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OBS April: The Springboard to Success

For decades, the OBS Spring sale has been the springboard for horses that have gone on to compete at thoroughbred racing’s highest levels. From coast to coast in North America and from Dubai to Seoul overseas, Spring sale grads have won graded stakes and earned championship honors.

Kitten’s Joy, now among North America’s leading sires, came out of the 2003 Spring Sale and took home seven graded stakes and earned more than two million dollars. His 3-year-old campaign in 2004, highlighted by wins in the Secretariat (G1) and Joe Hirsch Invitational (G1) earned the Eclipse Award  as champion grass horse.

Three classic winners have been sold at the OBS Spring Sale. The first was 1991 graduate Lil E. Tee, whose earnings of over $1.4-million came from four graded wins including the 1992 Kentucky Derby (G1).

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Silver Charm

Silver Charm came out of the 1996 sale to win major races at three, four and five, including a run at the Triple Crown after winning the 1997 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1). After winning the Eclipse Award as 3-year-old champion,  he captured the Dubai World Cup (G1) as a 4-year-old and retired to stud in Japan with a resume of 11 graded wins and nearly $7-milllion in earnings.

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I’ll Have Another (Horsephotos)

Although denied a chance at the Triple Crown by injury, 2011 graduate I’ll Have Another was the toast of the sports world after determined stretch runs carried him to victory in the 2012 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1).  Retired on the morning of the Belmont Stakes (G1) he went to stud in Japan with a resume of four graded wins and earnings of over $2.6-million.

 

Roses in May (Goins)

Spring graduates, from the 1994 sale’s Val’s Prince to the 2011 sale’s Parranda, have made their mark on the international scene.  After winning the 1997 Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont, millionaire Val’s Prince shipped overseas and won the Hong Kong International Cup (G2). Back home, he raced for three more seasons, capturing both the Man o’ War Stakes (G1) and Turf Classic (G1) during 1999. Roses in May came out of the 2002 sale to win four graded stakes stateside before ending his career with a victory in the 2005 Dubai World Cup (G1) before heading to Japan for stud duty.

Korea has been fertile ground for Spring Sale graduates, highlighted by major stakes winners Fly Top Queen, back to back Grand Prix winner Dongbanui Gangja and Gamdonguibada, the first filly to win the  Grand Prix, Korea’s most prestigious race.

Recently, a number of runner have been purchased from the Spring sale and exported to Japan, including graded stakes winner Best Warrior, a 2012 graduate, who has has amassed earnings of just under $2-million.

Parranda (Lauren King)

China Horse Club’s Parranda is the latest Spring sale world traveler, winning the rich Singapore Cup after capturing three graded stakes wins at home, becoming the twenty second Spring Sale graduate to top the million dollar mark in earnings. She captured the first of her four graded stakes wins in Gulfstream’s Suwanee River Stakes (G3) in February, 2014 and recently won the inaugural running of the S$3.05 million CECF Singapore Cup at Kranji Racecourse. Trained now by Christophe Clement, the 6-year-old daughter of English Channel, bred in Florida by Kinsman Farm, was originally sold for $13,000 by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, at the 2011 Spring Sale after working an eighth in :11 flat at the Under Tack Show. Honored as 2014’s champion Florida-bred older female and female turf horse, she has earned more than $2.1-million.  or watch her under tack video 

Since the beginning of 2014, OBS Spring graduates have won or placed in 80 graded stakes, including 23 victories.

Fashion Plate and Gary Stevens, right,  hold off Streaming and Martin Garcia for victory in the Grade I $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA. ©Benoit Photo
Fashion Plate (Benoit)

Arnold Zetcher LLC & Michael Tabor’s Fashion Plate was the first Spring graduate to make the grade in 2014, scoring back to back victories in the Las Virgenes (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1)  In the care of trainer Simon Callaghan.The daughter of Old Fashioned, sold in 2013 for $340,000 by de Meric Sales, Agent, after she sped an eighth in :9 4/5 at the Under Tack Show, retired with earnings of over $460,000 and was sold in the fall of 2014 for $1.2-million as a broodmare prospect.  watch her under tack video

 

Wild Dude and Rafael Bejarano, outside, nail favored Secret Circle and Martin Garcia at the wire to win the Grade II $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes Sunday, February 2, 2014 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA. ©Benoit Photo
Wild Dude (Benoit)

