Fri, 10/17/2025 - 15:34

Hey Nay Nay, Intrepido put in easy Breeders' Cup works

Hey Nay Nay wins Del Mar Juvenile Turf Sept 7 2025

Benoit Photo

Hey Nay Nay, winner of the Del Mar Juvenile Turf and the Tyro at Monmouth, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Friday as he continues preparations for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

The recent stakes winners Hey Nay Nay and Intrepido, both intended runners in Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-olds at Del Mar on Oct. 31, worked at Santa Anita on Friday in moderate and slow times.

Hey Nay Nay, winner of the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 7 and undefeated in three starts, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80, which ranked as the 20th-fastest time of 43 works at the distance. Hey Nay Nay is scheduled to start in the BC Juvenile Turf at a mile.

“The track was a little heavy this morning,” trainer John Sadler said. “He’s right on schedule.”

Fri, 10/17/2025 - 14:47

Breeders' Cup Classic: Jose Ortiz picks up mount on Journalism

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Jose Ortiz will replace Umberto Rispoli (above) on Journalism in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Rispoli has won the Haskell, Preakness, Santa Anita Derby, and San Felipe on Journalism this year.

Jose Ortiz will ride Journalism for the first time in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Aron Wellman, the managing director of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, a syndicate that co-owns Journalism, said the decision was made on Friday morning to replace previous rider Umberto Rispoli.

Wellman declined to elaborate on the reason for the change.

Matt Nakatani, Rispoli’s agent, said late Friday morning that he did not have an immediate replacement mount for Rispoli in the BC Classic.

Fri, 10/17/2025 - 14:20

Pletcher, Weaver give Breeders' Cup runners important works

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Todd Pletcher put a stiff workout and gallop-out into Mindframe on Friday at Saratoga to make sure he's fit for the Breeders Cup Classic after he lost his rider during the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Aug. 31.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though they each will have one more work before they ship west, trainer Todd Pletcher’s quartet of Breeders’ Cup Classic starters put in their last serious workouts Friday morning over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga.

Fri, 10/17/2025 - 13:21

Lennilu, Be Your Best work for Breeders' Cup at Palm Meadows

By Mike Welsch

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos

Lennilu blazed five furlongs in 57 seconds on Thursday at the Palm Meadows Training Center while tuning up for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A couple of South Florida-based fillies prepping for starts in the Breeders’ Cup, Lennilu and Be Your Best, had their connections smiling after turning in sharp workouts at the Palm Meadows Training Center on Thursday.

Thu, 10/16/2025 - 15:06

All-sources California handle down from 2024

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Through September, California ontrack handle in 2025 is down 14 percent from the same time period in 2024.

All-sources handle in California continues to show declines compared to 2024, according to data released at Thursday’s California Horse Racing Board meeting.

Through September, handle at all venues in the state, including ontrack, simulcast, and account wagering sources, was more than $1.98 billion, a decline of 5 percent from a figure of more than $2.09 million in 2024.

Thu, 10/16/2025 - 14:42

2026 Southern California racing dates will closely mirror this year

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Santa Anita had dates approved for two meetings - Dec. 25, 2025 through June 14, 2026, and Sept. 25 to Nov. 1

The California Horse Racing Board approved racing days for 2026 for the Southern California Thoroughbred circuit that largely mirrors a calendar in place since 2017.

The board also approved a year-round night meeting at Los Alamitos for Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds.

Later at the meeting, the board heard from a promoter of Northern California racing about the desire to resume race meetings in that part of the state for the first time since 2024.

Wed, 10/15/2025 - 14:19

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: Trainers confirm Iron Orchard, Percy's Bar

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Grade 1 winner Iron Orchard will make her two-turn debut in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Iron Orchard and Percy’s Bar are both being pointed to the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31 at Del Mar, according to their respective trainers.

Iron Orchard won the Frizette on Oct. 4 at Aqueduct to remain unbeaten in three career starts, while Percy’s Bar finished first in the Alcibiades on Oct. 3 at Keeneland but was disqualified for interference and placed second to the elevated Tommy Jo.

Iron Orchard is based at Saratoga. She was winning her second stakes – and first start against open company – in the one-turn Frizette.

Wed, 10/15/2025 - 13:38

Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Sweet Azteca back after spiking fever

By Patrick Moquin

Sweet Azteca after Rancho Bernardo at DMR Aug 24 2025

Benoit Photo

Sweet Azteca worked five furlongs on Oct. 11 and is scheduled to breeze again this weekend and then ship to Del Mar.

Sweet Azteca had to overcome a minor setback at the end of September that cost her a scheduled workout, but the 5-year-old mare returned to her usual regimen on Oct. 11 and remains firmly on track for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

“She had a slight temperature, but the blood was good,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “I think it was a small virus or something. I really couldn’t pinpoint it. Missed a few days and a work, but she’s healthy now.”

Wed, 10/15/2025 - 13:29

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Hernandez hopeful he'll be back aboard Mystik Dan

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Brian Hernandez Jr. broke seven ribs, punctured a lung, and suffered a small laceration to his liver in a spill last month.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said Wednesday he is hopeful jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will be able to be back aboard Mystik Dan for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Hernandez was unable to team with the Kentucky Derby winner last month, when Mystik Dan won the Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs, because he was rehabbing from injuries he sustained in a spill a week earlier. Hernandez broke seven ribs, punctured a lung, and suffered a small laceration to his liver.

Wed, 10/15/2025 - 13:24

Breeders' Cup Mile: Formidable Man not getting much respect

By Marcus Hersh

Formidable Man wins Del Mar Mile Aug 30 2025

Benoit Photo

Formidable Man, 6 for 6 on the Del Mar turf with five stakes wins, is listed at 15-1 in the Mile.

A horse intended for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar has raced six times on the Del Mar grass course and never lost. That horse, just a 4-year-old, has won multiple Grade 1s, has an overall mark of 8 for 14 on turf, and since his trainer began racing him without blinkers four starts ago has three wins and an unlucky fourth.

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