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In this episode of Breeders' Cup Connections, we checked in with El Cordobes after his win in the 'Win And You're In' Sword Dancer Stakes and met the horseman who helped get El Cordobes to the top of his game in Saratoga. Jamie Linwood shares his background in the sport and talks about the talented gelding who brought him to the United States.

Miguel Clement has many memories of the conversations he had with his father about Deterministic (Liam's Map). In Christophe's book, a good horse could perform well across different surfaces and distances, and he always believed Deterministic fit that description. Over the past two years, Deterministic has proven him right, checking both those boxes for the Clement racing stable and serving as a steady presence through a poignant period of change following Christophe's passing in May.

Greg Geier has never had a job that didn't involve laying hands on a horse each day. The horseman has saddled hundreds of winners in his lifetime, but the past two years have been something special. As the assistant trainer for Kenny McPeek, Geier has played a pivotal role in overseeing the success of Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna. He hopes that this year, the champ can find success yet again at the Breeders' Cup.

Jake Launchbury and Tom Howell recently set up LH Equites, a business that specialises in stalls work with racehorses but also provides help with a range of behavioural issues. With a number of trainers on their books in a short space of time we caught up with the team.

When Tomislav Mitrovski packed up his life and moved his family from their home in North Macedonia, a small country in the Balkans, to Lexington, Kentucky, he hoped to accomplish two things: become a Thoroughbred breeder and get a job in horse racing. After just three years, Mitrovski has already checked off that first goal by breeding 'TDN Rising Star' Color Comin' In. The second goal, however, has proven more elusive.

Don Alberto Corp. has stamped its presence in the U.S. since the Solari family purchased a farm in Kentucky over 10 years ago, breeding the likes of Grade I winner Muth and Arcangelo. This year, they are chasing a dream as not only the breeders, but also the co-owners, of Kentucky Derby contender Journalism.

In 52 career starts, graded stakes winner Happy Farm was claimed 12 times and moved through 16 different barns. Since then, things have come full circle for the gelding after being retired last summer and reunited with Jocelyn Brooks, who previously worked for Sagamore Farm where Happy Farm got his start. Now, the pair are embarking on a new chapter together with the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover a goal for the fall.

The TDN's Breeders' Cup Connections project highlights the people who work behind the scenes with top-class horses pointing for the Breeders' Cup. For the people behind the athletes, the Breeders' Cup is the grand finale of a year's worth of highs and lows, celebrations and disappointments, sweat, sore muscles and impossibly long hours, all to get a horse to the Breeders' Cup.

There are people that work with horses and there are people that love horses. In the case of Katie Tolbert, there is no better example of a person that works with horses because of how much she loves them. Tolbert is an assistant trainer for Brad Cox and also the exercise rider of this year's Breeders' Cup Classic contender Highland Falls.

From a young age, Jeramie Fennell was certain that he was born to be a jockey. So when, as he continued growing taller throughout his teenage years and maintaining weight became increasingly difficult, Fennell did what he thought he had to do in order to live out his dream. Fennell is not ashamed of his dark past. Instead, he hopes that his story can be an inspiration to others because, against all odds, he managed to come out on the other side. Now, he is the exercise rider for Breeders'...

Located in the heart of Saratoga Springs, New York, less than five miles down the road from Saratoga Race Course, Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga serves as a haven for both humans and retired racehorses alike, working in partnership with local certified therapists to provide equine-assisted therapy to those in need of professional support.

Exercise rider Damian Hinds has sat astride Breeders' Cup champions Just FYI and Cody's Wish. This year, he hopes to add another horse to his superstar roster with GI Whitney Stakes winner Arthur's Ride, who is pointing for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.