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Churchill Downs' late Vice President of Communications John Asher, who died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 62, will be honored by the city of Louisville Oct. 27 with a "Hometown Hero" banner that will be displayed in front of Presentation Academy.

Energico found enough energy at the end of 3,000 meters to post a dominating victory in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) Oct. 26 at Kyoto Racecourse.

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale gets underway in Newmarket Oct. 27, and it is a sale that has become an annual pilgrimage for many buyers from the Southern Hemisphere, who are expected to be active once again this week.

Rhyme Schemes, winner of the 2023 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2), has been retired to stud duties, and will stand his first season in 2026 at Clear Creek Stud near Folsom, La.

Hoping that his start in Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be a memorable one, MGISW Journalism (Curlin) worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Del Mar Sunday morning. With Jose Ortiz in the irons and working with stablemate Legitimate (Authentic), the three-time Grade I winner was last seen finishing second in the GI Pacific Classic on Aug. 30. Both colts are trained by Michael McCarthy.

“We were just looking for a maintenance work this morning,” said McCarthy. “I think we got that accomplished. I loved the way he galloped out. Went from the wire to the seven-eighths and shading :11 and two. All good.”

Ortiz added, “He's a very classy horse. A beautiful mover. We went out there and did five eighths. I just let him stretch his legs and be happy. Michael (McCarthy) was very happy with the work. The horse is ready. He is very happy with what I did today.”

Previously ridden by Umberto Rispoli, the colt will be ridden by Ortiz in the Classic.

“We just thought it was good for [Ortiz] to go ahead and sit on him, get a feel of him, kind of test drive a little bit,” said McCarthy. “It's not like it's never been done before. So grateful that he was able to kind  of take a race or two off today and come out here and help us out.”

Following Sunday's workout, Ortiz hopped on a plane and flew back to Kentucky to ride at Churchill Downs Sunday.

“He's very straightforward,” said Ortiz. “He did everything right. I didn't try to test him or anything. We know he's a nice horse. We're just trying to get to know him a little bit. But he was very classy out there, as he's always been.”

Journalism, winner of this season's GI Preakness, GI Haskell and GI Santa Anita Derby, is expected to be retired to Ashford Stud at the conclusion of his racing career.

Also working at Del Mar Sunday, GI Ogden Phipps winner Dorth Vader (Girvin) negotiated four furlongs in :49 flat. Under Raul Munoz, the 5-year-old is trained by George Weaver.

“She broke off a little slow, but she finished up well, so I had the rider let her gallop on out,” said Blair Golen, assistant to Weaver. “She got off in :26 and 1 and finished up in :49 and 1, so a strong finish. I was happy with her and the way she cools out. She's fit, it's just letting her blow off some mental steam.”

In an effort to ease her anxiety stemming from the travel and change of scenery, Dorth Vader arrived in California accompanied by her trusty companion, a large teddy bear.

“We've always had horses that had a bear– Daddy Is a Legend had one–and I see a few trainers do it,” Golen explained. “Hers is big and sits in the corner, and she just kind of looks at it. It's comforting. Some people have goats, and some have teddy bears.. She takes the bear and her pink Jolley ball everywhere. Sometimes she paws at it, but for the most part they just hang out.”

In preparation for Saturday's GI Filly & Mare Sprint, Zeitlos (Curlin) breezed three panels in :36.20 for trainer Steve Asmussen. The 5-year-old will try and improve upon a seventh in last season's Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar.

 

The post Classic Contender Journalism Heads Breeders’ Cup Worktab at Del Mar Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Breeders' Cup pre-entrants Explora (Blame), Kopion (Omaha Beach), Straight No Chaser (Speightster), Goal Oriented (Not This Time) and Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) all had their final works Sunday at Santa Anita.

Kopion, trained by Richard Mandella, covered three furlongs in :33.20 with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard. The 4-year-old was pre-entered in both the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs and six-furlong GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, however, Mandella confirmed Kopion would be entered in the Sprint where she will be joined by Mandella-trained stablemate Big City Lights.

Kopion will attempt to become the fourth female to win the Sprint joining Desert Stormer (1995), Safely Kept (1990) and Very Subtle (1987).

Straight No Chaser worked four furlongs in :49.0 ahead of a title defense in the Sprint. Trained by Dan Blacker, Straight No Chaser most recently finished third in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 28. Last year, Straight No Chaser won the Sprint by a half-length to clinch the Eclipse Award as North America's outstanding sprinter. He'll attempt to join Elite Power (2022-23), Roy H (2017-18) and Midnight Lute (2007-08) as back-to-back winners of the Sprint.

“It was a good work,” Blacker confirmed. “His last two or three works have been really good. He has good enthusiasm, good energy. That's what I want to see. He did pick up some company today, which wasn't ideal, but my assistant, Juan [Landerso], did a great job.”

Explora and Goal Oriented–both TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard–worked for their trainer Bob Baffert. Explora, pre-entered in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, drilled five furlongs in 1:00.20. The filly most recently won the GII Oak Leaf on Oct. 4 at Santa Anita.

“She went nice,” said Bob Baffert. “She is a very classy filly, and she cruised around there by herself. I like the fact that she can go two turns. That is not going to be an issue for her, and she has speed if she wants to use it. She is not a one-dimensional horse.”

Goal Oriented, heading to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, worked four furlongs with company in :47.40. It was the fastest of 66 works at the distance. Goal Oriented most recently finished third in the GI Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20 at Parx.

