Cover image courtesy of Godolphin
Canada
Godolphin’s dominance in Canadian International continues
Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) continued Godolphin's dominance in the G1 Canadian International Stakes with an authoritative 3.75 length victory at Woodbine Saturday. The 7-5 favourite broke sharply from his inside post and was briefly at the head of affairs before ceding his advantage to longshot Tomasello (Authentic) as the field headed up the hill.
Arabian Crown sat in second as the 21-1 outsider, fresh off a win in the G3 Singspiel Stakes, loped along through fractions of 0:50.97 and 1:17.10. Arabian Crown engaged the pacesetter entering the far turn, grabbed control and darted clear midway on that bend. He was well clear entering the lane and drifted out to the centre of the course while still maintaining his 3.5 length advantage down to the wire.
“(Not getting the lead) was a little bit frustrating because I wanted the lead at an even pace,” said winning jockey Jamie Spencer, who earned his first International win, while giving Godolphin its record fifth victory in the fall classic, and trainer Charlie Appleby his record-tying third International triumph. “So, I accepted it and sat in behind. I did get going at the half-mile pole. He had his ears pricked in front and he was getting a good breather. He's a fit horse and he came in here high on confidence.”
Assistant trainer Nikki Jones praised Arabian Crown's effort which gave him his first Grade 1 victory.
“Amazing performance,” said Jones. “Since he's been here, he's trained very well–just fantastic. I thought we would get a nice lead. We wanted him to make the running… but it was great. As long as he has space, he's good.”
Godolphin and Appleby won the International in 2021 when Walton Street (GB) powered to a 5.75 length score with Frankie Dettori in the irons and in 2023, Godolphin, Appleby and William Buick teamed with Nations Pride (Ire) for a 2.25 length triumph. Goldolphin also won the race in 2000 with Mutafaweq and in 2004 with Sulamani (Ire).
Arabian Crown, who was second behind Godolphin's two-time G1 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) in the G2 Princess of Wales's Stakes, came into his North American debut off a third Group 3 victory in the Kilternan Stakes at Leopardstown.
Pedigree: Arabian Crown's victory gave his sire Dubawi his second top-level victory of the day, following in God's Window (GB)'s win in the G1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick in Australia. Dubawi is now the sire of 66 Grade 1/Group 1 winners around the globe.
The gelding's juvenile half-sister by Baaeed (GB), Gemini (Fr) sold for €800,000 (AU$1.3 million) to Al Shira'aa Racing at last year's Arqana August Yearling sale and is placed at two this term. Their dam Dubai Rose (GB) (Dubai Destination) won the Listed Köln Kolner Stuten Trophy in Germany and is also the dam of Listed winner Everest Rose (Dubawi) and two-time G2 Chantilly Prix de Royallieu winner The Juliet Rose (Monsun), the dam of G3 Prix Lady O'Reilly winner Mosaique (Dubawi).
America
Hughes stays unbeaten in G1 American Pharoah Stakes
By Steve Sherack
Hughes (Into Mischief), a winner of his first three starts by a combined 18.25 lengths for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, handled the stretch out two turns with aplomb, romping in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' G1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita.
The 1-5 favourite and unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star’ showed a new dimension beneath Juan Hernandez and raced in third through fractions of 0:23.37 and 0:46.86. He made a three-wide bid heading to the three-eighths pole, struck the front at the top of the stretch and won in hand by six lengths.
The pacesetting Net Par (Pavel), off at 18-1 in the six-horse field, was second, 9.5 lengths ahead of 'Rising Star' Imperial Honor (Honor A. P.) in third. Hughes, a runaway debut winner at Los Alamitos on June 21, added front-running wins in Del Mar's G3 Best Pal Stakes on August 8 and G1 Del Mar Futurity on September 6. He earned a career-high 84 Beyer Speed Figure in the latter.
“It was good schooling for him,” Baffert said. “He got behind horses and we wanted to see that. First, he was a little bit anxious, but he settled well. When we asked him to go, he went. A very respectable time here. He comes back great. I just think he's getting better and better. Baby steps to progress in the right way. He was a little bit keen, but that's the first time he's ever gone two turns. He got him to settle and he shut it down, and that's what you need. You need a horse to shut it off and he did.”
Baffert continued, “He fits well in the Breeders' Cup now, so hopefully we can get him there healthy. We saw some nice horses run (in Saturday's G1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park and G1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland). I think the horse (U. S. S. Valor) in New York was pretty impressive. We have a good horse. He needs to show up. To get the trips, you need a lot of luck. He's definitely one of the top five (male 2-year-olds in the country), or whatever you want to call it.”
