Conquest Stables LLC’s Conquest Two Step led a 1-2-3-4 OBS sweep of Saturday’s $200, 250 Palos Verdes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, taking advantage of a sizzling pace to rally in the stretch and score by a length and a quarter over Secret Circle (March ’11), with Wild Dude (April ’12, October ’10) finishing third. Distinctiv Passion (August ’11, January ’11) settled for fourth after leading for a half in :43 2/5. It’s the first stakes win for the 4-year-old Florida-bred colt by Two Step Salsa, sold as a yearling by Get Away Farm at the 2012 OBS August Sale, and then purchased by Conquest for $420,000 out of the Eisaman Equine consignment at the 2013 OBS April Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show. Trained by Mark Casse, he’s now 10-3-5-1 and has earned $309,408. watch his under tack video
Donato Lanni and John F. Youngblood’s Avanzare took control of Santa Anita’s $200,500 Arcadia Stakes (G2) turning for home, opened up daylight a furlong from the wire and cruised to victory by a length and a quarter. It’s the second graded stakes win for the 5-year-old gelding by Grand Reward, trained by Tom Proctor, now 12-6-3-2 with earnings of $385,180. He was purchased by Lanni and Youngblood for $52,000 out of the Cutting Edge Equine consignment at the 2012 OBS June Sale after working a quarter in :21 3/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video