Breeding

by George Adams Wasabi Ventures Stables & Stallions continues to upgrade the quality of their breeding stock and the commerciality of the foals that they're producing on their Serendipity Springs Farm. There is a very interesting group of stallions retiring for 2026, and Wasabi has shares in several which we'll be supporting. TICKLE THE IVORIES, 5, Justify-Gagnoa (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. Will be bred to Mindframe. The highest profile of the new stallions with whom Wasabi is involved is the multiple GI winner Mindframe, who retired to Claiborne. He's a...

Last summer, we began "The Producers" as a way to spotlight a few of the extraordinary mares--and some of the people behind them--who produced the Grade I winners of 2025. With 83 individual North American Grade I winners in the books for the 2025 season, we return to it now, continuing with two mares who each made a massive impact at the fall breeding stock sales. Galloping Ami, dam of Kopion Galloping Ami (Victory Gallop) is a mare accustomed to making headlines. Named Outstanding Broodmare in Canada in 2016 after...

The record-setting Grade I-winning turf sprinter Cogburn (Not This Time) was represented by his first foal on Jan. 4 when a filly was born at Jay Goodwin's Goodwin Farm. The filly was bred by Goodwin in partnership with David Rogers and Brooke Buffkin. "This is a really good filly," said Jay Goodwin. "She bounced right up and was whipping around the paddock in no time. We love fast horses." The foal is the 10th to hit the ground out of the 15-year-old Posset (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a full-sister to...

At some point, the final day of a given year will also close out his reign. For now, however, its seamless extension has secured Into Mischief parity with Bold Ruler himself, his seventh consecutive general sires' championship matching the Claiborne legend's monopoly between 1963 and 1969. Bold Ruler actually added an eighth title in 1973, courtesy of Secretariat's Triple Crown, but even the clear emergence of two young pretenders to his crown may not prevent Into Mischief extending his reign in 2026. In the meantime we must qualify this as...

Tom Ryan's observation that California graded stakes have been decimated by the graded stakes committee is spot on, but does not delve into the issue deeply nor address solutions. I applaud him speaking out against a system that adheres to a doctrine of the past, which evaluates many criteria while ignoring the fact that all graded stakes (save a select few) will be the domain of slot-enhanced, subsidized racetracks in the near term. The idea that the Breeders' Cup and/or Jockey Club could ignore this trend while sitting idly by...

What will racing look like in 10 years? We asked some of racing's best and brightest to give us their predictions. Want to submit an answer? Email suefinley@thetdn.com MATT SCULL, FOUNDER, PRESIDENT OF FIRST RODEO RACING The care for the horse comes before all. A greater emphasis is now placed on the competition rather than the business of breeding and sales. The wrinkles in HISA have been ironed out and it has allowed the proper framework for all states/track operators to pull the rope in the same direction, rather than...

Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), the 2024 Horse of the Year, will be bred during the upcoming season to sire Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), it was announced by the superstar filly's majority owner, John Sikura, the owner of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. Sikura and the others in the Thorpedo Anna ownership have already chosen who she will be bred to in 2027, and that is Curlin (Smart Strike). Curlin stands at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, while Gun Runner stands at Three Chimneys Farm. "We usually take this one...

There has been much discussion in the press recently about the ongoing negotiations on the 2026 racing calendar in New York. In truth, we are closer than reports would suggest on reaching an agreement. Currently, there are four days for the Winter meet, four days for the Saratoga meet, and two days at the Spring meet that are in dispute. We are advocating strongly to retain these dates because we believe that a robust year-round racing calendar is vital to the long-term health of New York's Thoroughbred industry. Year-round racing...

Taylor Made Stallions will launch a new "State-Bred Initiative Program," the farm announced Thursday. According to their press release, the initiative is "a unique opportunity created to support and incentivize regional breeders who participate in state-bred programs outside of Kentucky." The program will allow breeders to breed approved mares to four stallions, Angel of Empire, Dr. Schivel, Idol and Tacitus, at a set stud fee, which will be waived as a complimentary no-guarantee once the resulting foal is reported as being born outside of Kentucky and supporting documentation for state-bred...

The Freakonomics Radio podcast has released a new three-episode series, "The Horse Is Us," which includes coverage of the Keeneland September Sale and several other important industry issues. "Their team was fantastic to work with and spent several days interviewing several industry professionals and Keeneland team members on our grounds," said Keeneland Communications Manager Meredith Daugherty. The first episode is not necessarily Keeneland-centric. It is entitled "The Ultimate Dance Partner." "For most of human history, horsepower made the world go," the introduction reads. "Then came the machines. So why are...

The ninth installment in the 2025 OwnerView webinar series was held Nov. 12 and featured a veterinarian from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital discussing foal conformation and possible corrections, the conference series said via a Thursday press release. Guest Dr. Ali Broyles, a surgeon at Rood & Riddle, covered how soon after birth a veterinarian or farm manager can assess a foal's conformation to helping a horse stay sound into the future. The event, hosted by The Jockey Club of America and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, was presented...

Valerie Dailey, a Thoroughbred breeder in Florida since 1985, has been elected President of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association at a board meeting following the annual member meeting, the organization announced Friday. "I'm honored to have been selected to serve as president for a second time," Dailey said. "The industry has definitely changed since my initial term in 2022 and we have a challenging road ahead. My goal is to educate and get the word out about greatness of the Florida-bred Thoroughbred and our significant impact on the...