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American Anthem, War Story score in graded stakes at Belmont

David Alcosser photo

China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, SF Racing LLC et al’s American Anthem surged to the front at the head of the stretch of Belmont’s $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes (G2), opened a big lead in mid-stretch and coasted home to a 3-1/4 length victory over fellow OBS graduate Giuseppe the Great (March ’16).  It’s the second straight graded stakes win for the 3-year-old colt by Bodemeister, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show before he was purchased for $435,000 out of the Hoppel’s Horse & Cattle Co. consignment at the 2016 OBS March Sale. Trained by Bob Baffert, he’s now 6-3-1-0 and has earned $389,545 to date. watch his under tack video

Chelsea Durand photo

Loooch Racing Stables, Inc., Glenn K. Ellis and Imaginary Stables’ War Story is the newest OBS millionaire after stalking the leaders in the early going of Belmont’s $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (G2), taking command inside the eighth pole and drawing  away to 2-1/2 length victory. It’s the first graded stakes win for the 5-year-old gelding by Northern Afleet, trained by Jorge Navarro, now 21-5-3-3 with $1,154,305 in earnings. Consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, to the 2014 OBS March Sale, he worked an eighth in :10 4/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video

Shaqab Racing, WinStar Farm LLC and China Horse Club’s OBS Championship Stakes winner Master Plan rallied from off the pace to catch fellow OBS graduate Adonis Creed (April ’16) in the stretch of Saturday’s $50,125 Stanton Stakes at Delaware Park and beat him by a length and a quarter. Super Dude (March ’16) checked in third to complete an OBS sweep of the race. It’s the second stakes win for the 3-year-old graded stakes placed colt by Twirling Candy, trained by Todd Pletcher, now 7-3-1-1 with earnings of $333,490. He was purchased for $850,000 out of the Eisaman Equine consignment at the 2016 March Sale after working an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show.  watch his under tack video