Wed, 10/22/2025 - 12:15

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint: Lots of moving parts to overflow field

Barbara D. Livingston

The highly touted Schwarzenegger comes into the Breeders' Cup off a victory in the Indian Summer at Keeneland.

Few things are certain in horse racing. One of the virtual certainties is that the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which leads off the Friday slate as the newest race in the club, will have a full starting gate.

The Juvenile Turf Sprint has gone with the maximum number of starters each year since its addition to the program in 2018, and each year also has had multiple horses excluded. At Del Mar on Oct. 31, the race will be limited to 12 starters. There were 22 pre-entrants for the race that were revealed Wednesday.

Wed, 10/22/2025 - 12:15

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: Tommy Jo tries to nail down a championship

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Tommy Jo decisively won the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga (above), but her victory in the Alcibiades at Keeneland via disqualification was less convincing.

Tommy Jo will attempt to nail down a championship in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, which drew nine pre-entries for its Oct. 31 renewal at Del Mar.

“We just want her to settle and get a good trip, and hopefully, she can take care of business,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Wed, 10/22/2025 - 12:15

Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Mr. A. P. comes in via the claiming box

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Ted Noffey appears to be the clear Juvenile favorite off Grade 1 scores in the Hopeful and Breeders' Futurity.

The majority of the nine horses pre-entered in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile were purchased at auction, either as a yearling last fall or at a 2-year-old-in-training sale during the spring.

The connections of Mr. A. P. got their Juvenile prospect out of a high-priced maiden-claiming race in the summer at Del Mar. On Oct. 31, 18 days after winning a one-mile maiden race at Santa Anita, Mr. A. P. will be taking on division heavyweights Ted Noffey and Brant in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile at Del Mar.

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 10:57

Final Score to miss Breeders' Cup with tender shin

By David Grening

Coady Media

Final Score wins the Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths at Keeneland.

Final Score, among the leading North American contenders for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Oct. 31 at Del Mar, was not pre-entered for that race Monday owing to a tender shin, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Final Score, a son of Not This Time owned by Mike Repole, has gone 3 for 3 on turf, including a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 With Anticipation on Aug. 28 at Saratoga and a 4 1/2-length score in the Grade 2 Bourbon on Oct. 5 at Keeneland.

Sun, 10/19/2025 - 16:10

Sweet Azteca shows speed in six-furlong work for BC Filly and Mare Sprint

By Steve Andersen

Benoit

Sweet Azteca has won 7 of 9 starts in her career and is unbeaten in two appearances this year.

ARCADIA, Calif. - It frequently takes a top-class runner to record the fastest six-furlong workout time on a weekend morning at Santa Anita.

On Saturday, Imagination, winner of the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 28, held the distinction, working six furlongs in 1:11.60 for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

On Sunday, the times were quicker, led by the 5-year-old mare Sweet Azteca, who zoomed through six furlongs in 1:10.80 in preparation for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Sun, 10/19/2025 - 12:24

American Quarter Horse Association Challenge Championship moved to Sunday after power outage

By Mary Rampellini

The Grade 1, $265,000 American Quarter Horse Association Challenge Championship and two other major stakes were postponed from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon at The Downs at Albuquerque after a power outage forced the track to cancel its final three races Saturday, according to the AQHA.

First post for Sunday’s card has been moved up to 12:30 p.m. Mountain.

The other races moved to Sunday are the Grade 2 Juvenile Championship and the Grade 3, $165,000 Derby Championship.

Sun, 10/19/2025 - 12:00

Village Voice works half-mile for Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf

By David Grening

Susie Raisher /NYRA

Village Voice won the 1 3/8-mile Waya by a neck in her first start in 50 weeks at Aqueduct on Oct. 5.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Village Voice, who came off a near-yearlong layoff to win the Grade 3 Waya Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 5, worked a half-mile in 50.14 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course Sunday in preparation for a start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 1.

Village Voice worked on the inside of Alimara (ninth in the Waya), the two going a quarter in 25.92 seconds and galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.46.

Sun, 10/19/2025 - 11:38

Sovereignty puts in solid work, will depart Wednesday for Del Mar, Breeders' Cup Classic

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Sovereignty had his final workout at Saratoga on Sunday morning, going five furlongs in 1:01.30.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - California, here he comes.

After spending the last 24 weeks in Saratoga, Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner, was scheduled on Wednesday to ship to Southern California, where on Nov. 1 he’ll be the likely favorite in a stacked field running in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.

Sat, 10/18/2025 - 15:10

Mo Plex, winner of Ohio Derby and Bay Shore, retired after injury to right hind leg

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Mo Plex, a 3-year-old son of Complexity, had a record of 5-1-2 record from 10 starts.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Mo Plex, the multiple graded stakes-winning New York-bred, has been retired from racing after suffering an injury during training earlier this week, trainer Jeremiah Englehart said Saturday.

Sat, 10/18/2025 - 13:51

BC Classic: All eyes on Sierra Leone? Not necessarily

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Breeders' Cup Classic-bound Sierra Leone won the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga on August 2.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Despite his status as defending Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and reigning 3-year-old champion, Sierra Leone will enter the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic a little bit under the radar.

“It’s such a deep field and he hasn’t run that much this year, I understand,” Chad Brown, trainer of Sierra Leone, said. “I don’t take any offense to it. Going into the race I do believe he’s one of the main contenders in the race. He’s a horse that’s in good form. His last two races were very good, especially given his trouble in the last race.”

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