Governor Sam

Stoneriggs Farm has hit the ground running. In operation for just five years, Robert Slack's 600-acre property in Paris, Kentucky is the home of a 70-deep broodmare band. Slack reveals some of his 'Mating Plans' for the upcoming 2026 breeding season in this continuing series. BRANDONS DANGER (m, 9, Into Mischief--Natural Rush, by Indian Charlie), to be bred to Omaha Beach We're sending six mares to Omaha Beach. He's been a horse that we've bred multiple mares to each year. I think he'll go right to the top, he's a...

DEL MAR, Calif. - All of the heavy lifting has been done and Breeders' Cup 42 is finally here. Who has looked the best during training hours this week at Del Mar? Starting at the top with the Classic. Journalism (Curlin) (Michael McCarthy) has been training like he owns the place in the pre-dawn hours while the Classic's defending winner and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) (Chad Brown) has served notice after the break. Both cover a ton of ground and have been getting over...

Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stable LLC's Governor Sam (Improbable) is perfect in two previous efforts over Saratoga's Mellon turf course and he'll look to keep that record intact as a warm favorite in Sunday's newly upgraded GIII Mahony Stakes. A maiden winner when making his local debut just over a year ago, the bay rattled off three in a row in stakes company and made the majority of the pace in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint before clinging on gamely for third. Governor Sam dropped his first...

Winless since October of his juvenile year, Governor Sam (Improbable) finally broke out of his slump with a smart effort in the GIII Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga. The George Weaver charge managed to string together four victories in a row last season, and begrudgingly faded to third Nov. 1 at Del Mar in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to wrap that campaign. Back in action Apr. 30 at Churchill Downs for his 3-year-old bow in the William Walker Stakes, Governor Sam again faded to third behind SW...

Europe drew first blood Friday, albeit with an upset choice, as Magnum Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) came from off the pace to win the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and kick off the Future Stars Friday action at Del Mar. The Irish-bred son of Tally Ho Stud's Mehmas came through at second asking going five furlongs at Cork in Ireland before having two near misses to rivals he lined up against again Friday (second in the Julia Graves Roses Stakes and third in the G2 Flying Childers Stakes behind...

Repole Stable's Breeders' Cup-bound homebred full-brothers champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) and Mentee (City of Light) turned in workouts on a brisk autumn morning over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Thursday. Fierceness, who was last seen winning a thrilling renewal of the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes Aug. 24, breezed five furlongs to the outside of the stakes-placed Classic Catch (Classic Empire) in 1:01.69 (1/3). The GI Breeders' Cup Classic will be next for Fierceness. "It was another excellent breeze, pretty much what we've become accustomed to seeing...

Already a two-time stakes winner, Governor Sam stretched his win streak to three in a gusty performance to take the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland Sunday. Since breaking his maiden at Saratoga in July, the son of freshman sire Improbable has been a tour de force in the Mid-Atlantic juvenile turf sprints--coming from off the pace to take the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth and, most recently, wiring the Exacta Systems Rosie's Stakes at Colonial Downs Sept. 7. Favored at 8-5 for the three-peat, Governor Sam again flashed good early speed...

Sixth but beaten just three lengths in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes on debut at Gulfstream May 11, Governor Sam returned to the races at Saratoga to break his maiden going gate to wire over 5 1/2 furlongs July 19. Jumping into stakes company again at five furlongs Saturday, he became the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by City Zip) with a narrow victory in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth. Up close to the early speed of Johnny Come Lately (Hootenanny), the 1-5 favorite and the only runner...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With majority owner Alex Bregman in Seattle for the Houston Astros' game against the Mariners, his partner, Reagan Swinbank, took care of the winner's circle duties Friday at Saratoga Race Course following Governor Sam's (Improbable) impressive maiden-breaking victory. Swinbank said he jumped at the opportunity to buy an interest in the colt purchased by the MLB star's Bregman Family Racing LLC for $275,000 at the OBS April sale of 2-year-olds. "We invested based on Alex and his team's opinion," Swinbank said. Swinback recalls the analysis of...