Barry Irwin is never afraid to speak his mind and he did so when joining this week's TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to discuss U.S.S. Valor, his thoughts on the state of the game and HISA, his newly released novel and more. Irwin was the Gainesway Guest of the Week. ... More

Industry expert handicapper Michael Kipness, a.k.a. "The Wizard" sat down with Team Valor International CEO Barry Irwin to discuss his homebred colt U. S. S. Valor as he advances from a knockout maiden victory at Saratoga to the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park. ... More

Ultra-consistent Canadian Champion Elysian Field, under last minute substitute jockey Fraser Aebly, came out on top in the Belfountain Stakes on Woodbine's E.P. Taylor turf course, marking her first stakes win on the grass surface. The mare is now a stakes winner every year from ages three to six, with previous black-type victories including the Woodbine Oaks, the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes, and the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes. She has also been the runner-up in the King's Plate, the Ontario Matron and others. ... More

U. S. S. Valor broke his maiden at Saratoga running seven furlongs in 1:22.04 and earning a 105 Beyer Speed Figure - 104 Equibase number - 7.75 Ragozin speed figure - 0 ThoroGraph figure. And how about that monster stride? See how these figures compare to others in his crop. ... More

U. S. S. Valor, the 13 1/4-length winner of a fast seven-furlong maiden race for 2-year-olds on Saturday at Saratoga, shipped to Belmont Park on Monday, where he will be based this fall, and will be pointed to the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes on Oct. 3. After finishing third with some trouble in his debut, U. S. S. Valor ran seven furlongs in 1:22.04 and earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure. ... More

With the 2023 mating season approaching, Barry Irwin and his wife Kathleen drew up a plan for their mare Spangled Banner (Tiz Wonderful), who they had acquired for $225,000 in the Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale the previous August. The results from that nicking on Saturday were a bottle christening, as second-time starter U. S. S. Valor (War of Will) launched then steamed home to win by more than 13 lengths. The effort earned him a 'TDN Rising Star. ... More

Steve Byk of At The Races sat down with Team Valor International CEO and Founder Barry Irwin today to discuss the background behind Irwin's racing novel "A Knight Errant", a story that melds a mercurial horse and a lifetime of experience in racing, with the dawn of the era of challenges that currently vex the industry. ... More

U. S. S. Valor (c, 2, War of Will–Spangled Banner, by Tiz Wonderful) received some high praise from DRF's Clocker Report following consecutive B+ breezes for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey ahead of his 6 1/2-furlong unveiling at the Spa Aug. 8. Backed at 5-1 in a deep-looking maiden special weight in the lidlifter on Whitney day, the Team Valor International homebred was carried in at the break from his rail draw and was steered out in time by Tyler Gaffalione to avoid hitting the rail leaving the chute. ... More

Although looking decidedly burly before being saddled in the paddock at The Curragh on Sunday, heavily bet 3 to 2 favorite Armor Supreme had no trouble pegging back the male leader in deep stretch and driving to score a 1 1/4-length victory going 5 furlongs on good to firm going in the black-type William Hill European Breeders Fund Juvenile Sprint Stakes. ... More

The Guinness Handicap was the feature on day five of the Galway festival and the 110,000 euro contest was won by the 3/1 favourite Thread Of Gold for his owners Team Valor International and Gary Barber. Raised 9lb for winning the Nasrullah Handicap at Leopardstown earlier in the month, the Ghaiyyath gelding raced in mid-division for Billy Lee (double on the day and fifth winner of the week) and was travelling well approaching the home turn. ... More

For anyone who has had the opportunity to meet Barry Irwin, it's doubtful any one of them would describe him as subtle or understated. A former journalist and handicapper who delved into the world of bloodstock and ownership syndicates before they really became commonplace, Irwin has worn a great many hats in horse racing over the past six decades and to say that he has experienced the sport through a very wide lens wouldn't be an understatement. ... Read More

