2025 Thoroughbred Makeover: Preliminary Competition Wraps with Championship Finalists Announced

The Top-10 highest-placed off-track Thoroughbreds and their riders at the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover announced for championship finals.

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Lexington, Kentucky—Preliminary competition has wrapped at the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, held at the Kentucky Horse Park from October 8 – 11. The banner event of the Retired Racehorse Project, the Thoroughbred Makeover is the largest retraining competition in North America for recently-retired racehorses and former broodmares, showcasing the athleticism and trainability of the Thoroughbred and inspiring more equestrians to partner with the breed.

More than 240 off-track Thoroughbreds competed over two days in up to two of 10 different equestrian sports. The 10 highest-placed horses in each discipline will return on Saturday for the Championships, competing on a blank slate of scores for $139,000 in prize money paid out to all 10 places. Preliminary winners, including the top-placed juniors, amateurs and teams, as well as special award winners, will be recognized at Saturday’s Awards Party at the conclusion of Championships competition.

Here’s a glance at the preliminary winners in the English-disciplined sports:

Eventing: Rosia Bay and Cynthia M. Buchanan

Cynthia M. Buchanan and Rosia Bay. ©Team Erin Gilmore

OTTB: Rosia Bay, 2019 chestnut mare, bred at Spendthrift Farm, LLC, in Kentucky
Trainer: Cynthia M. Buchanan
Supported by: Phoenix Performance Products
Pedigree: Lord Nelson—Kool Kat x Scat Daddy
Racing stats: 12-2-2-2, $146,893
Owned by: Bad Girl Racing Stable and Susan M Racing
Trained by: William E. Morey
Last raced: Ellis Park, July 15, 2024
Sourced: Directly from racing owner
Cynthia said: “I’m even more excited and even more proud of her! She’s worked very hard for this—we’ve worked very hard for this.”

Eventing Top Broodmare: Justa Scoch, trained by Kimberly Keith

Show Hunter: Mentha and Rachel McMahan

Mentha and Rachel McMahan. ©Zenya Lepper, Team Erin Gilmore

OTTB: Mentha, 2021 dark bay gelding, bred at KatieRich Farms in Kentucky
Trainer: Rachel McMahan
Supported by: Beyond the Wire
Pedigree: American Pharoah—Wild Mint x Medaglia d’Oro
Racing stats: Unraced
Sourced: Directly from racing owner
Rachel said: “He was great. The round was really good; he was very brave and forward. He is consistent and he always steps up to the job.”

Show Hunter Top Broodmare: Victoria E, trained by Doreen Durr

Dressage: Rosia Bay and Cynthia M. Buchanan

Rosia Bay and Cynthia M. Buchanan. ©Hannah Lujbli, Team Erin Gilmore

OTTB: Rosia Bay, 2019 chestnut mare, bred at Spendthrift Farm, LLC, in Kentucky
Trainer: Cynthia M. Buchanan
Supported by: PTHA’s Turning For Home
Pedigree: Lord Nelson—Kool Kat x Scat Daddy
Racing stats: 12-2-2-2, $146,893
Owned by: Bad Girl Racing Stable and Susan M Racing
Trained by: William E. Morey
Last raced: Ellis Park, July 15, 2024
Sourced: Directly from racing owner
Cynthia said: “I am just over the moon! She’s a very careful and sensitive mare that just wants to do it right. She was very tough to start and I thought we’d never be able to get there. This past month, she really shined and she got us here.”

Dressage Top Broodmare: Corner Three, trained by Wendy Lind

Field Hunter: Southwestern Hope and Kaylyn Hottel

Southwestern Hope and Kaylyn Hottel. ©Jessica Duffy, Erin Gilmore Team

OTTB: Southwestern Hope, 2016 black gelding, bred in New Mexico by Duane Freeman
Trainer: Kaylyn Hottel
Supported by: Masters of Foxhounds Association
Pedigree: Southwestern Heat—Rumor Is x Suave Prospect
Racing stats: 60-5-7-12, $101,751
Owned by: Samantha Scheffler
Trained by: Shawn Bunn
Last raced: Wyoming Downs, August 11, 2024
Sourced: Mountain States Retired Racehorse Rehoming
Kaylyn said: “It’s surreal; I never thought I’d be here. Southwestern Hope is a super special horse since the first day I saw him. I got him three days off the track; I walked into a barn and he was there by himself. He was just standing there and had a sparkle in his eye and I was like ‘you’re coming home with me.’ The first ride I had on him, he was just a saint. I have personal hounds at home, and the first ride two weeks off the track with him I opened the kennel and let the hounds out around him and he was great. He deserves the best, he’s only for sale because I think he deserves his own person. This is just really special because of him.”