Del Mar

The Week In Review 1) Not only will this year's Breeders' Cup championships feature the 1-2-3 finishers from each of the 2024 and 2025 GI Kentucky Derbies, but the two champion 2-year-old males who each won the GI Juvenile in the past two seasons will also be in action. Sovereignty (Into Mischief), Journalism (Curlin) and Baeza (McKinzie) all finished within 1 ¾ lengths of each other in the Derby six months ago, and will all hook up in Saturday's GI Classic. Mystik Dan (Goldencents), 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun...

Hoping that his start in Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be a memorable one, MGISW Journalism (Curlin) worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Del Mar Sunday morning. With Jose Ortiz in the irons and working with stablemate Legitimate (Authentic), the three-time Grade I winner was last seen finishing second in the GI Pacific Classic on Aug. 30. Both colts are trained by Michael McCarthy. "We were just looking for a maintenance work this morning," said McCarthy. "I think we got that accomplished. I loved the way he galloped...

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...

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....

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...

Current sire Knicks Go (Paynter--Kosmo's Buddy, by Outflanker), a multiple Grade I winner who captured the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in 2021, will be relocated to Korea at the end of the year and begin stud duty for the 2026 breeding season, the Korean Racing Authority (KRA) said in a press release on Friday morning. A first-crop member of the Taylor Made Stallion roster, Knicks Go has 117 foals of racing age, 16 winners out of 53 starters and one black-type winner in Ewing who was named...

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...

Live Oak Plantation's blue-blooded homebred Ultimate Love (Curlin) will put her perfect record on the line in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar Oct. 31. She will look to emulate Sharing (Speightstown), who followed a win in Laurel Park's Selima S. with a 13-1 upset at the 2019 Championships at Santa Anita. "I think she fits and hopefully she's a logical player to give it a try," trainer Mike Trombetta said. Ultimate Love has won her first three career starts--all on grass--by a combined margin of...

A total of 207 pre-entries from around the globe--including some 58 from overseas-based gallopers--was announced Wednesday afternoon for the 14 races comprising the 42nd running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships to be held Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic is the richest of the weekend's contests at $7 million and has attracted 11 pre-entries, headed by Godolphin's dual Classic winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who will look to make the...

A 25% ownership interest in GI Breeders' Cup Sprint contender and future WinStar stallion Mullikin (Violence) has been supplemented to the Keeneland Championship Sale held at Del Mar Oct. 29, the company announced Tuesday. Mullikin will return to Del Mar to contest the Sprint having run third as the favorite in the same race last year. The interest is offered as property of WinStar Farm. "Our participation in the Keeneland Championship Sale with our Breeders' Cup Sprint entrant, Mullikin, is an opportunity to run for $2 million in 72 hours...

Resolute Racing's Village Voice (GB) (Zarak {Fr}) completed her first breeze back on Sunday since winning the Oct. 5 GIII Waya at Belmont at the Big A as she prepares for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Trained by Chad Brown, the 5-year-old breezed a half-mile in :50.16 seconds in company with Alimara (Fr) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) over the Oklahoma training turf at Saratoga. "Just a little maintenance half on the turf," said Brown. "I thought she was moving really well. Her...