Racing returns to Ocala Tuesday, January 24 as the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company holds its 28th annual Day of Champions. The four races for OBS graduates feature quality fields conditioned by leading trainers and ridden by a star-studded jockey colony.
Held in conjunction with the OBS Winter Mixed Sale for the fourth straight year, the expanded card offers pari-mutuel wagering on the first eight races, starting with seven quarter horse races and followed by the $50,000 OBS Sprint Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The three other OBS races are non-wagering events. Post time for the first race is 12:00 noon.
The entire card will be streamed live via the OBS website at obssales.com as well as the DRF and Blood-Horse websites.
Trainer Armando De la Cerda sends out Hernandez Racing Club’s Yes I’ll Go as the 3-1 favorite in a field of eleven in the eighth race, the six furlong $50,000 OBS Sprint for 3-year-old fillies who have gone through the ring at an OBS Sale. The daughter of Yes It’s True, who will be ridden by Luis Saez, was a nine length winner in her November debut and returned to finish fifth in the House Party Stakes at Gulfstream in December.
WinStar Farm LLC’s Spirituality makes her 3-year-old debut as the second choice at 9-2. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Jose Ortiz, the filly by Gemologist was a runaway winner at Delaware Park in her first start and a sharp third in the Matron Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park in October.
Here are the fillies and riders in post position order: Heart Astray, Erin Walker, 12-1; My Arch Enemy, Julien Leparoux, 6-1; Breeze Easy LLC’s Love and Lemons, Luis Saez, 8-1; Newtown Anner Stud’s Lady Racer, John Velazquez, 12-1; Yes I’ll Go; Serjeant Equine’s Schema, no rider, 10-1; Spirituality; Mercedes Stables LLC’s Rockin, Victor Carrasco, 10-1; Joseph and Helen Barbazon and John Nichols’ Star Gala, Edwin Gonzalez; 8-1; Carl L. Hess’ Historical Tablet, Pablo Morales, 8-1; Glen S. Bromagen II’s My Ticket Home, Angel Cruz, 10-1. All horses carry 120 pounds.
Stephen Rousseau and Calypso Stable’s Front Loaded gets top billing in a field of nine in the ninth race, the non wagering six furlong $50,000 OBS Sprint Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings. He comes into the race off a second place finish in the Juvenile Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park West in November after he was on the board in both the Affirmed and Dr. Fager Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream. He has earned $155,400 for trainer Jose Pinchin and will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo.
Lucio Tucci and Martha Gonzalez’ Uncle B and Conrad Farms’ Sailing Home renew acquaintances after running second and third respectively in Woodbine’s Swynford Stakes last November. Sailing Home, trained by Mark Casse, will be ridden by Julien Leparoux. Luis Saez will ride Uncle B for trainer Nick Gonzalez.
Here’s the field in post position order: Breeze Easy LLC’s Silver Defense, Joe Bravo; Ballybrit stable LLC’s Mizzen Lynx, Orlando Bocachica; Clyde D. Rice’s Made to Fit, Jose Ortiz; Debra Posgai’s My Friend, Jose Lezcano; Dale Hagedorn’s Simply Tizway, Shannon Uske; Front Loaded; Sailing Home; Donald H. Mensh and Mel Paikoff’s Storming My Way, Paco Lopez; Uncle B. All will carry 122 pounds.
Dennis Farkas’ grade one stakes placed Fun heads a field of eleven entered for the non wagering tenth race, the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes at a mile and one sixteenth for 3-year-old fillies. A daughter of Harlan’s Holiday, Fun was third in the Schuylerville (G3) and fourth in the Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga before shipping to Keeneland and running third in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1). Trained by Ian Wilkes and ridden by Julien Leparoux, she comes into the race with earnings of $117,400.
Her main rival looks to be Bourbon Lane Stable’s Paz the Bourbon, saddled by Mark Hennig and ridden by Paco Lopez. On the board in five of seven starts with $110,479 in earnings, the filly by Mission Impazible was third in the Lynbrook Stakes at Belmont Park last July.
Ballybritt Stable LLC’s Dynatail and Pinnacle Racing Stable, LLC and Stein Racing LLC’s Bella Vincenza come into the race after a one-two finish in a Tampa Bay Downs Allowance test on New Year’s Day. Orlando Bocachica will ride Dynatail for trainer Michael Dini and Bella Vincenza, trained by Kathleen O’Connell, will be ridden by Juan Leyva.
My Arch Enemy was cross entered by trainer Mark Casse as was Schema, trained by Ignacio Correas.
Here’s the field in post position order: Bella Vincenza; Ashbrook Farm’s Miss O’Hara, Angel Cruz; Michael G. Bernard’s Bill’s Legacy, Luca Panici; Paz the Bourbon; Dynatail; Steven Throne’s Larryandpearlslucy, Larry Mejias; Anthony A. Lenci’s Livin a Dream, Daniel Centeno: My Arch Enemy, Luis Saez; Alexander Levengood and Greg Kadel’s On Her Honor, Jose Ortiz; Fun; Serjeant Equine’s Schema, John Velazquez. All carry 120 pounds.
Three Diamonds Farm’s graded stakes placed Shiraz gets top billing in a field of nine in the eleventh and final race, the non wagering $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes at a mile and a sixteenth for colts and geldings. The son of Tale of the Cat comes into the race off a troubled third place finish in the Dania Beach Stakes (G3) on the Gulfstream Park turf course on January 7th.
His main rival looks to be Al Shaqab Racing, WinStar Farm LLC and China Horse Club’s Master Plan. John Velazquez has the riding assignment for trainer Todd Pletcher on the colt by Twirling Candy, a fast closing second in the Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park in his last start.
Sailing Home was cross entered by trainer Mark Casse as was My Friend, trained by Larry Pilotti.
The field in post position order: Zilla Racing Stables’ Adonis Creed, Jose Lezcano; Breeze Easy LLC’s Harlan’s Quest, Paco Lopez; Altamira Stable LLC’s Major Key, Elvis Trujillo: Ashbrook Farm’s Convict Pike, Angel Cruz; Sailing Home; Chalk Racing and Our Sugar Bear Stable’s Manifest Destiny; Master Plan; My Friend; Shiraz. All will carry 122 pounds.
For more information regarding the OBS Championship Stakes, please call (352) 237-2154 or visit the OBS website at obssales.com