Gufo

Trainer Christophe Clement sadly passed away without being inducted into the National Museum of Racing's 2025 Hall of Fame class, and I freely admit that I did not cast a ballot for him again. Something is amiss because it feels like a failure on my part, the voters and by the system. When the envelope has arrived in the mail these past few years and I look down at the list of trainers it always fills my cup full of dread. Take your medicine, I tell myself, but it's so...

Just seven years into his own stud career, the continually climbing Hill 'n' Dale sire Good Magic already has four Grade I-winning sons standing in Kentucky. The team at Darby Dan Farm believes that with their new son of Good Magic, value is the distinguishing factor. Standing for $12,500 in his debut season, Blazing Sevens (Good Magic -Trophy Girl, by Warrior's Reward) not only has the lowest stud fee among Good Magic's sons, but also among the four Grade I-winning juveniles new to stud in 2025. A 'TDN Rising Star'...

Darby Dan Farm has unveiled a Breeder Reassurance Plan which will provide breeders a 60-day window of financial security to provide insurance should a foal face an unforeseen challenge during its first two months. Instead of the standard 48-hour stand-and-nurse payment deadline after the birth of a live foal, Darby Dan will extend the payment window by 60 days, specifically protecting breeders in the unfortunate event of foal mortality within that period. The time frame aligns with the foal's most delicate stage of development. "We recognize the inherent risks and...

The first reported foal by three-time Grade I winner Gufo (Declaration of War--Floy, by Petionville) was born Friday, Jan. 24. Out of Blurricane (Rebellion {GB}), winner of the 2017 Ballade Stakes at Woodbine and earner of more than $500,000, the colt was bred by Ballycroy Bloodstock in Ontario. Gufo stood his first season at Ballycroy before moving to Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky ahead of the 2025 season, his second year at stud. "We're thrilled with this colt out of the resilient mare Blurricane," said Michaela Kemp of Ballycroy Bloodstock....

Darby Dan Farm has set their 2025 stud fees for its roster of 13 stallions that will stand the upcoming breeding season, led by Flameaway and Dialed In, who will both stand for $15,000 LFSN, according to a press release from the farm on Thursday morning. The roster also features a trio of newcomers in Blazing Sevens, who will stand for $12,500 LFSN, as well as Gufo and Shirl's Speight who will both stand their first seasons at stud for $5,000 LFSN. Flameaway, a multiple graded stakes-winning son of Scat...

Gufo (Declaration of War-Floy, by Petionville), a Grade I winner at three, four, and five, is relocating from Ballycroy Bloodstock in Ontario to Darby Dan Farm for the 2025 breeding season. Gufo will stand the upcoming breeding season for $5,000 S&N. Incentives will be available for qualified mares. Gufo, who stood his first season at stud this year, will welcome first foals in 2025. He is owned by Dr. John Little, who co-bred the multi-millionaire in partnership with longtime friend Dr. Stephen Cainelli. The latter campaigned Gufo under the nom...

The three-time Grade I winner Gufo (Declaration of War-Floy, by Petionville) has been retired and will arrive at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky on Wednesday, where potential buyers will have the opportunity to examine him as a stallion prospect. "Gufo had a minor training setback, and his owner, Stephen Cainelli, made the decision to retire him and find him a new career as a stallion," said his trainer, Christophe Clement. "Gufo is leaving Payson Park on Tuesday, and he is on his way to WinStar, where he will be available...

Kentucky Downs will host six graded events Saturday, led by the 'Win and You're In' $1-million GII Fanduel Turf Sprint S. and $1-million GII Kentucky Turf Cup S. NBC Sports will broadcast both live on CNBC. After successfully defending his title in Saratoga's GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer S. Aug. 27, Gufo (Declaration of War) returns on short notice for the Kentucky Turf Cup. He is the 7-5 morning-line favorite. The 8-year-old Arklow (Arch) looks for his third win from five attempts in this contest following victories in 2018...

Otter Bend Stables LLC's Gufo (Declaration of War) employed his oft-decisive turn of foot to find daylight at a crucial stage of Saturday's GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational S. at Saratoga and kicked home smartly to peg back the progressive Mira Misson (Noble Mission {GB}) in the waning strides and successfully defend his title in the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland Nov. 5. Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) closed off well from the back of the pack to complete...

Ballydoyle's Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), whose most recent trip across the Atlantic resulted in a strong runner-up effort behind Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf, faces nine others--including defending champion Gufo (Declaration of War)--in Saturday's GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational S. at Saratoga. The 12-furlong event earns the winner a fees-paid berth into this year's Turf at Keeneland Nov. 5. The 6-year-old entire comes into the Sword Dancer a relatively fresh animal, as he will be making just his fourth start of the...

Golden Glider (Ghostzapper), most recently second in the GIII Peter Pan S., tuned up for Saturday's GI Belmont S. with a four-furlong work in :49.90 (33/84) at Belmont Park Sunday. NYRA clockers caught the colt, with exercise rider Kylie Wellington up, through a quarter-mile in :26.20 and a gallop-out in 1:02.80. "I thought he worked really well. He settled early, which is what you want out of a Belmont horse, and flew home," trainer Mark Casse said. Casse won the 2019 Belmont with Sir Winston (Awesome Again), who also finished...

With heavily favored champion Yibir totally missing the start, Saturday's GI Man o' War S. at Belmont was thrown into a state of flux, and longest shot on the board Highland Chief took advantage. Away well himself and with no real pace on, Highland Chief shared early front-running duties with Abaan (Will Take Charge) past the wire for the first time while kept well off the fence by pilot Trevor McCarthy. Content to sit second on the first bend and down the backside through splits of :25.35, :51.84 and 1:17.60,...