2026 Mating Plans: Nicoma Bloodstock

Article written by Sue Finley published in the Thoroughbred Daily News on January 19, 2026.
Excerpt and full article linked below.

“Doing matings with my clients is very much a team thing,” says Headley Bell, whose Nicoma Bloodstock has been helping clients mate their mares since 1979. “My role is to try to assist in fulfilling dreams.”

Nicoma got off to a quick start with mating success, and the hits just keep on coming: in late December, George Strawbridge was first and third in the GI American Oaks with Ambaya (Ghostzapper), who was closely followed by Will Then (War Of Will) in third. Previous successes include two Arc de Triomphe winners (Suave Dancer and Trempolino), a Kentucky Oaks winner (Keeper Hill), back-to-back Derby winners (Street Sense and Barbaro), Horses of the Year Bricks and Mortar and Havre de Grace, the now-Mill Ridge stallion Oscar Performance, and the 2024 Preakness winner Seize the Grey… [Read more from the TDN here]