Geldings Mercante and Kupuna turned the six-horse River City Stakes (G3T) into a bit of a match race Nov. 7 at Churchill Downs with Mercante edging to a half-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up.
Considering she is a full sister to an older brother who won his first graded stakes by 23 lengths at Belmont Park, the bloodlines said it was quite logical that Tap to Open would also notch her initial graded stakes win at the Elmont, N.Y., oval.
Churchill Downs Racetrack will introduce a new element to its renowned Stars of Tomorrow II program for 2-year-old Thoroughbreds Nov. 28 with a first golf-style skins competition among Kentucky stallion farms.
Spangled Banner sells for $1 million late in the fifth session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The dam of Champagne Stakes (G1) winner U. S. S. Valor was secured by Bertie Butler on behalf of Saleh Al Otaibi's Al Ruwais Stables.
After a dazzling, perfect juvenile season and a lengthy hiatus, a "rusty" Ted Noffey fails to show the verve that made him an undefeated champion in his delayed 3-year-old debut.
Grade 2 winner and grade 1-placed Simplification, a 7-year-old son of Not This Time, will stand the 2027 season at Rockridge Stud near Hudson, N.Y. He will stand for a fee of $5,000.
Catalog updates don't get much bigger than the one for Spangled Banner, a daughter of Tiz Wonderful who will be offered Nov. 7 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The update notes U. S. S. Valor's victory in the Champagne Stakes (G1).