Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan has officially been retired, Churchill Downs and trainer Kenny McPeek announced Friday on social media, McPeek saying he was "extremely proud" of his "brave and intelligent" horse.

Mystik Dan, who raced for Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm, now retires to Airdrie Stud, which announced in June that it had acquired his future rights. First, however, he will make a farewell appearance at Churchill Downs, parading in the paddock with the fourth race on Saturday.

Sovereignty, the dual-classic winner and leading candidate for Horse of the Year, arrived at Keeneland Wednesday afternoon following a flight from California, trainer Bill Mott said Thursday.

Mott said he does not have any official word from the higher-ups at Godolphin on whether Sovereignty will race again. Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers winner, was forced to scratch from last weekend’s Breeders’ Cup Classic due to a fever.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Journalism will target the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap as his first main objective in 2026, trainer Michael McCarthy said Wednesday.

McCarthy confirmed that Journalism will stay in training at age 4 following an admirable eight-start 3-year-old campaign that included three Grade 1 wins. He also finished fourth in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Del Mar.

“He will stay in training next year,” McCarthy said. For an initial target, the trainer did not hesitate in saying, “The Met Mile.”

ARCADIA, Calif. – Nysos and Splendora hope to parlay 2025 Breeders’ Cup victories into successful 2026 campaigns, while Seismic Beauty will seek redemption next year.

Early this week, trainer Bob Baffert outlined plans for his Breeders’ Cup runners, including Dirt Mile winner Nysos and Filly and Mare Sprint winner Splendora. Plans call for both to remain in training next season at age 5 along with Seismic Beauty, the beaten favorite in the Distaff.

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The owners of White Abarrio have retained counsel and are requesting a “full and transparent investigation” be conducted into the scratch of White Abarrio from last Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar, according to an e-mail from part owners C2 Racing and Gary Barber. 

DEL MAR, Calif. - Ethical Diamond put the famous Irish jumps trainer Willie Mullins in the winner’s circle of an American flat race for the first time with a surprise win in Saturday’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar.

The 27-1 victory has given Mullins the needed excuse to target other seven-figure races in the Middle East in coming months with Ethical Diamond, specifically the Group 1, $6 million Sheema Classic at 1 1/2 miles on turf in Dubai on March 28.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Balantina may have a two-continent campaign in 2026.

The winner of Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Balantina is set to return to trainer Donnacha O’Brien’s stable in Ireland this week. O’Brien said on Saturday that Balantina will run in a Group 1 1000 Guineas race in May, followed by the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at a mile at Royal Ascot in June.

Balantina, owned by Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Reeves Thoroughbreds and Lissa Ann McNulty, has won 2 of 6 starts and earned $574,440.