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and Green Smith’s Wild Dude, winner of Santa Anita’s Palos Verdes Stakes (G2) in early 2014, led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of Santa Anita’s $250,500 San Carlos Stakes (G2) on March 7 of this year, turning back Kobe’s Back (March ’13) by three quarters of a length, with fellow Spring grad  Conquest Two Step (April ’13, August ’12) third. The two-time OBS graduate was sold first by Perrone Sales, Agent, at the 2010 Fall Mixed Sale and then resold for $42,000 by Costanzo Sales after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 at the 2012 Spring Sale. The 5-year-old Florida-bred son of Wildcat Heir has earned $494,220 to date.  watch his under tack video

 

Devil’s Cave (Lauren King)

Alpha Delta Stables’ Devil’s Cave made the grade with a victory in the Sabin Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream last February, cruising to a 3-1/2 length victory in a track record 1:41 flat for the mile and a sixteenth. The Florida-bred daughter of Put It Back was purchased by Steve Young, Agent, for $180,000 out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment at the 2012 Spring Sale after she sped a quarter in :20 3/5 at the Under Tack Show. Trained by Bill Mott, she’s earned nearly $400,000 to date. watch her under tack video

Martin Racing Stable LLC’s Marchman, trained by Keith Desormeaux, scored a pair of graded wins in 2014, taking the  Shakertown Stakes (G3) on the Keeneland turf course in April and then the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G3) on Oaks Day at Churchill Downs. The Sharp Humor colt, sold for $90,000 by Seahorse Stables LLC, Agent, at the 2012 Spring Sale after a quarter in :21 2/5 at the Under Tack Show, ended 2014 with $407,954 in earnings.  watch his under tack video

 

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Dance With Fate (Keeneland)

Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stables and Ciaglia Racing LLC’s Dance With Fate earned a berth in the 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1) with a victory in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.  Trained by Peter Eurton, his credentials also included a runner-up finish in Golden Gate’s El Camino Real Derby (G3) at three and second place finishes in both Santa Anita’s FrontRunner Stakes (G1) and the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at two. After breezing an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show for the 2013 Spring Sale, he was purchased by Joseph Ciaglia, Jr. on the recommendation of Larry Zap and Eurton for $120,000 out of his breeder’s Best A Luck Farm consignment. The Florida-bred colt by Two Step Salsa completed his racing career with a 9-3-3-0 record and earnings of $680,050. watch his under tack video

Kaleem Shah's Declassify and jockey Martin Garcia, inside, outleg Cyclometer (Edwin Maldonado), outside, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Triple Bend Stakes, Saturday, June 28, 2014 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA. © BENOIT PHOTO
Declassify (Benoit)

Kaleem Shah’s Declassify took on some of California’s top sprinters in the Triple Bend Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita in late June, appeared beaten in the final furlong but came again along the rail and was up in the final jump to win by a nose. It was the first stakes win for the colt by Orientate, purchased for $450,000 out of the Eddie Woods consignment at the 2012 Spring Sale after he turned in an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show. Currently training under Bob Baffert for his return to the races, he ended his 4-year-old campaign with $261,740 in earnings.  watch his under tack video

 

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The Big Beast (Coglianese)

Alex & JoAnn Lieblong’s lightly raced The Big Beast scored in Saratoga’s prestigious King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) last summer for trainer Anthony Dutrow before he was forced to the sidelines by injury. Consigned by Ends Well, Agent, to the 2013 Spring Sale, he was purchased by the Lieblongs for $150,000 after working an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. He has earned more than $450,000 to date. watch his under tack video

 

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Stephanie’s Kitten (Coglianese)

Ken & Sarah Ramsey’s Stephanie’s Kitten has been a money machine throughout her career, racking up seven graded stakes wins and nearly $3-million in earnings. Winner of Belmont’s Flower Bowl Stakes (G1) in 2014, she got her 2015 campaign off on the right foot at Tampa Bay Downs, taking the Hillsborough Stakes (G3) by a length and a half. The daughter of Spring sale graduate Kitten’s Joy, trained by Chad Brown, was consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, to the 2011 OBS April Sale, where she worked an eighth in :11 flat at the Under Tack Show.  watch her under tack work

