Breeders' Cup

Sierra Leone Tops New Coolmore America Sires at $75,000

Coolmore America has assigned stud fees for its three newest additions following last weekend's Breeders' Cup Championships at Del Mar. 2025 GI Breeders' Cup Classic runner up and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner--Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon) tops the list at $75,000. "We are honored to announce three new Eclipse Award winners as part of our 2026 stallion roster here at Ashford Stud," said Charlie O'Connor, Director of Sales at Coolmore America. "Sierra Leone, Fierceness and Citizen Bull all arrived safely at their new home...

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New Vocations Breeders' Cup Pledge Tops $100,000

The New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program will raise over $100,000 in its 16th Annual Breeders' Cup Pledge, the organization announced Tuesday. This year's results were boosted by two Future Stars Friday winners connected to pledge participants: Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), representing Spendthrift Farm and Todd Pletcher, and Gstaad (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), representing Coolmore and Partners. Additionally, multiple pledged horses also placed throughout the Breeders' Cup, including Brussels (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Percy's Bar (Upstart), Ground Support (Army Mule), Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), The Lion in Winter (Ire)...

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Letter To The Editor: Jena Antonucci

As the global racing industry returns to its respective corners following the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the same drum is beating once again: "Regulatory vets are terrible. They have too much power. My horse is sound--we imaged them, we've had no issues, and we wouldn't send them if they weren't 100%." The truth is, all of those statements can be true at the same time--and often are. Whether you're a casual fan, a critic, or a lifelong racing supporter, you could easily walk away from this spectacular week thinking that...

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$6.2-Million Streak of Luck Tops Fasig-Tipton November Sale

by Christina Bossinakis, Alan Carasso & Jessica Martini LEXINGTON, KY - The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, led by the $6.2-million Streak of Luck (Old Fashioned), produced strong results with increases in average and median over its 2024 renewal during its single session Monday in Lexington. "The market was very, very good, but it's still rational," Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. "I think that's one of the things that we've seen in recent years during the November sale that there is still a sense of rationality to it. The buyers are demanding....

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WinStar Farm Open House Begins Tuesday, Runs to Nov. 12

WinStar Farm's annual open house is set to begin Tuesday, Nov. 4 and will run through Wed., Nov. 12, the farm announced Monday. Starting at 11:00am and running until 2:00pm every day at the stallion complex on Paynes Mill Road in Versailles, breeders are welcome without an appointment during the designated hours to view the roster for the 2026 breeding season. Open House events will include lite fare and refreshments. For more information about the open house or about WinStar's roster, breeders should contact the farm at 859-873-1717.

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Post-Breeders' Cup Notes: Journalism's Future TBD, Stable Stars Head Off for Retirement

The World Championships concluded Saturday with sterling efforts and drama abound, and the connections of the newly crowned took Sunday morning to provide updates on their charges as they look ahead. Trainer Michael McCarthy reported that all six of his Breeders' Cup horses came out of their races in good order, and plans for MGISW Journalism (Curlin)--whether to continue racing or retirement--will be finalized in the coming week. The colt finished fourth in the Classic under new rider Jose Ortiz. "This is more or less what we've seen from him...

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She's Quality Euthanised after Suffering Pelvic Fracture at the Breeders' Cup

She's Quality (Acclamation), who was pulled up in the early stages of Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, has been euthanised, according to an announcement from her connections. The four-year-old was the first runner at the meeting for trainer Jack Davison, who said in a post on social media, "I am devastated to report that our stable star She's Quality has passed away, having suffered a pelvic fracture during the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. After the race, she was transported to San Luis Rey Equine Hospital where she received the...

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Week In Review: Did the Rabbit Cost Fierceness the Classic, and Other Observations on the Breeders' Cup

Yes, it's purely hypothetical, but imagine a GI Breeders' Cup Classic without the rabbit, Contrary Thinking (Into Mischief). That's a race Fierceness (City of Light) probably would have won. Yes, he got free in the stretch and had every chance to run down Forever Young (Jpn) (Reel Steel {Jpn}) and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) but he couldn't get the job done, finishing third, losing by 1 1/2 lengths. But too much had gone wrong for him at that point, and he could not recover. Unlike what happened in the GI...

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Looking for Positive Trends to Continue at Fasig-Tipton November Sale

The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, which perennially offers a glittering array of racing and broodmare prospects, will be held Monday in Lexington with bidding on the catalogue of 223 head beginning at 4 p.m. Expectations for the auction are understandably high following a season of record-setting yearling sales. "We have seen a very, very strong yearling marketplace this year and the trends that made a positive yearling sale should continue through the November sale," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. "I am very bullish on the marketplace for both foals and fillies...

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Arzak Available for Inspection During Keeneland November

Multiple graded winner and Woodbine track record-setter Arzak (Not This Time), who is retiring to New York for the 2026 breeding season, will be available for inspection at Mulholland Springs in Lexington during the Keeneland November sale, it was announced via press release. An open house will be held at the farm Tuesday, Nov. 6 from 11:30am to 1:30pm but the son of Not This Time will be available for inspection Nov. 3 to Nov. 12 by appointment with Amsterdam Two's Ken William or Michael Slezak. The address is 2245...

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Forever Young
'The Horse is in Much Better Condition Than Me': Yoshito Yahagi on a Wild Night of Celebrations for Forever Young and the LA Dodgers

DEL MAR, Calif -- "I drank too much." Ever the professional, even when feeling a little worse for wear, Yoshito Yahagi was at a 7.30 a.m. press call with his Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young (Jpn). The latter was looking sparkier than his trainer, but then he hadn't been out late in a Mexican restaurant celebrating the LA Dodgers sealing back-to-back wins in the World Series. "I'm a bit hungover. The horse is in much better condition than me," Yahagi admitted. An avowed fan of baseball, he unzipped his...

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Ethical Diamond
Making Waves: Breeders' Cup Bonanza For Team Europe

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the Breeders' Cup meeting. Ethical Diamond Hands Mullins The Turf Training maestro Willie Mullins landed the biggest Flat victory of his career with Ethical Diamond (Awtaad) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf on Saturday (video). A winner of a brace of valuable handicaps across the pond, the five-year-old gelding has also run seven of his lifetime starts over hurdles. Bred by W. Kennedy, Ethical Diamond is owned...

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