John Sikura

In a development that could significantly bolster the long-term success of the graduates of the Thoroughbred industry's groundbreaking addiction recovery program, Stable Recovery, Jarret Prussin, co-founder of the successful social justice firm Ben Crump Law and a Thoroughbred owner and investor, is lending his expertise and a powerful new financial tool to Stable Recovery. Prussin, whose involvement has already yielded massive media exposure for the program, is now integrating his latest venture, DreamFi, to address what is undeniably a top risk for relapse: financial instability. DreamFi, a financial technology company...

Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), the 2024 Horse of the Year, will be bred during the upcoming season to sire Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), it was announced by the superstar filly's majority owner, John Sikura, the owner of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. Sikura and the others in the Thorpedo Anna ownership have already chosen who she will be bred to in 2027, and that is Curlin (Smart Strike). Curlin stands at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, while Gun Runner stands at Three Chimneys Farm. "We usually take this one...

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...

On 'Future Stars Friday' at the Del Mar Breeders' Cup World Championships, there was a special twinkling in the eye of Reagan Swinbank, the co-owner of 2-year-old Cy Fair (Not This Time--Remarqued, by Arch). The Texan had just watched his filly take the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and become only the second female to accomplish that feat in this race. An OBS April grad, Cy Fair was named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', after being unveiled a winner by 3 1/4 lengths while sprinting over the...

by Steve Sherack & J.N. Campbell DEL MAR, Calif. - A stallion share (2% interest) in leading young sire Not This Time brought $3 million from John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa to top the Keeneland Championship Sale held in the Del Mar paddock Wednesday evening. The share was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Aaron and Marie Jones, as Hip 3. In a unique feature of the offering, the buyer receives all income from Not This Time's 2025 breeding season. Not This Time is already the...

Justify was off to a fast start at stud, leading in several black-type categories as well as in winners and wins with his first crop of runners. But it was in year two when the cream really started to rise to the top. That year, in 2023, he sired two Breeders' Cup winners, Hard to Justify in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Just F Y I in the Juvenile Fillies. The latter brings a talented resume and a special pedigree to this year's Fasig-Tipton November sale when she sells as...

John Ortiz had high hopes for Brightwork long before she set foot in his barn. His father, Carlos Ortiz, had broken the daughter of Outwork in Ocala and told him the filly was a standout mentally, taking everything that was asked of her and doing it effortlessly. But what surprised Ortiz, when Brightwork stepped off the van at Keeneland, was how striking the filly was physically as well. "She walked in like she owned the place," Ortiz recalled. "You'd confuse her for a colt early on. She was really stout,...

Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike) and his champion son Good Magic will stand the 2026 breeding season for $225,000 and $125,000, respectively, at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, the Lexington area nursery announced Thursday. Curlin, who turns 22 in 2026, remains the only stallion to have supplied three Breeders' Cup winners on a single program and the only sire to account for four Eclipse Award winners in the same year. Good Magic, who was represented by a quartet of $1-million yearlings in 2025, is the...

Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), the 2024 Horse of the Year and a shoo-in to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2031, the first year she will be eligible, has been retired. The news came in the form of a press release sent out by Keeneland, McPeek Racing and Hill 'n' Dale. Additionally, a 20% share in the champion will be offered at the upcoming Keeneland Championship Sale at Del Mar on Oct. 29. The announcement came as no surprise as Thorpedo Anna finished a dull fourth in the...

Over the past decade, Baoma Corp. has become synonymous with elite horses competing at the sport's highest level. But for those who know Susan and Charlie Chu personally, it's their unwavering dedication to their horses that stands out most. "They take good care of their horses and protect them," said the Chus' longtime trainer Bob Baffert. "That's why they do so well. They've had a lot of luck and a lot of success. They're not only great clients, but they're great friends of mine and they love racing." "Susan cares...

by Jill Williams & J.N. Campbell A spectacular Fall Stars Weekend both continues and concludes Sunday at Keeneland, highlighted by the GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 1. While entries may seem sparse for such an historic race with a $650,000 purse, they pack a punch with the reigning Horse of the Year, Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), making her first start in front of the home crowd since her open daylight debut over this surface at this meet two...

by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis and Jill Williams LEXINGTON, KY - Led by a $3.3-million son of Gun Runner, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale powered through a record-setting opening session Monday in Lexington. When the dust had settled after the first of two elite Book 1 sessions, 106 yearlings had sold for $69,240,000. The average was $653,208--the highest ever at a single September session--and the median was $537,500. With just 28 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 20.90%. Those figures are ahead of last year's opening session, when...