because if it doesn't work out, you're still young enough and you can go do something else. I had that in my mind. I thought I'm going to take a risk and try this. I'll never kick myself for trying it. I made some great friends and it was a great adventure. I obviously was not funny enough because here I am in the horse business and I'm not in Hollywood or New York.”

The Fastest Horse of the Week was Bentornato (Valiant Minister), who got a 108 Beyer in his win in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs. The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by 1/ST TV,  the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, the KTOB and West Point  Thoroughbreds, the team of Bill Finley, Zoe Cadman and Randy Moss reviewed the major races from last weekend and took a look ahead at Saturday's card at Parx, which includes the GI Pennsylvania Derby and the GI Cotillion S.  They also discussed the phenomenal year Paco Lopez, who leads the nation in wins, is having and whether or not he is an elite talent or someone who wins a lot of races only because he doesn't face off with the best jockeys in the sport on a daily basis.

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

The post Case Clay Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Cary Grant Stakes, which has been run 11 times during the fall stand starting in 2014, will now be called The Chosen Vron Stakes, according to a Del Mar Thoroughbred Club release Wednesday.

The Chosen Vron Stakes will be run on Saturday, Nov. 8 as part of Del Mar's 20 stakes Bing Crosby Season schedule. It will carry a $100,000 purse and be for California-bred runners aged 3 and up.

The gelding by the late sire Vronsky was owned by the partnership of Sondereker Racing, J. Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin and Richard Thornburg. Kruljac also trained the chestnut who finished his career with $1,709,678 in purses won. He retired last year after a sparkling five-year career that saw him win 19 of 25 starts.

Among his major scores were twice winning the GI Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in addition to the seven-furlong Cary Grant in both 2022 and 2023. He was named Cal-Bred Horse of the Year in both 2023 and 2024.

“He was an exceptional racehorse and it was always an exciting day when he came out to run,” said Tom Robbins, Del Mar's executive vice president for racing. “We think it is very fitting that one of our Cal-bred stakes has been renamed in his honor.”

The Bing Crosby Season opens on Thursday, Oct. 30 and runs through to Sunday, Nov. 30.

The post Del Mar’s Cary Grant Stakes Renamed The Chosen Vron appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Trade remained buoyant at the Keeneland September Sale in Lexington, with statistics continuing to increase over one year ago. With this year's gross having already exceeded figures for the entire sale in 2024, the sale generated $472,224,000 for 1,771 yearlings (through the ring) sold, which is 23.47% higher than the corresponding period last year when 1,740 horses brought $382,469,500.

Average price of $266,643 is 21.31% above $219,810 from 2024, and the median of $180,000 is 20% over $150,000 last year.

During Tuesday's session, Keeneland sold 276 yearlings (through the ring) for $24,495,000, for an average of $88,750 and a median of $70,000. The gross was 17.61% higher than the eighth session in 2024, when 286 horses sold for $20,827,500. The average was 21.87% above $72,823 in 2024, while the median rose 27.27% from $55,000 last year.

With four sessions still to go, a colt by Yaupon realized a $560,000 final bid from Mike McCarty Tuesday. Offered as Hip 2469 by Hinkle Farms, the Jan. 22 foal is out of Media Circus (Mineshaft), who hails from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner and sire Tapizar. Hinkle Farms secured the colt's unraced dam for $70,000 at the Keeneland November sale in 2021.

Leading the fairer set, a Girvin filly brought $535,000 from Winter Creek Stables. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Hip 2597 is out of Stormandaprayer (Songandaprayer), herself a daughter of GISW Stormy Pick (Storm Creek). The filly is a half-sister to stakes winner Classicstateofmind.

Taylor Made Sales Agency was Tuesday's leading consignor, selling 32 horses for $3,241,000. The session's leading buyer was JAS/Costa, who acquired four yearlings for $710,000.

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

Few would argue that BC Stables was an important player in the late D. Wayne Lukas's operation in the final years of the Hall of Famer's illustrious career. Over the past several years, a significant portion of the horses purchased by Lukas at public auction was on behalf of John Bellinger and Brian Coelho, the principals of BC Stables.

At this year's renewal of the Keeneland September sale, however, Bellinger and Coelho saw one chapter of the BC Stables story end, while ushering in a new one. Over the course of the past week, the sales recruitment team was led by longtime Lukas associate and friend, Bryan Rice and Steve Asmussen, who received the bulk of the BC Stables horses following Lukas's passing in June.

The transition to the next chapter wasn't without its challenges, according to Bellinger.

