Gainesway

It has taken more than 40 years in the industry to build the resume, but it's a pretty good bet that there's not a more well-rounded, experienced person at the helm of a bloodstock agency than Bernie Sams. Sams will launch a new chapter in that storied career with the debut of BF Sams Bloodstock Advisory, which will be representing clients at a sale for the first time under that banner in July at Fasig-Tipton. Sams has worked for farms large (Claiborne, Gainesway) and small (Wimbledon, Manchester), at home and...

Helping to create what he now calls "a monster" weighs heavily with Dr. Chris Cahill. Actually, he has a way to put it back in the cage. But let's not get ahead of ourselves; let's first remind ourselves how it all happened. Cahill came to Lexington from Texas for the 1974 breeding season as a $75-a-week rookie veterinarian at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee. One of his main duties was as standby in the Gainesway breeding shed. Albeit then standing "only" 14 stallions, John Gaines was still ahead of the curve in requiring a...

It's been a magical year so far for jockey Junior Alvarado, who rode Sovereignty (Into Mischief) to victories in the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Belmont S. They were the first wins in the Triple Crown series for the 39-year-old native of Venezuela, but they surely won't be the last. Alvarado now rides regularly for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, whose stable is loaded with talent. But Alvarado almost missed the Derby assignment. He fractured his shoulder blade in a Mar. 23 spill at Gulfstream. He would definitely...

English based trainer Jamie Osborne doesn't think like everyone else does. Which explains why he paid €160,000 at the 2024 Arqana May Breeze-Up sale for a horse that was bred to be a dirt horse and looked like a dirt horse. The horse turned out to be Heart of Honor (GB) (Honor A.P.) who is among the eight horses that will contest Saturday's GI Belmont Stakes. Could Heart of Honor, with his breeding have become a top turf horse in Europe. The answer is "probably not." But racing this horse...

In 10 days, Frank Mirahmadi will be in the announcers' booth to call the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, both on-track and for the national Fox broadcast. His best trick to combat the nerves? His imagination. "Once the big Fox broadcast starts, there's no question the adrenaline goes to a new level," said Mirahmadi, appearing as the Gainesway Guest of the Week on the TDN Writers' Room podcast, presented by Keeneland. "The key with the big races--and I've learned this over many years, it's almost 30 years now that I'm calling...

The R.A.C.E. Fund online auction--featuring halters from champions, farm tours, and other memorabilia to bid on--is set to go May 9, the group announced Monday evening. Kicked off with an online auction on eBay beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST and ending May 16, the non-profit's annual fund drive looks to raise money which will be used to help Thoroughbreds in need of retirement and rescue from slaughter. All proceeds from this auction will go toward that goal. Featured items include halters of champions like fan-favorite California Chrome; Serena's Song; Essential...

The tariffs that will be placed on goods coming into the U.S. from Canada, and elsewhere, don't go into effect until Apr. 2. But they're already producing dire forecasts for what they will mean for the Canadian breeding industry. For instance, if someone brings a Canadian-bred to a U.S. yearling sale, the purchaser will have to pay a 25% tariff on top of the purchase price. That will probably mean that the Canadian breeder will disappear from the U.S. sales. No one has paid closer attention to this situation than...

Australia's Chatsworth Stud went to $400,000 to purchase R Harper Rose (Khozan), the 2024 GIII Forward Gal Stakes winner and topper of Fasig-Tipton's March Digital Sale, which closed late Tuesday afternoon. A broodmare prospect, R Harper Rose was consigned by Gainesway as hip 7. A total of 85 horses sold for $3,095,000, an average of $36,411 and a median of $15,000. After outs, the sale netted a clearance rate of 85% while offering horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, broodmares, 2-year-olds in training, and short yearlings. "We are very pleased...

Aron Wellman, the president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, has had big days, buy maybe nothing quite like the one he had last Saturday. Horses owned in part by Eclipse won the GI Santa Anita Handicap, the GII San Felipe and the GIII Herecomesthebride Stakes. And while that was going on he was putting the finishing touches on an agreement for his Big Cap winner Locked (Gun Runner) to stand at stud at Gainesway. With many subjects to cover, Wellman was this week's guest on the TDN Writers' Room...

The first two mares bred to GI Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate--Smart Shopping, by Smart Strike) have checked in foal, Gainesway announced Monday. Checked in foal to the new stallion are Above the Sun (Bernardini), who is owned by Three Times A Charm and is boarded at Collier Mathes's Chesapeake Farm, and stakes winner Queen of God (Paynter), who is owned and boarded at Todd and Angela Lewis's Westbrook Stables. In addition to the Preakness, Seize the Grey won the 2024 GI Pennsylvania Derby and GII Pat Day...

The first mares bred to MGISW Muth (Good Magic) and MGSW Charge It (Tapit) have been checked in foal, Gainesway Farm said via dual press releases on Wednesday. Muth, a 2023 $2-million OBS March topper for Zedan Racing who became a 'TDN Rising Star' and won a pair of Grade Is, covered Indy Business (A.P. Indy). The mare is owned by Paul Pruett and boarded at Tracey & Clay Caudill's Watershed Equine. Muth stands for $35,000 LFSN at Gainesway. Visiting Charge It, Delovely (More than Ready) is a winning mare...

3rd-TAM, $53K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:50 p.m. ET. MEURSAULT (Tapit) is set for her first start under the care of trainer Chad Brown for Alpha Delta. A $700,000 Keeneland September buy, the filly is out of unraced Lasy W (War Front), who claims one other foal--a yearling filly by Quality Road. The first-time starter's second dam, GI Acorn Stakes heroine Zaftig (Gone West), is also responsible for MGSP Spinoff (Hard Spun). Joining Meursault at the barrier is homebred Smoothly (Nyquist). Godolphin also campaigned her dam Via Strata (Street Cry...