Bob Baffert | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
Pedigree: Hughes, a US$675,000 (AU$972,000) Keeneland September yearling, was already one of 32 Grade 1 winners for the all-conquering Into Mischief.
The seven-time reigning champion general sire was also represented by this race's 2024 winner Citizen Bull, who was also trained by Baffert. Hughes was produced by the Grade 1-placed K P Dreamin (Union Rags), who is also responsible for a yearling colt by Elite Power and a McKinzie colt of this year. Her Elite Power colt brought US$400,000 (AU$576,000) from Flying Dutchmen at last month's Keeneland September sale. She was bred back to Patch Adams. K P Dreamin brought US$260,000 (AU$375,000) from winning breeder Breffni Farm at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November sale. This is also the female family of G1 Pacific Classic winner Go Between (Point Given).
U S S Valor thrills in G1 Champagne Stakes
By Steve Sherack
Team Valor International homebred U. S. S. Valor (War of Will) stamped himself as the clear-cut horse to beat in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland–if his connections do, in fact, decide to go that route–with a jaw-dropping victory following a less-than-ideal trip in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' G1 Champagne S. at Belmont Park.
“It's exciting,” said winning Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, who also celebrated consecutive Champagne victories with Easy Goer and Adjudicating back in 1988-89.
“You never really know how good they are until they step up, and he stepped up today. It's going to be exciting for us, as long as everything stays the same, to go through the winter and see where it takes us.”
Hard held and racing in fifth through a half mile in 0:46.08, he awaited racing room at the top of the stretch. Franco could wait no longer and bulled him out leaving the quarter pole, bumping with the tiring Earth Song (Justify).
It was all clear sailing from there, however, as U. S. S. Valor took off with beautiful strides down the lane and put on a show, reporting home as a much-the-best, 6.5 length winner over key race maiden winner Gaudreau (Nyquist). 'Rising Star' Club Reign (Core Beliefs) was third.
Winning owner/breeder Barry Irwin of Team Valor added, “I've never had a horse anywhere near this quality before, and I've had some good horses. He is just beyond words. I can't believe I bred him, I can't believe I own him.”
As for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Irwin added, “I'm going to not say anything for a while and just savour this. Then, I'll open my mouth.”
Pedigree: U. S. S. Valor becomes the fourth Graded winner and first Grade 1 winner for 2019 G1 Preakness Stakes winner War of Will. He was produced by the winning Tiz Wonderful mare Spangled Banner and hails from the family of Grade 1 winner Curalina (Curlin). This is the third Grade 1 winner for Tiz Wonderful as a broodmare sire.
The 15-year-old broodmare, also responsible for the Grade 1-placed Expressman (Liam's Map) and a Mitole colt of this year, was acquired by Irwin's operation for US$225,000 (AU$324,000) at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton August Digital Sale. Bred to Tiz the Law for 2027, she has been entered in this fall's Keeneland November sale.
American History lives up to price tag in G1 Breeders’ Futurity
By Steve Sherack
American History (Constitution) sat the trip of the race and came rolling home late to reel in duelling leaders and fellow 'TDN Rising Stars’ Coach Pope (Tapit) and Q B Rocket (Gun Runner) in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' G1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity for juveniles at Keeneland.
The WinStar Farm, First Go Racing and CHC, Inc. colourbearer, an US$825,000 (AU$1.2 million) Keeneland September graduate, was previously a runaway debut winner going 6 1/2 furlongs for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher at Saratoga on August 22. Pletcher has now won four out of the last five renewals of this race.
“I think a lot of us lost our voices cheering him home,” said Gerry Duffy, President and CEO of winning co-owner WinStar Farm. “My what a finish–two great horses out in front, and he just ran his heart out for us today and won a very important race. We're very grateful.”
Off as the third choice at 5-1 in this two-turn debut, the long-striding chestnut was fourth beneath Hall of Famer Johnny Velazquez through a half mile in 0:46.54 as Q B Rocket and Coach Pope battled into the far turn.
American History was up a spot into third, but had plenty to do coming into the short stretch. Coach Pope began to wear down Q B Rocket close to home, but American History kept on coming on the outside despite hanging on his left lead and came over the top to get the money by a length.
“I was not expecting my horse to break as slow as he did,” Velazquez said. “He broke slow, tipped in, tipped out. He took a little dirt going into the first turn. He took it pretty well. He jumped up and down a little bit, but all of a sudden before we got to the backstretch, he locked onto the bridle and I had to jump beside the horse in front of me, and, after that, he was in a good cruising speed. I was very happy the way he was doing it.”
