Swiss Skydiver

The Week in Review, by Bill Finley After last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic, it seemed that every horse that mattered had been retired and that 2021 was going to be a bleak year for the handicap ranks. But 23 days into the year, it is apparent that's not going to be the case. First, Charlatan (Speightstown) turned in a sizzling performance in his comeback race in the GI Runhappy Malibu S. and, exactly four weeks, later Knicks Go (Paynter) could not have won the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational...

Brendan Walsh joined this week's TDN Writers' Room with his undefeated star Maxfield set to return in the Tenacious Stakes this weekend after a 7-month layoff.

He who dares, wins. For commercial breeders, however, that famous military maxim is becoming ever less practicable. Rather than hold their nerve, they rush nervously from one new stallion to the next, few daring to stick around long enough to take a yearling to market once a first crop has actually been exposed to the racetrack. These cycles often become self-fulfilling, in that few stallions can seize so limited an opportunity in time to maintain adequate momentum. But every now and then, one comes along that, no sooner than he...

Voting for this year's Secretariat 'Vox Populi' Horse of 2020 Award is now underway online at Secretariat.com or AmericasBestRacing.net. Created by Secretariat's late owner Penny Chenery, the Vox Populi, or "Voice of the People," award recognizes the racehorse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport during the past year. Fans can vote on one of five nominees selected by the award's committee, or choose a write-in option, through Nov. 30. The nominees are: GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic...

Featuring five deep, competitive fields and plenty of intrigue, Future Stars Friday will get the two-day, 37th Breeders' Cup World Championships festivities underway from historic Keeneland Race Course. First post on the all-stakes card at the bucolic oval, hosting the Breeders' Cup for the second time, is 11:30 a.m. ET, with the first Breeders' Cup race set to run at 2:30 p.m. All in all, 184 horses were entered in the 14 World Championship races, which conclude with the highly-anticipated GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, slated for 5:18 p.m. Saturday....

The countdown is running to a close for the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championship and perhaps no one has more Breeders' Cup memories to share than Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who made an astounding 15 trips to the Breeders' Cup winner's circle during his 31-year career, including a record five wins in the Classic. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week for Wednesday's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland, Bailey spoke on some of his favorite Breeders' Cup moments, as well as...

The Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland November sales are known as places to shop for some of the best racemares in the country as they conclude their careers on the track and transition into motherhood. However, the other prize offerings at both auctions are the mothers of some of the country's most talented runners. Many breeders have shifted focus towards these proven producers in hopes that if they did it once, they can do it again, like three-time Grade I producer Leslie's Lady or Littleprincessemma, who has produced a Triple Crown winner...

Continuing a trend of favorites and short prices drawing outside at Monday's Rood & Riddle Breeders' Cup Post Position Draw, the potent trio of Bob Baffert contenders in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic drew next door to each other in the three widest posts in a loaded field for the 1 1/4-mile test. Given a slight nod on the morning line at 5-2, Improbable (City Zip) was parked in the eight-hole when pills were pulled. The 'TDN Rising Star', who had an up-and-down 3-year-old season, has come into his...

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) will host an online auction of halters worn by Breeders' Cup winners and contenders. The All-Star Halter Auction is set to open Friday, Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. and will conclude Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. EST. The auction is sponsored by LNJ Foxwoods and all proceeds will benefit TCA. "In a normal year, we would be just days away from our annual Bash at the Breeders' Cup fundraising event," said Erin Crady, executive director of TCA. "However, like so many nonprofits, we've pivoted...

Thoughts I had while perusing the pre-entries for what promises to be a terrific Breeders' Cup? What are the chances that Swiss Skydiver is named Horse of the Year? It now appears almost certain that Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) will go in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff instead of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. "At this point we are going in the Distaff unless there is a late defection from the Classic," trainer Ken McPeek told reporters Saturday morning. The Classic field is loaded, so running Swiss Skydiver in the Distaff,...

Sackatoga Stables' GI Belmont S. winner and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Law (Constitution) capped off his serious work ahead of next Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a five-furlong breeze at Keeneland Saturday morning. With his regular work rider Heather Smullen in the irons, the New York-bred drilled five furlongs in :59.20 and galloped out an extra eighth of a mile in 1:12.20 (video). "I saw just what I wanted. He went perfectly," said trainer Barclay Tagg who will send out his 11th Breeders' Cup starter next weekend....

Eclipse Award winner Maximum Security (New Year's Day), GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief), GI Belmont S. victor Tiz the Law (Constitution), Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who beat the boys in the GI Preakness S. and European star mare Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are among the over 200 horses entered for the Breeders' Cup World Championships to be held at Keeneland Race Course Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7. Maximum Security makes his first appearance at the Breeders' Cup and is one of an imposing trio in the $6-million...