Breeders' Cup Win and You're In

Legendary jockey Yutaka Take bettered his own record when winning his sixth G1 Takarazuka Kinen and second aboard Meisho Tabaru (Gold Ship) at Hanshin on Sunday. The 57-year-old previously claimed the race with Inari One (1989), Meijiro McQueen (1993), Marvelous Sunday (1997), and Deep Impact (2006). The "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in October featured a full field of 18, and, shortly before the bell, a deluge turned the course from good to firm to yielding. Second in the betting at 29-10 behind...

Haras Don Alberto's homebred Eccentric (Chi) (Ivan Denisovich {Ire}) clinched a spot in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf after posting a victory in Sunday's 'Win and You're In' G1 Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella over 2000 meters at Club Hípico de Santiago. A two-time Group 1 winner in her native Chile in 2025, the 3-year-old hombred successfully turned the tables on GISW Noche Sublime (Chi) (Mendelssohn) and GSW Nartella (Chi) (Mendelssohn). Eccentric finished behind Noche Sublime in last December's GI Las Oaks Fasig-Tipton and was again behind that rival,...

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Dubai World Cup Magnitude (Not This Time) continued his preparation toward the GI Stephen Foster on June 27 with a five-furlong breeze in 1:02.60 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Magnitude worked just after 6 a.m. ET on a fast track. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.80, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. "He worked great this morning," the Hall of Famer said. "I'm very happy with how he's doing and really looking forward to the matchup in the Stephen Foster." Magnitude began...

Dramatically off form for the bulk of the 2025-2026 Dubai Racing Carnival, Sultan Ali's Dark Saffron (Flameaway) was put right into play from a wide draw in defence of his title in Saturday's $2-million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen and outsprinted reigning GI Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Bentornato (Valiant Minister) to give jockey Connor Beasley and trainer Ahmad Bin Harmash a rolling Group 1 double. The pair teamed to win the Al Quoz Sprint with Native Approach about 35 minutes earlier. Defeated by a combined 50 lengths after taking his seasonal...

Champion Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) returned to the work tab Sunday morning at Oaklawn with a bullet half-mile work over a fast track for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. Nitrogen, under two-time Oaklawn riding champion Cristian Torres, was clocked in :46.40, fastest of 56 published works at the distance. Nitrogen was breezing for the first time since finishing third in Mar. 7 GII Azeri Stakes. Last year's champion 3-year-old filly remains on target for the Apr. 11 Apple Blossom Handicap. "Nitrogen looked like the old Nitrogen," said assistant trainer...

The stakes schedule for the 2026 Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine Racetrack, set to kick off on Apr. 18, was released by Woodbine Entertainment Wednesday. Woodbine's 2026 racing season is highlighted by two $1-million classics: the 167th King's Plate Aug. 15, and the GI Woodbine Mile Sept. 12. The full stakes schedule consists of 39 graded stakes, including five Grade I events. "We're very proud of our stakes program at Woodbine and eagerly anticipate a season filled with outstanding competition," said Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. "We look forward...

In the week leading up to the Saudi Cup meeting, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert lamented to anyone who would listen about just how taxing those final 100 meters at King Abdulaziz Racecourse can be on the equine athletes. And he's certainly got the right to take that position, given that the likes of Mucho Gusto and Charlatan couldn't quite see it out in the G1 Saudi Cup, while Havnameltdown was just tagged after a long stretch duel in the G3 Saudi Derby a few years back. Pinehurst did...

With a plethora of Breeders' Cup berths up for grabs over the past weekend, Repole Stable's Final Score (Not This Time) grabbed the last one when taking Keeneland's GII Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes, a qualifier to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. Final Score was driven to the front from the word jump, rolling out and opening quarter mile in :22.51. Soon running head-and-head with Casa Cielo (Caravaggio)) through a :47.69 half, he continued to play cat-and-mouse what that rival into the final turn. With Irad...

She wasn't 100-1 this time and it's doubtful she ever will be again. NBS Stable's Ground Support (f, 2, Army Mule--Arch Support, by Arch), fresh off a 100-1 debut win going a mile at Kentucky Downs Aug. 30, secured her berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with a 'Win and You're In' victory in Saturday's GII Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont at the Big A. "I don't know why they didn't like her at Kentucky Downs," said trainer Kelsey Danner with a laugh. "She does everything right,...

Dahman's Bottas (Vekoma) found himself in tight quarters with push coming to shove in Friday's GII Pilgrim Stakes at Aqueduct, but he sliced through a narrow opening at the eighth pole and refused to let three-start maiden Heeere's Johnny (Oscar Performance) push past in the dying stages, scoring by a head. The 8 1/2-furlong contest serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Oct. 31. Named a 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard off an impressive 2 1/4-length debut...

by TDN Editorial Staff Buckle up, race fans, it's going to be a wild ride on Saturday, as no fewer than 16 graded stakes from New York to Lexington, from Los Angeles to Toronto are scheduled, with horse racing's championship weekend now officially less than four weeks down the road. Without further ado, let's jump into the always-productive card at Aqueduct. Champagne, Frizette Share Spotlight at Belmont at the Big A A quartet of graded stakes, headed by the 'Win and You're In' GI Champagne S. and GI Frizette S.,...

The cars scooting along on the nearby Pennsylvania Turnpike may have little from a speed standpoint on Saturday's GI Pennsylvania Derby in Northeast Philly, as the pace looks to be very much on and that could help those with stalking or closing ability in the final age-restricted Grade I of the season around two turns. But make no mistake: speed has been king--by and large--in the $1-million contest over the past dozen years or so. The Bob Baffert-trained Bayern (Offlee Wild)--next-out winner of a much-discussed GI Breeders' Cup Classic--future champion...