Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa

Hunter Rankin, Flying Dutchmen's president, signed the $2.3-million ticket Monday night at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale for an Into Mischief colt out of Stellar Sound (Tapit). The gray or roan colt was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent for Don Alberto Corporation. Sent through the ring as Hip 91, the March-foaled colt was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto. His yet-unnamed full-brother sold at this same sale last year for $4.1 million to Coolmore and White Birch Farm. Stellar Sound, three-times graded placed, is a granddaughter of MGISW Versailles Treaty...

A Curlin colt out of Merlazza (Medaglia d'Oro) was the first to make a major splash Monday evening at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale, with the dark bay commanding $2 million from noted bloodstock agent Donato Lanni. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent, who stands his sire, Hip 19 is out of Oaklawn's Valley of the Vapors Stakes winner Merlazza from the same family as GSW & GISP Where's My Ring (Twirling Candy). His fourth dam is GI Test Stakes and GI Ballerina Stakes winner Dream Supreme...

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' and GISW Brant (Gun Runner--Tynan, by Liam's Map) has been retired from racing and will take up stud duty at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa for 2027, the farm announced Saturday. A record-setting $3-million purchase as a 2-year-old at OBS March for Zedan Racing, Brant was named a 'Rising Star' for his Del Mar debut last July and backed that honor up with a win next out in the GI Del Mar Futurity, defeating GSW Desert Gate (Omaha Beach) and Litmus Test (Nyquist). He...

Curlin, at 22 one of the most influential stallions in modern history, will not cover any more mares during the 2026 breeding season after a brief illness, said Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa owner John Sikura Wednesday afternoon. "Curlin, about 10 days ago, exhibited some discomfort," said Sikura. "Dr. (Nathan) Slovis from Hagyard examined him and found an ulcer which was outside of his stomach," said Sikura. "This is highly unusual. He exhibited symptoms of pain, we treated him, and he had three days off breeding mares. He had a...

The first mares have been reported in foal to Claiborne's first-season stallions Mindframe (Constitution--Walk of Stars, by Street Sense) and Johannes (Nyquist--Cuyathy, by Congrats). Multiple Grade I Mindframe's first mare in foal is Put Together (Smart Strike), a half-sister to Grade III winner Feathered (Indian Charlie), the dam of Horse of the Year Flightline. Boarded at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa in Paris, Put Together is owned by Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stables, which also co-campaigned Mindframe during his on-track career. Mindframe stands his debut season at stud for an...

It has been a wild ride for Jes Sikura, son of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa owner and president John Sikura, since the 24-year-old graduated from the University of Kentucky in December. Just a few days after receiving his diploma, he and his father were on a plane to California. What began as a trip to celebrate opening weekend at Santa Anita proved serendipitous when the Sikuras secured multiple graded stakes winner Barnes (Into Mischief) for their stallion roster following his scratch from the GI Malibu Stakes. Since stepping into...

The board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) unanimously voted to appoint owner of Hill 'n' Dales Farms John Sikura to fill the vacant seat of Nick Alexander, subject to full board ratification at the upcoming Jan. 30 meeting, the owners group said via a Friday press release. "I have a great love for California racing dating to my youth attending Santa Anita with my father when Charlie Whittingham was our trainer," said John Sikura. "I currently have horses with Bob Baffert, and I can think of...

The TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland returned this week with its first podcast of 2026, and the guest was John Sikura, the owner of Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa. Sikura was the Gainesway Guest of the Week. While there were several subjects to discuss with Sikura, the prominent farm owner largely focused his attention on racing in California, its problems and what he sees as the industry's obligation to improve the situations at Santa Anita, Del Mar and Los Alamitos. "We need to fix this today," he said....

John Sikura, President of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, joins the TDN Writers' Room for a candid discussion on the future of California racing and potential paths toward revitalization. Sikura also shares an inside look at current life at the farm, providing updates on everything from champion Thorpedo Anna to new sire Barnes.

Jes Sikura, son of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa president John Sikura, will be the new Director of Bloodstock at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, according to a Wednesday afternoon release from the Central Kentucky farm. The younger Sikura has spent the last two years working in the farm's bloodstock division while attending college. He recently graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in marketing. "Jes has demonstrated a great passion and acuity for the business," said John Sikura. "He loves the farm and working with clients to...

   Barnes (Into Mischief--All American Dream, by American Pharoah), a $3.2 million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase by bloodstock agent Donato Lanni on behalf of Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing Stables, has been retired because of a tendon injury and will take up stud duty at John G. Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa Farm, according to a farm release on Monday. Barnes will stand for a fee of $15,000 stands and nurses. A limited number of shares may be offered for sale. Barnes, a two-time graded stakes winner and Grade I...

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, which continued straight on from the strength of the company's record-setting September Yearling Sale, concluded its eight-day run Tuesday with new highwater marks for average and median and the auction's highest gross since 2007. "This year marked a watershed moment for Keeneland Sales," said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. "From a record-shattering September Yearling Sale that topped $500 million in gross sales to the continued momentum into an outstanding November Breeding Stock Sale, the confidence in this marketplace has never been stronger. These...