Tom Ryan

by Christina Bossinakis & Patrycja Szpyra Cherokee Nation (Not This Time) took six starts to break his maiden, but he'd been facing quality rivals in the lead up to his graduation party last Friday. Now, his connections report that elite contests are in the colt's future with their eyes specifically turned toward the GI Santa Anita Derby. "When the kids go to school, they have fancy Friday and [last] Friday was a fancy Friday for us," said co-owner Tom Ryan. "We're typically looking at Saturday afternoon, but we were very...

SF Racing & Co. has named a precocious 2-year-old colt Hughes in honor of U.S. hockey star Jack Hughes and his memorable 2026 Winter Olympics performance. The colt, by Into Mischief out of K P Dreamin (Union Rags), is set to join the 2026 2-year-old division of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Signed for $675,000 by Donato Lanni at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale last year, the colt was consigned by Blandford Stud on behalf of breeder Stonestreet. In announcing the name, SF Racing principal Tom Ryan cited Hughes's...

Following the publication of the entries on Tuesday, ante-post favourite Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) is among 88 colts in contention for the Betfred Derby, which takes place at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 6 and offers record prize-money of £2 million in 2026. Pierre Bonnard, who was last seen winning October's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, features in a bumper list of 24 entries for Aidan O'Brien, the most successful trainer in the history of the Classic with 11 wins. The Ballydoyle contingent also includes the first three from last year's G1...

Tom Ryan, the racing manager for SF Racing, tweeted Friday morning that Madaket Road (Quality Road) will not compete in Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. "Madaket Road won't participate in the Pegasus," read Ryan's tweet. "He seems to have an abscess brewing - unfortunate timing. He will ship back to California shortly." SF Racing is co-owner of the 4-year-old colt who is trained by Bob Baffert. He was 10-1 in the morning line and is coming off a fourth-place finish in the GI Malibu Stakes. With...

Goal Oriented (Not This Time--Bizzy Caroline, by Afleet Alex), most recently winner of the Dec. 28 GI Malibu Stakes, has been retired from racing and will take up stud duties at Spendthrift Farm this year. His introductory fee will be $30,000, stands and nurses. "We are very excited about Goal Oriented and his potential at stud," said Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey. "Since the emergence of Not This Time, we have been looking for the right son to come along, and we believe strongly that Goal Oriented is that horse....

Tom Ryan's observation that California graded stakes have been decimated by the graded stakes committee is spot on, but does not delve into the issue deeply nor address solutions. I applaud him speaking out against a system that adheres to a doctrine of the past, which evaluates many criteria while ignoring the fact that all graded stakes (save a select few) will be the domain of slot-enhanced, subsidized racetracks in the near term. The idea that the Breeders' Cup and/or Jockey Club could ignore this trend while sitting idly by...

California racing just got dealt another brutal blow. In a year when this sport should be doing everything possible to stabilize a fragile circuit, the loss of Grade I status for the Frank E. Kilroe Mile and multiple downgrades at Santa Anita and Del Mar is very concerning. When you strip premier events in the middle of a wagering and field-size crisis, you're not "protecting the integrity of the pattern," you're accelerating the decline of one of the game's few remaining flagship jurisdictions. This outcome might look neat on a...

by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, and Jill Williams LEXINGTON, KY -The only thing that could slow down the momentum of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was a brief interruption in Wednesday's action when the fire alarms late in the day caused the evacuation of the pavilion. "We joked in the back ring the market was so hot, it set the fire alarms off," Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said with a chuckle after the dust had settled on another competitive day of bidding at the first of two...

'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic), scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby with a foot bruise, worked seven furlongs in 1:24.80 (1/1) at Santa Anita Friday morning in preparation for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga June 7. He previously worked four furlongs in :49 at Churchill Downs May 11. The front-running winner of the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct Apr. 5 is trained by Bob Baffert and campaigned in partnership by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge...

Bob Baffert notified Pimlico Race Course officials Thursday of his intention to enter undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time), as well as GII Wood Memorial Stakes hero Rodriguez (Authentic) in the GI Preakness Stakes. Goal Oriented debuted at Santa Anita Apr. 6 with an off-the-pace 3 1/4-length victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight event, which earned him a 'Rising Star' badge. The 3-year-old cleared an optional claimer in front-running fashion on the Derby undercard. A $425,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, Goal Oriented is...

The GII Wood Memorial Stakes winner and Bob Baffert trainee Rodriguez (Authentic) has been scratched with a sensitive foot bruise from Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby, according a tweet from SF Racing's Tom Ryan. "Out of an abundance of caution, we have made a very tough decision to scratch our Derby horse, Rodriguez," the post by Ryan said. "He has a small but slightly sensitive foot bruise that will need a few more days. Therefore, we are resetting our plans and will target him for the Preakness." The 'TDN Rising Star'...

Rodriguez (Authentic) was hustled to the front from his rail draw by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, and cruised to a 3 1/2-length victory over Grande (Curlin) in Saturday's 100th running of the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Passion Rules (Friesan Fire) in third. The Bob Baffert-trained 'TDN Rising Star' earned 100 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby for the victory. Rodriguez led through fractions of :23.31 and :47.44, began to shake clear from favored 'Rising Star' Captain...