Breeders' Cup

The second of two Lexington-bound horse transport flights operated by Tex Sutton did not depart Stewart Airport in Newburgh, New York, as planned Monday morning, Larry Ulrich, a New York-based representative for the company confirmed. The morning's first Tex Sutton flight departed Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York on Long Island at 7:49 a.m. EST, 49 minutes behind schedule, and landed at Lexington's Blue Grass Field at 9:21 a.m. EST, 44 minutes late. As the morning wore on in greater New York, the winds intensified, causing a trailer ban across...

Colin Keane has earned his second Irish Champion Jockey title and a century of winners when he booted home Pretty Boy Floyd (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB]) to win a handicap at The Curragh on Monday. The season is officially over in Ireland at Naas next weekend, but Keane's nearest rival, Shane Foley, is still seven winners behind. Foley was also in action on Monday, but both jockeys will not be present at Naas, because they are riding in the upcoming Breeders' Cup at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7. The highlight of Keane's...

LEXINGTON, KY--With temperatures plunging into subzero depths overnight on Sunday, there was a truly wintery feel at Keeneland on Monday morning to coincide with the release from quarantine-a concept that many more of their human custodians can relate to in 2020--of most of the European Breeders' Cup raiders. (Click here for a video of European Breeders' Cup contenders training on Monday) As tractors worked over the main dirt course attempting to thaw it, training was restricted in the early morning hours to Keeneland's training track, and the Jessica Harrington-trained fillies...

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) will host an online auction of halters worn by Breeders' Cup winners and contenders. The All-Star Halter Auction is set to open Friday, Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. and will conclude Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. EST. The auction is sponsored by LNJ Foxwoods and all proceeds will benefit TCA. "In a normal year, we would be just days away from our annual Bash at the Breeders' Cup fundraising event," said Erin Crady, executive director of TCA. "However, like so many nonprofits, we've pivoted...

In his first year as President and CEO of the Breeders' Cup, 38-year-old Drew Fleming has found himself trying to stage a global event in the midst of a global pandemic. In a socially-distanced phone call with TDN Publisher Sue Finley, he discusses the challenges and the triumphs of Breeders' Cup 2020. SF: You picked a heck of a year for this to be your first Breeders' Cup. DF: Well, this is my first Breeders' Cup as the CEO, but I've been working for the company since 2016. And then...

Team Valor's Oleksandra (Aus) (Animal Kingdom), who will be making her first start since winning the June 20 GI Jaipur S. when she goes postward in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, worked six furlongs in 1:14.04 (1/3) Sunday at Belmont Park. "She's doing very well," said trainer Neil Drysdale. "She doesn't need speed because she's very fast. She worked in company behind another horse and started a half dozen lengths back and finished well." Oleksandra has worked six times on the Belmont main track this month, including a trio...

J Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), likely favorite for Friday's GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile, was among nine Steve Asmussen trainees aiming for championship weekend to work at Keeneland Sunday morning. The undefeated 2-year-old went four furlongs in :48.80 (9/25). "He had a nice, easy half-mile," Asmussen said. "I thought he moved well over the race track. The circumstances were excellent today. We're very excited about running him on Friday." Sunday's work was Jackie's Warrior second over the Keeneland surface. He also went five furlongs in 1:00.20...

Thoughts I had while perusing the pre-entries for what promises to be a terrific Breeders' Cup? What are the chances that Swiss Skydiver is named Horse of the Year? It now appears almost certain that Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) will go in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff instead of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. "At this point we are going in the Distaff unless there is a late defection from the Classic," trainer Ken McPeek told reporters Saturday morning. The Classic field is loaded, so running Swiss Skydiver in the Distaff,...

Spun to Run (Hard Spun--Yawkey Way, by Grand Slam), winner of last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, will enter stud at Gainesway next season, the farm announced Sunday. The 4-year-old was also third in last year's GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. and he captured the GIII Smarty Jones S. He ended his career with a runner-up effort behind champion 3-year-old Maximum Security (New Year's Day) in the GI Cigar Mile H. On the board in 10 of 12 starts, Spun to Run won five times and earned $1,160,520. "Great...

Sackatoga Stables' GI Belmont S. winner and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Law (Constitution) capped off his serious work ahead of next Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a five-furlong breeze at Keeneland Saturday morning. With his regular work rider Heather Smullen in the irons, the New York-bred drilled five furlongs in :59.20 and galloped out an extra eighth of a mile in 1:12.20 (video). "I saw just what I wanted. He went perfectly," said trainer Barclay Tagg who will send out his 11th Breeders' Cup starter next weekend....

Blazing Meadows Farm and Siena Farm's three-for-three GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies hopeful Dayoutoftheoffice (Into Mischief) turned in her first published breeze since annexing Belmont's GI Frizette S. in the Keeneland mud Friday, covering five panels in 1:00.40 (1/3). The dark bay worked solo through splits of :12.80, :25.40, :37.00 and galloped out in 1:12.80 and 1:27 flat. "I think it was her best work. She finished up really strong and galloped out great," said trainer Tim Hamm, who co-owns the filly under his Blazing Meadows banner. "I weighed working...

   The trainer originally best known for many high-class jumps winners that has made an eye-catching advance on Flat racing's top contests in recent years will share her thoughts with the TDN on a monthly basis in this most unusual of seasons. The Breeders' Cup is a fantastic meeting, one that serves as an end-of-year championship between Europe and the U.S. In a year such as this it is fantastic that we are still able to go over and have those great match-ups. I had my first runner at the...