Skip to content Skip to footer

Here’s Johnny wins OBS Championship Stakes

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company celebrated its 25th annual Day of Champions by offering pari-mutuel wagering on the first two races.

heresjohnny-inside
Here’s Johnny (Coglianese photo)

In the afternoon’s  fifth and final race, Ice Wine Stable’s Here’s Johnny battled down the stretch with Alto Racing’s Canzoni in the $100, 000 OBS Championship Stakes for colts and geldings and prevailed by a nose in a photo finish. It was a neck back to H. Jack Hendricks and Roger Justice’s East Hall in third. The race was the second victory of the day for the combination of jockey Kent Desormeaux and trainer Wesley Ward, who teamed to win the day’s second race with Mark Dodson’s Ruslana. Here’s Johnny, a Florida-bred gelding by Colonel John, sold for $220,000 by Beth Bayer, Agent, at the 2012 OBS August Sale, ran the mile and a sixteenth in 1:45 4/5.  He’s now 7-3-2-0 and has earned $163,381 to date.

An experienced world traveler, Here’s Johnny was a good fourth last August in the Prix de la Vallee d’Auge Stakes at Deauville for Ward, an Eclipse Award winning apprentice rider in 1984. Wesley also saddled OBS graduate Jealous Again for her victory in the 2009 Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Ascot.

naughtyholiday2
Naughty Holiday (Coglianese photo)

William D. McCarty’s Naughty Holiday rallied between horses on the far turn of the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, took the lead turning for home and scored by a length and a half over Alifyfe Racing’s Babe’s Ruler. Pinnacle Racing Stables, H. Jack Hendricks and Roger L. Justice’s Holiday Magic found room late and rallied for third. Naughty Holiday, by Harlan’s Holiday, trained by David Fawkes and ridden by Javier Castellano, ran the mile and a sixteenth in 1:46 3/5. Sold for $40,000 by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, at the 2013 OBS April Sale, Naughty Holiday is now 3-2-1-0 and has earned $92,400.

 

ruslana
Ruslana (Coglianese photo)

Mark Dodson’s Ruslana took command at the head of the lane and held off late runs by Bernard G. Schaeffer’s Henny Jenney and Second Chance Stable’s Epic Story to win the $50,000 OBS Sprint Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, winning by a length and three quarters and running the six furlongs in 1:10 4/5.  Sold for $70,000 by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, at the 2013 OBS April Sale, the daughter of City Zip is now 5-2-1-0 and has earned $76,115. Ruslana paid $4.80, 3.40 and 2.60 and the 8-6 exacta was worth $13.40. Henny Jenney returned $4.80 and 4.00; Epic Story paid 3.40 to show. The 8-8 daily double combination of Dashin Bye Slinky and Ruslana was worth $13.80. 

prudhoebay3
Prudhoe Bay (Coglianese photo)

Rustlewood Farm’s Prudhoe Bay saved ground under a heady ride by Paco Lopez, got through on the rail in the stretch and won the $50,000 OBS Sprint Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings by a neck over Rontos Racing Stable’s Breitling Flyer, with Tommy Roberts and Dan Hurtak’s Can’t Stop the Kid two lengths back in third. The Florida-bred colt by Songandaprayer, who ran six furlongs in 1:10 flat, was consigned by Summerfield, Agent, to the 2012 OBS August Sale. The win leaves him with a 3-2-0-0 record and $56,535 in earnings.

Monica Lee Arrieta’s Dashin Bye Slinky edged Javier Rodriguez’ Craig Judd by a nose in the afternoon’s first race, a 220 yard Quarter Horse Allowance purse.  Salvador Lopez’ Hello My Boy was three quarters of a length back in third. Trained by Angel Rodriguez and ridden by Oscar Delgado, the winner ran the 220 yard distance in :12.24. The winner paid $6.40, 3.40 and 2.60 and the 8-9 exacta returned $19.20. Craig Judd returned $6.40 and 3.80; Hello My Boy paid 2.80 to show.

The total pari-mutuel handle on the first two races was $15,939.