“It was different this week. At times during the bidding, I actually wanted to sit some place different than we used to sit with Wayne,” Bellinger said.” I definitely missed working with Wayne. There is no doubt about it.”

Bellinger admitted that, while the process has proceeded well overall, there were moments when he struggled with the legendary horseman's absence.

“It's still hard to imagine and it doesn't seem real that he's gone. It just happened so fast, with no warning,” he admitted. “Usually, someone you are working with, they retire and they give you some time to adjust. Even though he was 89, we did not expect it.”

He continued, “I even caught myself at least once saying to Bryan Rice 'we'll have to get with Wayne to see what he wants.' Instead of saying 'Steve' I said 'Wayne.' It was quite different.”

However, despite the stark absence of Lukas, the operation proved active over the course of the initial week of the September Sale, resulting in a total of nine purchases through Tuesday's session for gross expenditures of $3,010,000, averaging $334,444.

“We had a productive week,” Bellinger said. “It was really tough last week unless you have a pocketful of money and we don't. So, we had to really look for deals and bargains. We got conformation in all our horses and we may have had to sacrifice pedigree that we wanted. Time will tell.”

Heading the team's purchases was Hip 855, a colt by first season sire Corniche, consigned by Taylor Made Sales. The Apr. 11 foal is out of Peaceful Feeling (War Front). With a European flavor to the bottom side of the page, the 9-year-old mare is out of French listed winner Doo Lang (Pulpit), from the family of Group 1 winner War Command.

“Steve and Brian were pretty high on that colt,” said Bellinger. “They both had him top of their list. He scored pretty high using their scoring system.”

Also from the Taylor Made consignment, BC Stables secured a colt by Uncle Mo (Hip 21) for $500,000 and a colt by Jackie's Warrior (Hip 1480) for $400,000.

The former is out of SW and GISP Livemybestlife (The Big Beast), while the latter is out of Crystal Grit (Tapit), a sister to MGSW Blofeld (Quality Road). The May 12 foal has a pair of SP half-siblings in Quality G (Quality Road) and Souper Highvoltage (Brilliant Speed).

Additionally, BC Stables haltered a filly by City of Light (Hip 994), a colt by Jackie's Warrior (Hip 1555), a colt and filly by Yaupon (Hip 327 & 352), a filly by Golden Pal (Hip 557) and a colt by Liam's Map (Hip 2245).

“We had to go a little bit with [young] unproven sires, so that's where we you get a bit of the discount. The guys with the big pockets want Into Mischief, Flightline etc.,” he said.

Of the nine purchases at Keeneland through Book 4, the team secured six colts and a trio of fillies. While there appeared to be a greater emphasis on speed-oriented sires as well as young stallions, Bellinger said the overall strength of the market also dictated the BC Stables' purchases.

“The market was insane. More times or not, we were outbid,” he said. “But the top three horses we bought we went to the top of where we were going to go and we got all three of them. After that, it was very difficult. But we believe we bought a good set of horses for a reasonable price.”

And while the trainer may have changed, Bellinger explained that the operation's mission remains the same as when Lukas was guiding the ship. BC Stables was represented by Just Steel (Justify) (17th) in the 2024 Kentucky Derby and American Promise (Justify) (16th) in the latest renewal of the Classic.

“We want to get back to the Derby and win some Grade Is,” he said. “We didn't buy a horse that we didn't think we could win a Grade I with. Steve wouldn't have put them on his list if he didn't think they could win at the Grade I level.”

According to Bellinger, BC Stables also has individual horses with John Ennis, Dallas Stewart, Phil D'Amato and Brian Lynch.

“The bulk of the horses went to Steve,” confirmed Bellinger. “Steve just idolized Wayne. I honestly didn't know how the transition would go at first, but it's gone extremely well. Steve has such great respect for Wayne. I think that has helped.”

Asked what he would miss most about having Lukas at his side at the sales, Bellinger said, “Wayne had a real knack for looking at a horse, giving it a thumbs up or thumbs down. Last year, I thought we did a really good job of [recruiting horses]. Brian would scout the horses and we had Wayne in a captain's chair out in the last ring and he would give a thumbs up or thumbs down. Forgetting the horse part of it, he was so positive and so inspirational that you can't help miss being around somebody like that.”