When a horse is hammered down from a morning line of 2-to-5 all the way down to 1-to-20 (the lowest pari-mutuel digits available in North American racing) they are supposed to win as Irish Punch did on Saturday at Sam Houston Park. Kentucky Derby winning jockey Stewart Elliott allowed the grey full-sister to Green Up to show some initial early speed, but then he kept her off the rail, where an upstart pretender scooted up the fence to wrest command. ... More

Half of the 10 fillies and mares that lined up on the Met Handicap Day undercard Listed Olympic Duel sprint were dispatched at odds shorter than the 14 to 1 price on Babelicious. And shortly after the break, as noted by the Stipendiary Stewards, Babelicious "was squeezed out when tightened for galloping room between Wild Applause and Be Merry when both horses shifted ground marginally." However, such is the current confidence of the 4-year-old Var filly that she was able to overcome the difficult beginning and score her first black-type victory ... More

Special Wan justified her 8-5 favoritism in the $303,000 Goldikova Stakes (G3T), kicking off Breeders' Cup Saturday with a dazzling 1 1/4-length victory Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The Goldikova, Special Wan's third graded stakes win of the year, took the 5-year-old daughter of Belardo's earnings over the million-dollar mark. Special Wan is slated to be offered at Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale as Hip 155 from the Bluewater Sales consignment Nov. 3. ... Story at Blood-Horse

Team Valor International and Steven Rocco's Special Wan (IRE), the 2-1 favorite, was angled five wide into the Kentucky Downs stretch by Joel Rosario and came flying late to win Saturday's $2 million Resolute Racing Ladies Turf (G2) by a half-length over Segesta. ... Story at Paulick Report

Racing Post Reporter of the Year, Jonathan Harding, recently spoke with Team Valor International CEO and Founder Barry Irwin on the stable's many recent happenings in Europe. "The owners of Facteur Cheval believe there is "no question" their Group 1 winner has the ability to make another big impression when he attemps to make it third time lucky in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day in October. Trained by Jerome Reynier, Facteur Cheval has unfinished business at Ascot." ... More

Despite dropping to a sprint for the first time since early in her Championship season at 3, Canadian Champion Elysian Field roared home down the lane at Woodbine over the Tapeta surface she adores to claim a well-deserved victory going 7 furlongs on Saturday to win the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes. Stripping in magnificent condition and packing more poundage around the middle than usual, the gorgeous chestnut daughter of Hard Spun was dispatched as the 7-to-2 second choice in a field of 8 fillies and mares, no less than half of which were trained by double Hall of Famer trainer Mark Casse. ... More

Following the milestone victory of Swift Delivery in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup at Woodbine over the weekend, "Bloodhorse Monday" invited Team Valor International founder and CEO, Barry Irwin, to the podcast to discuss the stable's 200th victory at the Graded level. ... More

Swift Delivery dashed to victory in the August 2 Seagram Cup Stakes [G3] at Woodbine, outrunning defending race winner Paramount Prince and 5 others over 1 1/16-miles race on Tapeta. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Not This Time, Swift Delivery is trained by Mark Casse and owned by Gary Barber, Team Valor International, Bruce Zoldan, Steven Rocco, and Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. ... More

Queen Azteca is the latest out-of-the-box acquisition for Barry Irwin's Team Valor International. She will make her first North American start August 16 in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. The well-traveled 3-year-old filly will be ridden in the NYRA classic by John R. Velazquez. Unlike other prospective members of the Alabama, Queen Azteca has already raced beyond the testing mile-and-a-quarter distance of the Grade 1. Each of the filly's 9 starts have come on dirt, the last three going 9 1/2, 11 and 12 furlongs. In 9 outings, she boasts 4 wins and 2 seconds. ... More

It's rare that a Royal Ascot winner comes to auction and Wathnan Racing took full advantage of the opportunity when striking for 775,000 Guineas to acquire Team Valor and Gary Gillies' Quai de Bethune off his improbable nose victory in the Golden Gates Handicap on closing day at Royal Ascot. The lightly raced son of Persian King won two of his six starts for Andrew Balding and is clearly still improving ... More

