Breeders' Cup

The 12th running of the Bing Crosby Season at Del Mar will kick off Thursday, Oct. 30 and run through Sunday, Nov. 30 with opening weekend featuring the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the track announced Monday. The 16-day program will host 20 stakes races worth more than $3-million in purses. In addition to the two-day Breeders' Cup event worth more than $34-million across 14 Grade I stakes, the seaside oval will also contest six of the 20 black-type races in the first three days of the meeting--one on Thursday, four...

The first of six opportunities to bet on Kentucky Derby 152 opens Wednesday, Oct. 29 through Friday, Oct. 31 with Pool 1 of the Future Wager and MGISW Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) headlines the 40 betting choices with 'All Other Colts and Geldings Foaled in 2023' the ever-popular favorite, Churchill Downs announced Monday. Wagering will open Wednesday at noon EDT and will close prior to Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at approximately 6:00pm EDT. Ted Noffey is one of eight likely entrants for the contest and equally likely the horse...

Breeders' Cup pre-entrants Explora (Blame), Kopion (Omaha Beach), Straight No Chaser (Speightster), Goal Oriented (Not This Time) and Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) all had their final works Sunday at Santa Anita. Kopion, trained by Richard Mandella, covered three furlongs in :33.20 with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard. The 4-year-old was pre-entered in both the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs and six-furlong GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, however, Mandella confirmed Kopion would be entered in the Sprint where she will be joined by Mandella-trained stablemate...

The 2025 Fall Meet wrapped Saturday with a season-record of $217-million in all-sources wagering, Keeneland announced via press release. Propelled by record purse money and overall good weather for the duration of the meeting, the 17 days of racing totaled $217,266,759 on the season--surpassing the previous record of $210,165,945 set last year for the 2024 Fall Meet. It was a 3.38% increase. Average daily purses of $1,341,107 also set a Keeneland record and races averaged 9.2 starters per card. Opening Fall Stars Weekend (excluding whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) generated $48.9-million...

Continuing a fruitful campaign since returning from his elite-level World Cup triumph in Dubai, Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) put his best foot forward once again to take home the GIII Fayette Stakes on closing day of the Keeneland Fall meet. The grey collected his second win here since returning from Meydan, but had been tasked with taking on some salty company in the contests he didn't claim, too--namely the likes of Breeders' Cup Classic contenders Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and Mindframe (Constitution) in the GI Stephen Foster back in...

On both coasts, preparations for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic continued as leading contenders from the West took to the track, and hopefuls from the East began finalizing travel plans. Scheduled to walk Saturday morning after the trio put in Friday works at Saratoga, Todd Pletcher-trainee Antiquarian (Preservationist) will ship to Del Mar Sunday in advance of the World Championships along with stablemates Fierceness (City of Light) and Mindframe (Constitution). "I don't think [Antiquarian is] a particularly difficult horse to ride," said Pletcher. "I think he needs a strong rider....

Six hopefuls pre-entered into their respective Breeders' Cup races turned in final works Saturday morning at Keeneland, and connections are reporting positive prognoses ahead of shipping dates. On the dirt track went Bentornato (Valiant Minister), breezing four furlongs in :49.40 (34/89). Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was in the irons. The 4-year-old is pre-entered into the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint and is looking to improve a placing from last year as the runner-up in the 2024 edition. "[I was] looking for a nice, easy workout," trainer Jose D'Angelo said. "We...

The horse Contrary Thinking has been pre-entered in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic and, as is generally acknowledged, to serve as a "rabbit" to ensure a lively pace in the race. I do not wish to comment on how Contrary Thinking may or may not affect the race from a handicapping point of view. Rather, as a horse racing fan, my concern is about the negative image his participation casts on one of horse racing's premier races in front of a major audience. The horse racing industry has come a...

Future WinStar stallion Mullikin (Violence) put in his final local prep Friday ahead of next weekend's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Working solo at Keeneland, he breezed immediately following the first track harrowing at 7:30 a.m. and clocked four furlongs in :48.40 (6/65). "We were not looking for anything too fancy," trainer Rodolphe Brisset said. "We did all the bottom work the last three weeks. He showed good energy and the rider was very happy with him. We got what we need." It was his final work in Kentucky as Brisset...

The night of Oct. 29 is something everybody at the Taylor Made team is looking forward to. That's what happens when you are the consignor who will be selling a share in Not This Time at the Keeneland Championship Sale. After starting his stud career at $15,000, Not This Time now stands at Taylor Made for $250,000 and his book is already basically full for 2026, according to the farm. It's easy to see why. He had 14 horses sell for $1 million or more at the Keeneland September sale,...

The second Keeneland Championship Sale, to be held Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Del Mar just ahead of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV. The event begins at 5 p.m. PT, and FanDuel TV's live coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. PT to coincide with the start of the sale. Coverage will be hosted by international sports broadcaster Rishi Persad and Keeneland Director of Communications Gabby Gaudet and be broadcast from the Del Mar Paddock. "FanDuel does a tremendous job capturing the atmosphere and energy...

Brook Smith will be represented by Classic contender Sierra Leone and Juvenile Turf Sprint-bound Schwarzenegger at this year's Breeders' Cup. The enthusiastic owner joined us on this week's TDN Writers' Room.