Velazquez continued, “I was hoping the two horses in front were going fast enough that my horse could catch up. My horse has one stride–kind of keeps coming, coming and coming–and that's the way he did it. He's still learning. He's a big boy. We're very happy things turned out the way they did.”
Pedigree: American History becomes the 45th Graded/87th stakes winner for Constitution. This is his 14th winner at the top level. War Front is now responsible for 24 Graded/64 stakes winners as a broodmare sire. This is his first Grade 1 winner as a broodmare sire.
The three-time winner Bloody Point (War Front), a homebred for Alpha Delta Stables and daughter of Grade 1 winner Mona de Momma (Speightstown), is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and leading young sire Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}). After producing a colt by Good Magic this year, she was bred back to Flightline.
Dotsy upsets the G1 Frizette Stakes
TSP Enterprise's 2-year-old filly Dotsy (Tacitus), an 11-1 outsider, turned back favoured Libby Loyd (Into Mischief) at midstretch and pulled away with authority to take the G1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park Saturday. The grey filly, who gave her Finger Lakes-based trainer John Grabowski his first career winner when she broke her maiden at Saratoga in August, gave the former jockey his first stakes winner on Saturday. Grabowski's last stakes success at Belmont Park came in the saddle after guiding Impeachthepro to victory in the 2021 Hudson Handicap.
“This is the most incredible experience of my life, other than my two daughters being born,” said Grabowski. “This is the greatest moment of my life. I know that's from Rocky, but it is. I've got a stable of nine right now, all at Finger Lakes. I had a hell of a career riding, but this is it. This is the top.”
Dotsy tracked longshot pacesetter Girls Wear Pearls (Hard Spun) while parked three wide outside of Libby Loyd through an opening quarter-mile in 0:22.98 and a half-mile in 0:45.75 over the fast main track. As Girls Wear Pearls faded, Dotsy and Libby Loyd turned for home together and battled stride for stride before Dotsy asserted control and powered home a 2.75 length winner. Rum Twist (Mandaloun) was second and Revenge of the Sis (Girvin) was third. Libby Loyd tired to fourth.
Grabowski purchased Dotsy for US$37,000 (AU$53,000) at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale.
“Josie Palmisano worked the sale for me and put together a short list, and she was on the short list,” Grabowski said. “I loved how she looked–she was correct, she checked all the boxes, and she looked like we could afford her. I bid on her, and when I was bidding, I was so nervous because I wanted her so bad. When I won the bid, I had a hard time signing the sheet. I had $60,000 to spend, and I was prepared to go all the way up to that.”
Grabowski knew he had a good one even before Dotsy's 4.5 length debut win going 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga on August 26.
“When she started breezing the five-eighths and blowing away her competition–we were breezing her with older horses, and no one could even stay close to her,” the trainer said.
The Frizette is a part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen series for the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland. A nominated winner of the Frizette receives a credit of US$30,000 (AU$43,200) toward entry fees, with second- and third-place finishers receiving credits of US$15,000 (AU$21,600) and US$7,500 (AU$10,800), respectively.
Asked if the Breeders' Cup could be in Dotsy's future, Grabowski said, “Kendrick and I need to discuss where we're going with her, because I really wasn't planning on going to the Breeders' Cup. We have to think about it. We're going home to Finger Lakes tomorrow.”
The Frizette also offers qualifying points to the top-five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale towards the G1 Kentucky Oaks.
Pedigree: The unraced Coqui (Fusaichi Pegasus), a half-sister to Graded winner Voodoo (Petionville) and also the dam of multiple stakes winner Dirt Monster (Line of David), has a yearling colt by Early Voting. Named White Elephant, the colt was purchased by Tagermeen Racing for US$130,000 (AU$187,000) at this month's Keeneland September sale.
Dotsy is the third Graded stakes winner for Tacitus and his first top-level winner in the USA.
Rhetorical goes back to back in G1 Turf Mile
By Alan Carasso
Looking to join some elite company as multiple winners of the G1 Coolmore Turf Mile, Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable's 5-year-old gelding Rhetorical (Not This Time) was kicked straight into the lead by Irad Ortiz, Jr., got away with some cheap fractions up front and had plenty in the locker late, sprinting clear to collect a second consecutive all-expenses-paid trip to the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile.
Drawn low to make best use of his early speed, the US$320,000 (AU$461,000) Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale graduate–carrying the Wachtel black-and-gold–was fastest into stride and was allowed to more or less have it all his own way up front when Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), winner during this track's spring meet of the G1 Maker's Mark Mile, was relegated to a chasing role from the outside.
