Breeders' Cup Sprint

It was a huge Breeders' Cup Day for 35-year-old Venezuelan-born trainer Jose D'Angelo, who not only won two races, but won two in a row. The greatest 35 minutes of his training career began with a win by 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Shisospicy (Mitole) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and D'Angelo also won the next race, the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, with Florida-bred Bentornato (Valiant Minister). To talk about his Breeders' Cup success story, his background, his plans for the future and more, D'Angelo joined 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...

Bentornato (Valiant Minister), runner-up in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, breezed five furlongs in company in a bullet 1:00 (1/24) Saturday morning at Keeneland in preparation for a return trip to Del Mar for this year's race on Nov. 1. He had jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard for the work with Araucano (McKinzie), a 3-year-old maiden. Bentornato finished three lengths clear of his workmate at the wire and lengthened the advantage on the gallop out. "He will have his final work here next week," trainer Jose D'Angelo said of...

Dan Blacker was a long way from Santa Anita when he watched the 2003 Breeders' Cup, but the day would have a profound effect on the trajectory of his career. That year Richard Mandella captured four of the eight championship races, capped off by Pleasantly Perfect's Classic victory at 14-1 odds. "Still to this day, I think it's probably the greatest Breeders' Cup achievement of all time," Blacker said. It was a feat that would go down in racing's history books, but for Blacker, it sparked a question: what would...

Yoshizawa Holding Co. Ltd's American Stage (Into Mischief), who returned from a six-month layoff to just miss in a 1200-meter allowance at Kyoto Racecourse on Oct. 5, is being pointed for an appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Saturday, Nov. 1, according to a report from the Netkeiba website in Japan. A $500,000 Keeneland September yearling, the Spendthift Farm-bred 3-year-old colt posted a record of 3-2-1 from six juvenile appearances, including a three-race winning streak that culminated with a 3 1/2-length victory in his lone...

When the partnership of Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay went to $205,000 to secure Nakatomi (Firing Line) as a 4-year-old at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale in 2023, they were picking up a gelding who was graded stakes placed at Pimlico, Aqueduct and Saratoga. But he entered the sale's ring having last seen the winner's circle at Keeneland in Nov. 2022 and clearly needing to take a step forward for trainer Wesley Ward. Well that purchase quickly provided dividends with Nakatomi giving the partnership a win...

Cygames, Inc., a Japanese video game company, has extended its partnership with the Breeders' Cup World Championships, remaining title sponsor of the $2-million GI Sprint, according to a release from the Breeders' Cup Thursday. The partnership was secured in collaboration with leading media rights and venue development company JMI Sports and B-Bridge International. "We are very pleased to continue and expand our partnership with Cygames," said Heather Higgins, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for Breeders' Cup Limited. "This enhanced collaboration demonstrates both of our organizations' shared commitment to delivering...

George A. Mellon's Patriot Spirit (Constitution), a smart last-out winner of the Reigh Count S. going seven furlongs at Colonial July 26, punched his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint with a 1 1/2-length victory in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GIII Vosburgh S. at the Belmont at the Big A meeting. Well-backed as the 5-2 second-choice, he pressed in second through an opening quarter in :22.76, hit the front while traveling nicely beneath Javier Castellano at the top of the stretch and took care of business from there...

Baoma Corp.'s 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) breezed a half-mile in :48 flat (10/32) Monday morning at Santa Anita, his first move since being scratched from an expected appearance in the GI Pacific Classic on Aug. 30. According to a text from trainer Bob Baffert to TDN's Sue Finley, the colt's Breeders' Cup target remains a bit up in the air. "He breezed today, pointing to [Dirt] Mile," he texted. "I could change my mind between now and then. The [Dirt] Mile probably more realistic right now. Was hoping to...

Atlantic Six Racing's Book'em Danno (Bucchero) has emerged from his career-best effort in a Grade I-quality renewal of the GII A. G. Vanderbilt Stakes on July 19 in good order, and connections are currently mulling over their options as they chart a course for the back end of the gelding's 4-year-old season. In posting a lofty 111 Beyer Speed Figure, the New Jersey-bred was taking his career record to 9-3-1 from 15 starts and his $220,000 paycheck over the weekend lifted his earnings to $1,580,425 "You always hope these horses...

Firming into 13-5 favoritism in the final few clicks of the tote, Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) found his best stride well off the inside entering the final eighth of a mile and staved off a late challenge from 2024 GI Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold (Ghostzapper) to win Thursday's GI Malibu Stakes, the traditional opening-day feature at the Great Race Place. Drawn widest in a field reduced to six with the early scratchings of Senior Officer (Into Mischief) and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up Bentornato (Valiant Minister) due to a...

Fan favorite The Chosen Vron (Vronsky), scratched from the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint last weekend, will be turned out for several months after an issue was detected in his ankle. "We'll take it one step at a time," trainer J. Eric Kruljac said. "We'll give him four months off and then bring him back. I feel pretty good that he'll come back the same horse." California's reigning Horse of the Year, the 6-year-old has won 19 of his 25 career trips to the post to date and, after finishing fifth...