The post Keeneland September Continues to Roll; Yaupon Colt Heads Book 4 Finale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

5. NU WHAT'S NEW, CD, 9/13, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure- 84 (2nd)
(c, 3, by Munnings–Heavenly Scat, by Scat Daddy)
O-Doubledown Stables. B-BlackRidge Stables (Ky). T-James Divito. J-Walter Rodriguez.
On paper and in mutuels, this former Taylor Made-sold weanling was in a different hemisphere than Subito (below) and some others Saturday, and it looked that way at the quarter pole when he was still 7 lengths behind and seemingly going nowhere. Then something ignited, and he stormed up the inside to barely miss catching Subito while blowing past him on the gallop-out. He tried two turns before with a poor outcome, but that was on grass – now he's a gelding with perhaps better focus.

4. SUBITO, CD, 9/13, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure- 84
(c, 3, by Speightstown–Uno Duo, by Macho Uno)
O/B-Juddmonte (Ky). T-Bill Mott. J-Jaime Torres.
The half-brother to Juddmonte's Grade I winner Obligatory made this list for his July 4 debut, when he recorded an 85 Beyer despite blowing a 2 1/2-length lead in the final furlong. He opened up again at the eighth pole in his second start and just held on to edge onrushing Nu What's Nu (above). He also changed leads for the stretch run, something he didn't do first time out.

3. GIN'S BEACH ROAD, CD, 9/14, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-84
(f, 3, by Quality Road–Yellow Agate, by Gemologist)
O-Live Oak Plantation. B-China Horse Club (Ky). T-Mark Casse. J-Jose Ortiz.
Her full-brother Agate Road won the Grade II Pilgrim Stakes on turf but was equally good on dirt. Based on early returns, Gin's Beach Road looks to prefer dirt: she rebounded strongly after a lackluster grass effort at Saratoga to win this by 5 1/4 lengths. Mike Repole and Vinny Viola bought Agate Road for $650k as a yearling; Charlotte Weber paid $650k for this filly at Saratoga from the Taylor Made Sales consignment.

2. ON THE LEVEL, DEL, 9/11, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-84
(c, 3, by Classic Empire–Siena Grace, by More than Ready)
O-Three Diamonds Farm. B-Carole I. Fernandez (Ky). T-Keri Brion. J-Jaime Rodriguez.
The Wykoff family's Three Diamonds Farm has had numerous successes with long-distance turf runners trained by Mike Maker. But they've also won with Fair Hill-based Brion, former assistant to the late Jonathan Sheppard who has saddled nine Grade I steeplechase winners and now is emphasizing flat racing. On the Level was an unlucky debut loser at Laurel last November then returned to the work tab in July and redeemed himself nicely with blinkers last week at Delaware.

1. SPUN DMC, CD, 9/12, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure- 85
(c, 2, by Spun to Run–Critic's Choice, by Smart Strike)
O-UPcountryfarm and Randy Morse. B-Charles Kidder and Nancy Cole (Ky). T-Randy Morse. J-Jane Elliott.
Ollie Besinger's UPcountry Farm in West Dundee, IL, is best known for fresh eggs. But Besinger has also boarded horses and dabbled in racehorse ownership for 20 years. He has never owned a stakes runner, but that might change after the debut of 2-year-old Spun DMC, who attended the pace three-wide then kicked clear in a swift 1:09.76. Spun DMC was bought for a modest $95k earlier this year, but his second dam is two-time Grade I-winning millionaire Starrer.

The post Five Fastest Maidens, Presented By Taylor Made: Sept. 8-14 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Edited Press Release

Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})'s impressive victory in the GI Rogers Woodbine Mile highlighted a strong Turf Champions Day for Woodbine Entertainment.

Turf Champions Day featured three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races.

An all-sources handle of $13,026,804 ranks the 2025 edition among the top-five Woodbine Mile day handles. The Woodbine Mile generated $2.1 million in wagering, a 23 percent increase from the 2024 race.

Among the other wagering highlights was a 64% increase in the GI Johnnie Walker Natalma S. ($1,688,101 vs 1,030,495), a 43% increase in handle for the GI bet365 Summer S. ($2,088,730 vs $1,455,862), and a record Pick-5 pool of $631,211.

“Turf Champions Day is one of the most important showcases of our world-class racing program, and this year's results reflect the strength and excitement of the product we are delivering in partnership with our racing community,” said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “From strong wagering and international participation to the success of our new global wagers, we are proud to see Woodbine firmly positioned on the international racing stage. I want to thank our horse racing community, fans, and customers whose support and passion continue to elevate this event and the sport of horse racing in Canada.”

