Sun, 10/12/2025 - 13:11

Sierra Leone, Sovereignty put in works for Breeders' Cup Classic

Barbara D. Livingston

Sierra Leone works a half-mile on Saratoga's Oklahoma training track in preparation for the Breeders' Cup.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Sierra Leone, the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, and Sovereignty, the horse who figures to be favored to win the 2025 Classic, put in workouts minutes apart Sunday over the Oklahoma training track on a cool, but dry morning in Saratoga.

Sierra Leone, working in company with the maiden Duration, went a half-mile in 48.54 seconds with a strong gallop out. Shortly thereafter, Sovereignty, working in company with recent maiden winner Playa Del Mar, went five furlongs in 59.94 seconds, galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.03.

Fri, 10/10/2025 - 14:13

Breeders' Cup Classic; Journalism, Baeza each put in works at Santa Anita

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Journalism will take another crack at older horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Baeza and Journalism, two of the nation’s leading 3-year-olds, had workouts at Santa Anita on Friday for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Baeza, winner of the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing in his last start on Sept. 20, worked five furlongs in 59 seconds, the second-fastest of 33 recorded works at the distance.

“I was a little surprised,” trainer John Shirreffs said of the time. “We wanted a nice workout.”

Jockey Hector Berrios was aboard for the workout. Shirreffs said that Baeza worked in company with a stablemate.

Thu, 10/09/2025 - 14:26

Velazquez to ride Formidable Man in Breeders' Cup

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

At the Del Mar summer meeting, Formidable Man was unbeaten in two Grade 2 turf stakes.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has been booked to ride the Grade 1 winner Formidable Man in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

The decision was made earlier this week, trainer Michael McCarthy said. Umberto Rispoli has ridden Formidable Man in his last eight starts, a span that includes six stakes wins, but is booked to ride Johannes, an eight-time stakes winner.

With the mount open on Formidable Man, McCarthy described employing Velazquez as a “no-brainer.”

Wed, 10/08/2025 - 14:51

Vinrock, Autumn Boy to lock horns in Caulfield Guineas

By Steve Andersen

A slower-than-expected start and traffic issues led Vinrock to a fifth-place finish in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 26. A day later, Autumn Boy could only manage a seventh-place finish after a wide trip in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney.

Wed, 10/08/2025 - 13:51

Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: With Tamara back in a big way, Mandella mulls splitting sprinters

By Patrick Moquin

Benoit Photo

After a layoff of nearly 11 months, Tamara earned a commanding 3 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Chillingworth at Santa Anita.

Richard Mandella’s chances in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint grew even stronger last weekend, leading him back to the drawing board as the championship event draws closer. The trainer has been preparing Kopion, the likely favorite, for the race since August, but with Tamara back in the fold, he said that he will cross-enter Kopion in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint to give himself the option of splitting the contenders.

Wed, 10/08/2025 - 13:39

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Full Serrano's connections hope for déjà vu

By Mary Rampellini

Debra A. Roma

Full Serrano won the 2024 Dirt Mile with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 104.

Full Serrano will attempt to join Goldencents and Cody’s Wish in the history books as a two-time winner of the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. He’s coming up to the race as well as he did when he won the 2024 edition with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 104.

“I think he’s right where he was last year,” said John Sadler, who trains Full Serrano for Hronis Racing. “I don’t see any drop-off on him. He’s in good shape and strong.”

Wed, 10/08/2025 - 13:25

Breeders' Cup Classic: After a decade away, Centennial returns with Antiquarian

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Antiquarian will come into the Breeders’ Cup Classic off a 1 1/2-length victory over defending BC Classic winner Sierra Leone in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Forty years after running its first horse in a Breeders’ Cup race and 10 years after running its most recent, Centennial Farms will be back with a contender in the championship event when Antiquarian starts in the $7 million Classic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Wed, 10/08/2025 - 12:37

Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Champagne winner Napoleon Solo done for the year

By David Grening

Intrepido (left) wins American Pharoah at SA Oct 4 2025

Benoit Photo

Intrepido (left) wins the American Pharoah. It will cost $100,000 to supplement him to the Breeders' Cup.

Napoleon Solo, the dominant 6 1/2-length winner of last Saturday’s Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct, will bypass the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar, be put away for the season, and point to a 3-year-old campaign, trainer Chad Summers said Wednesday.

“He ran really fast and really hard and we feel it’s the fair thing to do,” said Summers, who trains Napoleon Solo for Al Gold. “It wasn’t an easy decision but at the same they went six furlongs in 1:07.88, just missed Kelly Kip’s [six-furlong] track record, and ran the fourth fastest Champagne.

Wed, 10/08/2025 - 12:25

Breeders' Cup Turf: Stewart to supplement Goliath despite vet concern

By Steve Andersen

Hong Kong Jockey Club

Owner John Stewart will likely supplement Goliath for $200,000 into the Breeders' Cup Turf.

The two-time European Group 1 winner Goliath is scheduled to start in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1. It will be an expensive venture.

To start in the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles, the richest grass race in the United States, Goliath must be made eligible to the Breeders’ Cup program with a $200,000 supplemental fee by Oct. 20, the day pre-entries are due. The pre-entry and entry fees add another $125,000.

Wed, 10/08/2025 - 12:07

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Despite being 3 for 3, Ulitmate Love hasn't gotten respect

By Steve Andersen

Coady Media

Ultimate Love won her stakes debut in the Selima Stakes at Laurel on Sept. 27.

Despite a perfect record in three starts, Ultimate Love may be overlooked in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Oct. 31 at Del Mar, if given a chance in the division’s richest race of the year.

Ultimate Love did not start in a leading graded stakes in the division at Aqueduct, Keeneland, or Santa Anita last weekend. She is not a high-profile runner from Europe.

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