There’s been much debate about Contrary Thinking’s presence as a “rabbit” in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), but owner Peter Brant doesn’t understand all the fuss.

The winner of this year’s Diana Stakes (G1T) and 5-year-old daughter of Cotai Glory (GB) will be offered as Hip 225.

Live racing is slated to resume on Friday, Oct. 31, at Belmont at the Big A with a nine-race card featuring a pair of listed $150,000 races with the Tempted Stakes in Race 2 and the Pumpkin Pie in Race 8. First post on Friday’s card is 1:05 p.m.

At the end of 2024 when owner John Ropes weighed retiring his homebred filly Dorth Vader against bringing her back to race at 5 this season, his checkmarks in the pro-racing column included three achievements he’d love to see her accomplish.

Trainer Gary Contessa believes Nutella Fella’s gate issues are far behind him and that the colt should be a live contender in the $175,000 Bold Ruler Stakes (G3) Nov. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Frankie Dettori announced Oct. 29 that the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar will be his stateside swansong, with the legendary jockey to retire from race riding in the United States and conclude his career in South America.

As Breeders’ Cup tries to support efforts to gather information on exercise-associated sudden deaths, all horses in this year’s World Championships and undercard races will be auscultated—examined with a stethoscope or ECG—in their stalls at rest.

A two-time stakes winner, Deep Satin will look to add her first graded stakes victory to her resume Nov. 1 in the $300,000 Goldikova Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar. The daughter of American Pharoah leads a field of 13 fillies and mares.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey leads a pair into the Nov. 2 $250,000 Red Smith Stakes (G2T), part of closing day of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. 

Schwarzenegger will be Frankfort Park Farm’s ninth Breeders’ Cup starter in the last 11 years when he lines up for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) Oct. 31 at Del Mar.