Someone grab the fire extinguisher - Team Valor International's race record this month is blazing hot! The current winning rate eclipses the old one reported last week (20%), and now stands at a remarkable 22 percent! In 102 starts to date in 2025, the stable has accumulated 19 wins, 10 seconds and 14 thirds. The in-the-money rate also continues to grow and is currently at 45 percent. ... More

Trainer Joseph O'Brien was convinced before the Martin Molony Stakes that Uluru, who generally prefers some cut in the ground, would enjoy the step up in trip and he very obviously was prepared to run her over much firmer ground if necessary, as her last workout knocked his socks off. Had he been asked if he were willing to take the gamble and race the filly on solid ground over an extended trip, Barry Irwin would have demurred. Fortunately, O'Brien held out for running and, as it turned out, for very good reason. The filly is in career best form. ... More

Named for Olympic Gold Medal hurdler Hansle Parchment, Team Valor's equine hurdler Parchment duly scored in his debut race clearing 12 hurdles and covering 2 miles plus one furlong at Clairefontaine, France. Perhaps the best hunch-play of the day, the date of the race was also the birthday of the Jamaican athlete for whom he was named. The son of the stable's dual Grade 2 winner, Triple Threat, looked like a star from day one. ... More

Chantilly-based racehorse trainer Tim Donworth continued his streak of pulling rabbits out of hats on Sunday, when on his local turf the Irish-born French emigre' stepped up his 4-yearold French-bred filly Saxon Girl to 12 furlongs for the first time in what looked to be the most competitive field she has yet faced while racing in France, Italy and Germany. Saxon Girl needed to find 3 pounds on ratings to be competitive in the Listed race and she raised her game. ... More

When Special Wan glided down the green Gulfstream Park stretch under a superb ride from Luis Saez, Barry Irwin reflected on how fortunate the partners were to secure the services of the Panamanian reinsman. Saez was exactly the type of partner the 5-year-old Belardo mare required on the day, as Saturday's Grade 3 Honey Fox Stakes was bereft of pace except for public choice In Our Time, the mild 3 to 1 favorite over 7 to Special Wan and Tax Implications. ... More

William Mott is not enshrined in the Hall of Fame at the National Racing Museum in Saratoga by accident. The 71-year-old South Dakota-born Thoroughbred racehorse trainer's genius was on full display Saturday at Fair Grounds racetrack in New Orleans, where the Payson Park-based conditioner did just enough with the Irish import Mansa Musa to allow Irad Ortiz Jr. to get him to the line on top going 5 1/2 furlongs on grass in Louisiana. ... More

In an interview which appeared in Team Valor International's clients-only newsletter The Insider's Bulletin, Milwaukee conservative talk radio host Mark Belling sat down with the stable's President Fred Heyman to discuss his roots, his distinguished media career, his affinity for Team Valor and all things racing. ... More

It's been 38 years since Barry Irwin struck gold with the very first horse he syndicated when Political Ambition captured the Hollywood Derby (G1). Still going strong at age 81, the pioneering leader of Team Valor International hopes to add another jewel to the stable's long list of major triumphs when Bless My Stars takes part in Saturday's $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2) presented by Sir Davis American Whiskey at Gulfstream Park. ... More

Facteur Cheval took to the all-weather surface on Saturday at Cagnes-Sur-Mer in a team work for Calas-based trainer Jerome Reynier, who was giving his 2024 Dubai Turf hero his final bit of serious work in advance of sending him to race for the first time on a dirt racing surface in the January 24 renewal of the Grade 1 Al Maktoum Challenge as a test to see if the now 6-year-old gelding can act over that surface. ... More

Leading South African filly Quid Pro Quo has been purchased by major international racing partnership Team Valor in a further sign of growing enthusiasm for the country's bloodstock following the lifting of an EU travel ban this year. Barry Irwin, founder and chief executive of Team Valor, said he hoped the filly would be able to emulate the achievements of the group's Ipi Tombe, winner of the 2003 Dubai Duty Free on Dubai World Cup night. ... More