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I met Stuart in 1994 when we worked together for Ben P. Walden Jr. at Vinery. Stuart was the broodmare manager, and I was selling seasons to the Vinery stallions. Stuart managed the 150-plus broodmare band which  encompassed multiple farms. Stuart was also a farrier; he trimmed all the broodmares which added another layer of responsibility. I quickly learned that Stuart was a tireless hard worker with these responsibilities.

Over the years I followed Stuart's professional journey to Watercress, Payson Stud and Taylor Made admiring his accomplishments along the way. Stuart was a mentor to a lot of our young people in our industry as we have read this week. He was also a mentor to someone older. I would call Stuart and get his opinion on a value of a broodmare or a stallion for a mating. He was always willing to help and gave great advice. He never asked for anything in return and was always your biggest cheerleader to succeed.

This fall, when Stuart started treatments for his illness, he did it his way. When he started the clinical trial at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, he approached it like he did everything in his life. He worked hard to gather all the information he could about the treatment so he would better understand what was before him. He was determined to beat the odds. He wanted to spend as much time as he could with Drew, Alexa and his two grandchildren whom he dearly loved. He never complained, he never said “Why me”, he just buckled down and went to work to beat the odds.

It was a sad day when I received the call from Josie telling me that Stuart had passed. I shed more than a few tears because I had lost a dear friend. Stuart touched a lot of lives and made an impact on our industry and life. To honor Stuart's legacy, we should take a page out of his handbook, mentor others, be respectful, smile, laugh, enjoy good food and life. Remember to live the day we are in as there is no guarantee for tomorrow.

I love you, brother.

The post Letter To The Editor: Stu Story #13 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Two yearlings owned by Ann Hayes, who suffered serious injuries when she was trampled by a horse last week, will sell in the final days of the Keeneland September Sale. Both are consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services. Hip 3492, from the first crop of Greatest Honour, is the first foal of the More Than Ready mare Willing, from the family of GISWs Constitution, Awesome Humor, and Surfer. The filly is in Barn 32 and sells Thursday. Hip 4593 is a filly by Flameaway out of Differentiate (Include), sells on the final day of the sale, Saturday, and will be in Barn 3.

Hayes, a longtime member of the Thoroughbred industry, suffered severe head trauma in the incident and is being cared for in the intensive care unit of the University of Kentucky medical center.

Amy Nave has started a fundraiser for Hayes on GoFundMe.com, which reads: “Her family has been by her side, day, and night, facing an extended period of recovery for Ann. The financial burden of ongoing medical bills, and the costs associated with her rehabilitation are significant and we are hoping to ease this stress, so Ann can focus on healing.

Ann's influence in the Thoroughbred Community is profound. She has raised and raced her own horses, worked for multiple farms and race tracks, and serves on boards, such as the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Manager's Club. She has been passionate about mentoring young people entering the horse industry through her work with Amplify, BCTC equine, Asbury, and Midway Colleges. For the past decade, she has been a vital part of WinStar Farm, where her compassion led her to the role of Employee Liaison. Ann personally welcomes every new employee and oversees the Stable Recovery program, always putting others first and making them feel valued.

Everyone who has met Ann has felt her deep love for people and horses. Now it's our turn to show how much we care for her. Her impact on our community cannot be overestimated and any support will help her and her family through this challenging time.”

Click here to see the fundraiser or to donate.

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Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 280 entries for its upcoming Saratoga Fall Mixed sale, the company announced Tuesday. The sale will run Tuesday, October 14 in Saratoga Springs, New York, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion.

“Saratoga Fall is New York's breeding stock sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There are nearly 230 weanlings catalogued, by top sires both nationally and within New York. There is also a quality group of broodmares in foal on attractive covers.”

The company noted that, beginning in 2026, New York-breds will race for equal purse money as open company horses on the NYRA circuit.

“With purse parity beginning next year, the New York-bred program will go from strength-to-strength,” noted Browning.  “New York-bred weanlings offered at Saratoga Fall will be eligible to compete for these higher purses when they reach the track as two-year-olds. The same applies to foals carried by mares catalogued in this sale. Now is the time to get involved in New York–the future is bright.”

The catalogue may now be viewed online and will also be available via the equineline sales catalogue app. Print catalogues will be available by September 18.

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With figures continuing to surpass the 2024 standard at the Keeneland September Sale, a colt by Maclean's Music was the most fancied yearling of the day, bringing $500,000 from Alex and JoAnn Lieblong.

Offered as Hip 2263, the son of SW Athens Queen (Majestic Warrior) was consigned by Eaton Sales.