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East Hall (Leslie Martin)

H. Jack Hendricks and Roger Justice’s well-traveled East Hall has been a busy and consistent performer throughout his career, winning in the Midwest as well as his native Florida. On the board in seven stakes races, his 2014 3-year-old campaign was highlighted by wins in the Ohio Derby and Indiana Derby (G3). The two time OBS graduate was sold by Summerfield, Agent, at the 2012 August Sale and then worked an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5 before he was purchased by trainer Bill Kaplan for $55,000 on behalf of Hendricks and Justice out of the Southern Chase Farm, Inc. (Greg and Karen Dodd) consignment at the 2013 April Sale. Now four and well on his way toward the million dollar mark, the Florida-bred gelding by Graeme Hall has earned $803,540. watch his under tack video

Four graded stakes winners have emerged from the 2014 Spring Sale, and P and G Stables LLC’s No Problem was the first. Jumping from a maiden win straight into the Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar on November 14th, he came from just off the pace and scored by half a length. The son of Munnings, trained by Michael W. McCarthy, has earned $92,860 to date. The two time OBS graduate was  purchased by P and G for $30,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2013 August Sale and then consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, to the 2014 April Sale where he breezed an eighth in :10 flat. watch his under tack video

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Ocho Ocho Ocho (Coady)

DP Racing, LLC’s Ocho Ocho Ocho, entered in Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, won two stakes in 2014, the biggest the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3) in November. The Street Sense colt, named for his hip number (888) in the 2014 Spring Sale, was consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales LLC. Selected by Gary Young and purchased by Deron Pearson’s DP Racing for $200,000 after working an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show, he has earned  over $700,000 in the care of trainer James M. Cassidy. watch his under tack video

 

 

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Leave the Light On (Coglianese)

Klaravich Stables, LLC and William H. Lawrence’s talented Leave the Light On was derailed by injury after winning the Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct over the highly regarded Frosted in late November. The colt by Horse Greeley, trained by Chad Brown, won two of his three starts and earned $285,375. Consigned by Bobby Dodd, Agent, to the 2014 Spring Sale, he was purchased by Klaravich for $210,000 after breezing an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show.  watch his under tack video

 

Richard C. Pell's Calculator and jockey Elvis Trujillo win the Grade III $100,000 Sham Stakes Saturday, January 10 2015 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA ©Benoit Photo
Calculator (Benoit)

Richard C. Pell’s Calculator was still a maiden when he gamely finished second to the brilliant American Pharoah in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and FrontRunner Stakes (G1) last summer, but took care of that technicality in style in January with an eye catching 4-1/4 length romp in the Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. Forced to skip the classics by minor injury, he’s back in training for Peter Miller and should be heard from later in the year. The Florida-bred colt by In Summation, purchased for $132,000 from breeder Ocala Stud at the 2014 Spring Sale after turning in a quarter in :21 1/5 at the Under Tack Show, has earned $193,500 to date.  watch his under tack video

Conquest Two Step and jockey Joe Talamo win the Grade II $200 Palos Verdes Stakes Saturday, January 31, 2015 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA. ©Benoit PHoto
Conquest Two Step (Benoit)

Ever since trainer Mark Casse sent Conquest Stables LLC’s Conquest Two Step to the West Coast, the Florida-bred Two Step Salsa colt has never been off the board in four stakes appearances. The highlight was leading a 1-2-3-4 OBS sweep of the Palos Verdes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in January, turning back Secret Circle (March ’11), Wild Dude (April ’12, October ’10) and Distinctiv Passion (August ’11, January ’11). Sold as a yearling by Get Away Farm at the 2012 OBS August Sale, he was 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. To date, he has earned $339,408. watch his under tack video

Black Hawk Stable’s Alsvid is closing in on the million dollar mark after overcoming a stumble leaving the gate in Oaklawn’s $300,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) and winning by three quarters of a length. It’s the first graded stakes win for the 6-year-old son of Officer, trained by Chris Hartman. With eight stakes wins to his credit, he’s now29-12-7-3 and has earned $933,465. He was sold for $55,000 by Stephens Thoroughbreds, Agent, at the 2011 OBS April Sale after turning in an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video