Kaleem Shah’s Brigand posted his first stakes win on December 8 at Laurel, leading all the way en route to a one length victory in the $104, 000 City of Laurel Stakes. It’s the third win in nine starts this year for the 3-year-old colt by Flatter, now 12-4-5-0 with $288, 820 in earnings. The 2011 OBS March sale topper, he brought $925,000 when purchased out of the Eisaman Equine consignment. watch his under tack video
Robbie Norman’s Hero Force tried stakes company for the first time in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes at the Fair Grounds, battled for the early lead, took command leaving the eighth pole then held off the late charge of fellow OBS graduate Lattin Devil (March ’12) and scored by half a length. The 2-year-old colt by Political Force, sold first by Summerfield, Agent at the 2011 OBS Winter Mixed Sale, was sold for $60,000 by Halcyon Hammock, Agent at the 2012 OBS April Sale. The win leaves him 4-2-1-1 with earnings of $93,710. watch his under tack video
Frank Calabrese’s Romacaca racked up her tenth stakes victory in Gulfstream’s $100,000 South Beach Stakes, getting up in the final yards and winning by a neck. It’s the fourth win in eight starts this year for the 6-year-old Florida-bred mare by Running Stag, a two-time OBS graduate, consigned by breeder Cashel Stud to the 2007 August Sale and 2008 April Sale. Closing in on a million, she’s now 32-16-5-3 with earnings of $926,992. watch her under tack video
Bona Venture Stables’ Smooth Bert battled fellow OBS graduate Notacatbutallama (April ’12) in the stretch of the $80,000 Damon Runyon Stakes and prevailed by three quarters of a length. It’s the first stakes score for the 2-year-old son of Smooth Jazz, sold for $60,000 by SGV Thoroughbreds (Steven Venosa), Agent, at the 2012 OBS April Sale. He’s now 5-2-1-1 and has earned $104,430 to date. watch his under tack video