“He always works well; he is a good work horse,” said Baffert. “He was within himself and did it the right way, he was just cruising around there. It was nothing for him.”

Motorious, who'll be making his third attempt at winning the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, worked five furlongs on the synthetic training track in 1:01.20. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Motorious most recently won the GIII Green Flash via disqualification at Del Mar on Aug. 30. The 7-year-old gelding was second in last year's Turf Sprint at Del Mar and fifth in the 2023 Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

“He worked really well,” said Antonio Fresu, aboard for the work. “It was nice and easy today, being six days out from the big race. It was an easy work on his own after what was his fast and heavy work last week. We were really happy with the way he went and today he looked beautiful

on the training track. I just kept him going easy. He's ready to go.”

Final entries for the 42nd Breeders' Cup will be taken Monday, Oct. 27. Post positions will be drawn in the Del Mar paddock starting at 4 p.m. PT.

The post Breeders’ Cup Workers at Santa Anita Sunday led by Explora, Straight No Chaser and Kopion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

1st-Belmont The Big A, $85,000, Msw, 10-26, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.57, ft, 4 lengths.
WITH A KISS (f, 2, Gun Runner–Cathryn Sophia {GISW, $1,229,720}, by Street Boss), who bet down to 67 cents on the dollar for her debut here, kept tabs on fellow 'Insight' runner & pacesetter Imperatrice (City of Light) up the backstretch. As the pair sped away entering the far turn, With a Kiss pulled alongside and entering the lane the race was on. The chalk passed her stablemate inside the final furlong and graduate by four lengths. The winner is her dam's last registered foal of record. Cathryn Sophia now has four winners out of as many to race. She was sent back to Gun Runner for 2026. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $46,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Michael B. Tabor; B-Chelston (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

The post Gun Runner’s With a Kiss Says Adieu To Maiden Ranks At Big A appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

GSW Rhyme Schemes (Ghostzapper–Katherine, by Distorted Humor, has been retired to stud to stand his first year in 2026 at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana.

Rhyme Schemes will enter stud for a fee of $3,500 LFSN or $3,000, if paid by Sept. 1. If a second mare by the same owner Is bred to Rhyme Schemes, there will be a 50% reduction in the second stud fee. Shares and breeding rights will also be available.

The chestnut was purchased by Deuce Greathouse on behalf of Pura Vida Investments for $210,000 at the Keeneland September Sale in 2022.

A runaway winner in his second career start at Ellis Park at two, he completed the 5 1/2-furlong test in 1:02.82, just .51 seconds off the track record.

Favored in that season's GII Saratoga Special Stakes at Saratoga, the colt again proved dominant, winning by 9 1/2 lengths.

“He is the epitome of a perfectly balanced physical racehorse. “The fastest horse I've ever purchased and, from a mental aspect, the classiest horse I've had the pleasure of being around,” said Greathouse.

Val Murrell of Clear Creek added, “We are certainly glad to have an individual coming to Clear Creek Stud with exceptional speed and the ability to carry it. Handsome, put together well with a strong family. I am confident Louisiana breeders will appreciate him and he will serve them well.”

Brokered by Jay Goodwin with Vinery Sales, Rhyme Schemes and all the Clear Creek Stud stallions will be available for viewing after the first of November and at the farm's annual Stallion Show scheduled for Dec. 6, 2025.

For more information, contact Clear Creek Stud at www.clearcreekstud.com or call (985} 796-S563.

The post Rhyme Schemes to Stand at Clear Creek Stud in Louisiana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Sent away as the 3-5 favorite, Test Score won smartly under Juan Hernandez for owners John and Jerry Amerman and trainer Graham Motion.

Wathnan Racing's Hit Show scores a repeat victory in the Fayette Stakes (G3) at Keeneland Oct. 25, securing a sixth consecutive fall meet training title for Brad Cox.

Graded stakes winner Dean Martini has been retired by owner David Bernsen and has joined Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky.

There are 24 British- and Irish-trained horses declared in the six group races, including three group 1s, at Saint-Cloud Oct. 26. Here are two 2-year-olds you should be watching especially closely, plus quotes from the trainers on their stablemates.

Bank Frenzy has an affinity for Aqueduct Racetrack, a point on display Oct. 25 with a victory in the $250,000 Empire Classic Stakes.

Troubleshooting parlays a victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) at Kentucky Downs into another stakes success, this time in the Bryan Station Stakes (G3T) over a mile at Keeneland.

Hawk Mountain led home an Aidan O'Brien-trained trifecta in the Futurity Trophy Stakes (G1) at Doncaster Racecourse Oct. 25.

The final session of the Arqana October Yearling Sale concluded Oct. 25, and the five-day sale finished with across-the-board declines in total sales, average price, and median, bucking trends seen at many yearling sales across the world in 2025.

Richard Hannon hailed Rosallion as "a horse of a lifetime" after the trainer said the three-time group 1 winner had been retired.

Yulong Investments' Via Sistina became the oldest mare to land the Cox Plate (G1) and joined an elite list of dual winners in a fittingly classic edition of the race Oct. 25 in its last staging at Moonee Valley Racecourse before its redevelopment.

Nearly four dozen horses preparing for the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar breeze across the country, including 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone.

Ironhorse Stallions announced Oct. 25 that Bucchero will stand the 2026 breeding season for $12,500, with an early-bird discount available through Dec. 31 for mares foaling in New York and a breeder-friendly mare cap of 140.