A trio of colts realized $475,000, including Hip 2235, by Gun Runner and Hip 2281, by Epicenter. Both yearlings were purchased by Pedro Lanz, acting on behalf of KAS Stables.

With five purchases for $1,345,000, Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stable, was Monday's leading buyer.

The third colt to bring that amount was Hip 2138, a son of Candy Ride (Arg) who was originally knocked down to trainer Kenny McPeek. Delta Squad Racing and BSW/Crow were added to the docket.

A pair of fillies brought $400,000 on the day–Hip 2266, a daughter of Good Magic out of Aunt Kat and Hip 2302, by Omaha Beach out of Carmel Beauty. The former was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, while the latter was offered by Hunter Valley Farm.

On Monday, Keeneland sold 279 yearlings through the ring for $30,107,000, up 19.31% from last year when 288 horses brought $25,234,000 at the seventh session. The average of $107,910 increased 23.16% over $87,618 in 2024. The median rose 7.14% from $70,000 to $75,000.

Cumulatively, 1,495 yearlings have sold through the ring for $447,729,000, an increase of 23.80% from $361,642,000 for 1,454 horses sold during the same period last year. The average of $299,484 is 20.41% higher than $248,722 in 2024, and the median rose 17.65% from $170,000 to $200,000.

The day's leading consignor was Gainesway, which sold 27 yearlings for $2,935,000.

The September Sale continues Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET and runs each day through Saturday for a total of 12 sessions.

McPeek Ramps Up in Book 4

Kenny McPeek picked up the baton on the third day of selling at Keeneland, however, the Kentucky horseman walked away with the most purchases to date in the Book 4 opener.

“We have had short-list horses that we've been after all week and just felt short budgeted. It seems that things finally came together today,” said McPeek. “Every day we've participating a little bit and a bit more as the sale goes.”

By the end of the day, McPeek signed for eight yearlings. His highest-priced purchase of the session was Hip 2138, a colt by Candy Ride (Arg) out of Screen Goddess (Giant's Causeway), a winning half-sister to GISW Star Billing (Dynaformer).

“He's probably the best Candy Ride I've ever seen presented at auction,” he said. “He had a lot of flow to him. He wasn't a big horse but he was very well made. He presented himself well and we figured we'd stick our neck out on him.”

Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale, the Mar. 13 foal, who was bred by George Krikorian, is from the family of GI Mother Goose winner Stellar Jayne and champion juvenile filly Just F Y I.

“I liked the bottom line and I felt like a lot of things fit,” he added.

After successfully outbidding agent Brad Weisbord on the colt, McPeek confirmed that the agent and partners will stay in for a piece of him.

“It's the first time we've worked together,” McPeek confirmed. “I actually bought him without a client, I liked him that much. I figured we'd put it together when we could.”

Also included among purchases his Monday, McPeek secured Hip 2097, a daughter of McKinzie, for $220,000. Consigned by Summerfield (Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck), the filly it out of Picolata (Bellamy Road).

“She's a filly that had a lot of leg to her. She reminded me a bit, conformationally, of [GISW] Take Charge Lady,” said McPeek in reference to the McPeek-trained MGISW and earner of over $2.4 million. “She looks like an [Kentucky] Oaks-type filly. She'll take a little more time, I don't see her sprinting a whole lot, but I think when she stretches out, she'll be tough.”

McPeek also signed for a pair of colts by Authentic (Hip 2287, $85,000 & Hip 2249, $45,000), in addition to a colt by Golden Pal (Hip 2257, $200,000). Monday's purchases were rounded out by Hip 2053, a colt by Essential Quality, purchased for $190,000, an Olympiad filly (Hip 2368) who brought $50,000 and a Nashville colt (Hip 2392) that went for $200,000 late in the session.

“I bought a Golden Pal earlier in the summer but I thought this one was really reminiscent of Curlin, who I bought as well,” he said. “That always excites me.”

McPeek purchased the eventual Horse of the Year and leading stallion for $57,000 at the 2005 renewal of the September sale.

A two-time Breeders' Cup winner, Golden Pal earned in excess of $1.8 million on the racetrack. The son of Uncle Mo stands at Coolmore America.

“I think Golden Pal is going to inject speed into the equation and I think the stud has been well represented.”

Through seven sessions, McPeek signed for a total of 17 yearlings, for a gross of $2,940,000, averaging $172,941.

“I have more middle and lower-market people, I've done that for a long time and I refuse to give those people up and I will continue to help them,” he said. “We've been plugging along and finding our niche. I am happy with what we've got so far. We still have a lot of work to do. We'll probably work all the way to the end.”

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