Combatant
Scat Daddy-Border Dispute, by Boundary
Bred in Kentucky by Blandford Stud ($320,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Winchell Thoroughbreds)

Led by international standout Donner, a number of Thoroughbred ex-racehorses will contest North America’s most prestigious three-day event, the Land Rover Kentucky CCI four-star, beginning Thursday at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

Nessy posted his first graded stakes victory in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita on Sunday – 24 hours after his Grade 1-winning older full brother Bullards Alley was fatally injured in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes on Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.

Both geldings are by classic sire Flower Alley, who now stands in South Africa, and out of the stakes-winning Kris S. mare Flower Forest.

Who was the best American racehorse never to win a championship? One of the heroes of my racing youth, 1957 Belmont Stakes winner Gallant Man has long been mentioned as a horse obviously superior to many who earned official championships. Like Gallant Man, Ancient Title, Best Pal, Exceller, Gun Bow, Majestic Prince, Native Diver, Precisionist, and Swoon’s Son were all deemed good enough for the Racing Hall of Fame, but never earned an official championship on the racetrack.

Delhomme, a Grade 2 winner, has relocated to A & A Ranch in Anthony, N.M., where he will stand for an advertised fee of $1,500.

The 8-year-old son of Dixie Union previously stood at Born Running Ranch in Deming, N.M., where he entered stud in 2014.

Delhomme’s first foals are 3-year-olds of 2018. He has sired four winners from six starters for combined progeny earnings of $54,438.

Breeders’ Cup Turf winner and freshman sire Magician will return to his native country to continue his stud career at Coolmore’s Castlehyde Stud in Ireland, the international operation has announced.

Group 2 winner and prominent sire Dansili has been pensioned due to declining fertility, Juddmonte Farms announced this week. The 22-year-old son of Danehill and the late blue hen Hasili will live out his days at the operation’s Banstead Manor Stud in England.

Champion and leading sire Giant’s Causeway, who recently died at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, will continue to make a colossal impact on Thoroughbred racing for years to come.

Vino Rosso
Curlin–Mythical Bride, by Street Cry
Bred in Kentucky by John D. Gunther ($410,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Mike Repole and St. Elias)

Unbeaten Santa Anita Derby winner Justify tries to break the “Apollo curse” in the Kentucky Derby. Among his challengers will be a former stablemate, Wood Memorial victor Vino Rosso.

Giant’s Causeway, Europe’s 2000 Horse of the Year and a cornerstone of Coolmore’s international racing and breeding operations, died Monday night at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., following a brief illness. He was 21.