Leading past the half in a very leisurely 0:49.76 and three-quarters in a pedestrian 1:14.07, it was more or less game over from there, as Rhetorical finished off his final two furlongs in a very slick 0:22.28 to return $5.72 to his backers.
European raider Lake Forest (Ire) (No Nay Never)–second to Notable Speech (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 City of Gold Stakes in August at York–left the stalls tardily, as is his wont, tracked three back on the fence through the middle and lunged late from between horses to complete the exacta. Title Role (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), victorious in this year's G1 Belmont Derby, cut back in trip and came home a sound third.
Rhetorical joins the likes of Dumaani and Gio Ponti to have won the Coolmore Mile in consecutive years, while Horse of the Year Wise Dan took the contest in 2012 and 2014 and was runner-up in the 2013 renewal rained onto the synthetic track that was in place at Keeneland at the time.
Pedigree: Rhetorical is the best of three winners from his dam, Sheet Humor (Distorted Humor), a daughter of Sheets, who not only won the G3 Azalea Breeders' Cup Stakes on the main track, but also the 2008 renewal of the Turf Amazon Handicap over five grassy furlongs at then Philadelphia Park.
Sheet Humor was acquired by Mallory Mort for US$14,000 (AU$20,000) in foal to Midnight Lute at Keeneland November in 2015 and she was subsequently purchased by Korean interests for US$3000 (AU$4300) at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Fall Sale in Saratoga. Sheet Humor produced a colt by New York stalwart Central Banker in 2022 and was most recently covered by the late Preservationist.
G1 Lady Fingers won by Classic Q
By Alan Carasso
Clearly at her best heretofore when allowed to call the shots from on or near the lead, 4-year-old mare Classic Q (Classic Empire) was consigned to a trip three-wide and off the speed, but she knuckled down in the late stages and just managed to get the better of 2025 Keeneland November topper Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) in an exciting renewal of the G1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland Saturday afternoon.
The US$40,000 (AU$57,600) Keeneland September bargain, who had employed those front-running tactics en route to a breakthrough victory at the highest level in the Just A Game Stakes at Saratoga this past June, was beaten for speed this time around and was no better than three deep into the first turn, as And One More Time (Omaha Beach) made the running in advance of Segesta (Ghostzapper).
Tracking the pace while continuing to lose ground on the second turn, Classic Q circled three deep into the lane, but it looked all for naught, when Lush Lips–midpack and ground-saving through the middle furlongs–made a decisive move, diving down towards the fence and looking all over a winner. But Classic Q, though left reeling by the Lush Lips move, refused to lie down, chipping away at the late advantage before surging in front when it mattered the most.
“I told (jockey) John (Velazquez) I'd leave (the race plan) to him. She amazes me,” said winning trainer Mark Casse, who sent out champion Tepin (Bernstein) to a seven-length success in the 2015 First Lady before defeating the boys in the first Breeders' Cup Mile held at Keeneland four weeks later.
“Johnny got her to relax, and when he asked her to go–he said he could see (late leader and eventual runner-up) Lush Lips get through on the inside, and Johnny maybe said a bad word or something, but he was able to run her down, thank goodness.”
Winner of three of her 10 starts in a busy 2025 campaign, including an all-the-way success in Saratoga's Wild Applause Stakes, the grey filly was last of 12 in the G2 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf, but rounded back into form with a runner-up effort to Lush Lips in the G3 Honey Fox Stakes on February 28 and a neck success in the G2 Distaff Turf Mile on Kentucky Derby day, May 2.
At her front-running best when defeating 2025 G1 Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) third Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) and by 1.25 lengths, with Segesta third, in the Just A Game, Classic Q was exiting a fair third behind Bless the Broken (Laoban) in the G2 Ladies' Turf Stakes at Kentucky Downs on September 5.
Pedigree: Bred in Kentucky by Winning Bloodstock from Lovely Em (Scat Daddy) a mare that cost just US$9,500 (AU$13,700) at Keeneland November in 2020, Classic Q is one of four winners from as many to race out of a half-sister to two-time Canadian stakes winner Bear Holiday (Harlan's Holiday) and to the dam of the Ohio-bred stakes winner No More Cents (Goldencents) from the same sire line.
Lovely Em was sold on for US$10,000 (AU$14,400) at Keeneland November in 2022 and that produce, the 3-year-old filly Tafared (Mo Town), broke her maiden at career start number three in Saudi Arabia just under a year ago. The mare made a third trip through the November Sale in 2024 and is the dam of the New York-bred yearling filly Red Unit (Vekoma). After not producing a foal this season, Lovely Em was bred back to Oscar Performance.
