Breeders' Cup

The new official logo of Belmont Park, which will open in September 2026 following a multi-year redevelopment project designed to create a world-class racing and entertainment destination on Long Island, was unveiled Wednesday by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). Inspired by one of the defining features of the property, the iconic Japanese White Pine, the new logo represents the evolution of Belmont Park while honoring the rich history of thoroughbred racing in New York. Centered around an updated version of the white pine, the Belmont Park logo incorporates...

Breezing a star like Journalism (Curlin) demands an extra level of concentration. It isn't that the colt is headstrong or unfocused. If anything, he does his job almost too well. "You have to be careful about your fractions because you're thinking that you're going really slowly, but really you're going quick with him," said Tony Gutierrez. "You don't feel when he's touching the ground. He floats." While Marc Witkowski is Journalism's regular exercise rider, Gutierrez has been aboard the talented colt for the majority of his breezes since he was...

Multiple group and graded winner Wimbledon Hawkeye will run next in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar in November, according to trainer James Owens. The son of Kameko, who won the 2024 G2 Royal Lodge Stakes and ran third in the G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes at two, was second in the G3 Craven Stakes to kickstart his sophomore year. Only fifth in the G1 2000 Guineas in May, he was third in York's G2 Dante Stakes and fourth in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot....

The launch of "Champions Give Back," a campaign dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Breeders' Cup Charities, will coincide with this year's World Championships, according to an organization release Tuesday. Led by an annual donation of all royalties received on Breeders' Cup merchandise sales, "Champions Give Back" will support the enhanced Breeders' Cup Charities program announced earlier this year. Breeders' Cup Charities supports Thoroughbred aftercare, jockey health and wellness, backstretch and industry workers, equine research, and other impactful community initiatives. Featuring a selection of apparel, accessories, and décor, all...

Imagination (Into Mischief) showed an electric turn-of-foot in the lane to overhaul the defending champion and claim his automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup by way of the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes. Back at the six furlong distance for the first time since his debut two years ago at Del Mar, the Bob Baffert trainee had predominantly been a two-turn horse in his career and had two elite-level placings last year to his credit--once in the spring in the GI Santa Anita Derby when he came a neck...

Much like the diva the race was named in honor of, Cavalieri (Nyquist) gave the fans on hand a moment's worry at the start, but rolled home the easiest of winners to stamp her ticket to the Breeders' Cup via the 'WAYI' GII Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita. Unbeaten in her career, the Speedway Stables colorbearer entered the race off a stalk and pounce performance which saw her claim the GI Beholder Mile by three-quarters of a length over stablemate Richi (Chi) (Practical Joke) back in March--who returned here for...

G2 Queen Mary-placed Lennilu (Leinster) has emerged from her Leinster Hollywood Beach Stakes victory in good order and is now on target for a tilt at the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. With her lone career loss coming at the Royal Ascot meeting when she ran third in the aforementioned Group 3, the grey has already defeated the boys--in the Hollywood Beach--and will take them on again at the World Championships as confirmed by trainer Patrick Biancone Sunday morning. "She's doing great. Perfect," said Biancone from Palm Meadows, confirming...

The weekend stakes featured plenty of outcomes with Breeders' Cup implications. But while top-level races in California, Kentucky and New York yielded headline horses bound for the big Saturday of championship weekend, an ungraded $125,000 grass route for 2-year-old fillies in Maryland produced one of the more intriguing, under-the-radar candidates for Future Stars Friday. Ultimate Love is now 3-for-3 after her stylish, four-length, going-away score in the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park, and the chestnut daughter of Curlin could be bound for the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf. A homebred from...

The connections of Johannes (Nyquist), Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), and GI Goodwood Stakes runner-up Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast) have confirmed their charges as Breeders' Cup bound in November after their stellar performances Saturday. One-two finishers Nevada Beach and Full Serrano were both doing well Sunday morning after the Goodwood, and barring any hiccups between now and the Breeders' Cup, will both be targeting respective Breeders' Cup races--the former having earned an automatic berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with his victory. A 3-year-old making just his fourth start,...

The connections of GIII Vosburgh Stakes winner Patriot Spirit (Constitution) are not quite ready to commit their 'Win and You're In' victor to the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, though a trip to Del Mar is in the cards no matter what they decide. Trainer Michael Campbell has provided a good prognosis for this son of Constitution in the post-race follow-up Sunday morning, and admitted that he's got his eyes on the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile as well when asked about using his guaranteed berth into the Sprint. "He's [come...

In his second trip to the post, Provenance (Into Mischief) became Monomoy Girl's first 'TDN Rising Star' at Santa Anita Park. The bay debuted Aug. 23 at Del Mar and ran third in a mile maiden special weight that yielded GSP Plutarch (Into Mischief) when he hit the board in the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf next out. He finished second in front of Provenance in that mutual debut. Training well since that unveiling, the Bob Baffert trainee recently put in a strong four-furlong work Sept. 20 in advance of...

The 2025 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint will not include what may be the best sprinter in training. Trainer Derek Ryan announced Saturday that his star New Jersey-bred Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) is done for the year. Ryan had never fully committed to the Breeders' Cup, saying it was "50-50" in previous interviews. The story was first reported by the Paulick Report. "We've decided to wind it up for the year," Ryan said. "I think he's done enough. He's had a hard and tough campaign. Look what he did at Saratoga...