Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

After a debut season at Taylor Made during which he covered a hefty book of better than 150 mares, Horse of the Year and five-time Grade I winner Knicks Go (Paynter) is champing at the bit to get back to work as breeding sheds open their doors across Central Kentucky. The Korea Racing Authority raced the gray to 10 victories over the course of four-plus seasons and earnings north of $9.2 million, and his first year at Taylor Made has led to even greater optimism for his second. The KRA's...

Edited Press Release Cody's Wish (Curlin), this year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner who shares an endearing bond with Cody Dorman, has been voted the winner of the 2022 Secretariat Vox Populi Award. Created by Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery, the annual award recognizes the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for Thoroughbred racing. Owned by Godolphin, trained by Bill Mott, and ridden throughout the year by Junior Alvarado, Cody's Wish and his special story have gained affection and admiration that transcend...

Cody's Wish (Curlin), a sentimental winner of Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, his second straight Grade I win, will remain in training in 2023 according to Godolphin USA's Director of Bloodstock, Michael Banahan. "He came out of the Breeders' Cup very well", said Banahan. "He's sound, healthy and we're extremely excited about seeing him race next year." A future Darley stallion, Cody's Wish has won or placed all eleven of his starts, including victories in seven of his last eight leading up to the Dirt Mile, with his namesake...

Two main-body entrants in Saturday's Breeders' Cup races, Laurel River (Into Mischief) and Bran (Fr) (Muhaarar {GB}) were announced as vet scratches Friday. The former, a Juddmonte homebred conditioned by Bob Baffert, was set to ride a three-race win streak into the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He was last seen annexing the GII Pat O'Brien S. at Del Mar Aug. 27 with a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure and was the 9-2 co-third choice on the morning line. Hronis Racing's Bran, meanwhile, was 15-1 in a...

Joe Peacock, Jr.'s Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), who earned a berth in the field for next Saturday's GI BigAss Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile via his mild upset in the GIII Ack Ack S. at Churchill Downs Oct. 1, tuned up for that engagement with a 'solid' five-furlong work in the company of his GII Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-bound stable companion Sheriff Brown (Curlin) beneath jockey Francisco Arrieta at Keeneland Thursday morning. "We got what we wanted," trainer Todd Fincher said. "Senor Buscador started about six lengths back and got to the...

Winner of the 2020 Springboard Mile, looking every bit a horse with a future, Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) was the 5-2 second favorite when pitched in against the likes of 'TDN Rising Star' and future GI Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun (Into Mischief) and Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) in last year's GII Risen Star S. Sidelined off that effort and away nearly 16 months, connections kept the faith, and Saturday, the homebred colt rewarded them with a tough victory in the GIII Ack Ack S. at Churchill, earning a fees-paid berth into the...

The GII Pat O'Brien S. was billed as a softer spot for GISW Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) to land after facing leading older horses Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in his last two starts, but apparently the lightly raced Laurel River (Into Mischief--Calm Water, by Empire Maker) didn't get the memo as he stormed home to take the seven-furlong Del Mar sprint, a "Win and You're In" race for the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Laurel River broke smoothly and immediately attended the pace...

A year after adding the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational to his Hall of Fame resume, trainer Todd Pletcher is targeting the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational for his next conquest during the upcoming Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park. The Pegasus World Cup and the Pegasus World Cup Turf will co-headline a program with seven graded stakes Jan. 29. Pletcher, the defending 18-time Championship Meet titlist, is preparing 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) for a start in the Pegasus World Cup, as well as planning for...

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' multiple Grade I winner Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) was found to have an elevated temperature Monday and will not be able to compete in the GI Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile for trainer Todd Pletcher. It is the third consecutive year where issues have kept him from running in the Breeders' Cup. "He spiked a temperature and his blood count is not right," Pletcher said. "We had no choice but to start him on some treatment and not enter. He wasn't acting himself this...

The connections of Jasper Prince (Violence) and Pingxiang (Speightstown) confirmed Thursday morning that the runners will compete in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 6 instead of the G1 Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint. Both Jasper Prince, owned by Kazuo Kato, and Pingxiang, owned by Naoya Fuji, are trained by Hideyuki Mori. The Dirt Mile was the first preference of both at pre-entry. It was also announced Thursday that four horses are not traveling to Del Mar for next weekend's World Championships. La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel...

Four-time Grade I winner and one of the favorites for 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter--Kosmo's Buddy, by Outflanker) will retire to Taylor Made Stallions at the conclusion of his racing career, the farm announced Monday. Campaigned by Korea Racing Authority, Knicks Go is currently the top-ranked older horse on the NTRA Thoroughbred Poll as he prepares for his next start in the $6-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar Nov. 6. A stud fee will be announced after the Breeders' Cup. "The KRA's goal was to...

Stonestreet Stables' 'TDN Rising Star' Beau Liam (Liam's Map), unbeaten in three starts in the lower grades, takes a steep rise in class as he squares off with the well-traveled Rushie (Liam's Map) in Saturday's GIII Ack Ack S. at Churchill Downs. Each could book a ticket to this year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, won in spectacular fashion by their sire at Keeneland in 2015. The homebred turned in a freakish effort on debut, sitting off a quick pace, cruising past the front-runners under a hold and scampering home...